Did you get a chance to watch the democratic debates last week? Before we wade in the waters of political theater, we want to remind you that at the Speak Life Collective, our primary objectives are to protect life, share love, and know the truth with courage. In fact, we were reluctant to write this article, knowing it could possibly cause division or brand us with a partisan position, but when life is on the line speaking truth in love is necessary.
We understand, when someone brings an objection to our political party, candidate, worldview, or personal hero, we can be quick to close our eyes and cover our ears. At those times, we might prefer ignorance over embarrassment or conflict. But we think it is important to slow down and be willing to ask these questions: Is it true, and does the person sharing this truth love me? While we at Speak Life have no political affiliation, we are against the position of Pro-abortion, and unfortunately, the Democratic Party has proven to be the unapologetic champions of abortion. The DNC official party platform states, “We believe unequivocally, like the majority of Americans, that every woman should have access to quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion—regardless of where she lives, how much money she makes, or how she is insured...We will continue to oppose—and seek to overturn—federal and state laws and policies that impede a woman’s access to abortion, including by repealing the Hyde Amendment.” 1 In light of the Democratic Party’s position on abortion, we want to consider these four questions: What is the role of government?, Is the Democratic Party our enemy?, What is the Democratic Party’s position?, and lastly, What should be our response? LIFE: What is the role of government? In the book of Romans. Paul reminds us not to take justice into our own hands because God is the one who will avenge the wrong done to us. (Romans 12:19) But Paul also says there is another authority that God has given- A sword to execute justice, human government. Paul writes, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” (Romans 13:1,4)* *see Pastor Steve Mellor's Message on Romans 13 What is the role of government according to the Word of God? To punish evil and to protect the lives of the innocent. According to the Word of God, God has given His authority to human government to bear the sword which protects and avenges the innocent. Government’s role is to affirm God given rights, not to grant them, especially the right to life. Scott Klusendorf writes, “For example, you have a natural right not to be harmed without justification as well as a natural right not to be convicted of a crime without a fair trial. Government does not grant these basic rights. Rather, government’s role is to protect them.” 2 Have you ever considered the difference between murder and killing? Killing is to cause the death of a person, animal or living thing. What is murder? It is intentional killing of a human without proper justification. As Scott Klusendorf has said, “Our view is that it’s always wrong to take human life without proper justification, and we believe that elective abortion does just that.” 2 Can you think of adequate justification for killing an innocent human life in the womb? (See our response to “Justified Abortion” here.) The logic of the Pro-life position can be expressed in a simple syllogism:
As Greg Koukl states, “Let me put the issue plainly. If the unborn is not a human being, no justification for abortion is necessary. However, if the unborn is a human being, no justification for abortion is adequate.” 4 Supporting abortion is to support the murder of precious unborn persons. If you disagree with this statement, we would encourage you to take the time to investigate the grim realities of abortion and explore our responses to common objections. When we vote for candidates that support abortion, we are allowing genocide to continue unchecked. For decades, voters have been able to claim ignorance because of the political word-play (choice) and the lack of scientific knowledge. Consider what we have learned about the fetus from sonograms:
As William Wilburforce said in his famous Abolition Speech, “You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.” We understand the temptation to want to protect our heroes. When a pastor that we follow has fallen, or our candidate that we voted for has been caught cheating, we want to believe that it’s not true. We desire these unfortunate truths to be false so badly. We so long for perfect community, that we are willing to overlook our communities’ faults. When we plead ignorance while our community is wrong, we are not just complacent, we are complicit. Because, belief should be based on truth, not preference. Do you believe that innocent life should be protected? Does your vote reflect that? LOVE: Is the Democratic Party our enemy? Doesn’t it feel good when a political rival has been caught for some personal failing? There is a temptation to exploit personalities and personal failings, and make things personal. It’s a simple task to point out a person’s failings instead of doing the hard work to expose errant positions. We laugh at the political cartoon and ridiculous politician’s blunders, but the Bible is very clear, we are not to attack people; we are to attack positions. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “ We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.” When we engage in the political process, we should engage with truth. We should come against false arguments that hold people prisoner to evil thinking. As we talked about in our video, They Are Not Your Enemy, “Those faces of the culture of death are not soldiers but slaves to the enemy. They have bought into his trap and are held hostage by the devil’s lies.” (see 2 Timothy 2:24-26) We should be careful not to kill the captive while attempting to liberate them from the strongholds of false arguments. Is the Democratic Party our enemy? No, they are our fellow Americans who have bought into a lie. It is our job to love them so abundantly that they are willing to hear the truth. We must lovingly come alongside them and shine the light of truth on their path. And even if you consider them your enemy, what does the Bible say about loving our enemies? (see Matthew 5:44) Truth: What is the Democratic Party’s position? We demolish strongholds, not the straw man, knowing the truth will always be more convincing than attacking people based on personality. We have briefly looked at the Democratic Party Platform on “reproductive rights.” But let’s take a moment to look at the top Democratic Candidates’ positions on Abortion. These are direct quotes from their campaign websites or their own words from debates.
Vice President Joe Biden
Senator Bernie Sanders
Sen. Bernie Sanders (Eric Shaff | NY Times)
Senator Elizabeth Warren
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Senator Kamala Harris
Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Indianapolis Mayor Pete Buttigieg (AP Photo)
Senator Cory Booker
Sen. Cory Booker. [AL DIAZ | Miami Herald]
Representative Beto O'Rourke
U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourk (Photo by REUTERS/Mike Segar)
*The Hyde Admendment is a legislative provision barring the use of federal funds to pay for abortion except to save the life of the woman, or if the pregnancy arises from incest or rape. The Hyde Amendment is not actually a law; it’s a rider added to an appropriations bill (a bill proposing where certain federal funds will go for the year) for the department of Health and Human Services. It was first introduced by Illinois Representative Henry Hyde in 1976, just 3 years after the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, and it has been renewed every year since. (Learn more at: Majority of Americans support Hyde Amendment)
COURAGE: What should be our response? Do not make the attack personal, attack the position with your personal story. People can deny your “opinion,” but they can’t deny your personal story. The more people who share their abortion experiences, journeys as single parents, battles through pregnancy, and more, the more people will not be able to deny the truth. Yes, it is scary to speak up. But when you weigh your fear against the millions of lives lost to abortion, the cost is too great to say nothing. When William Wilberforce gave his address to the House of Commons, he publicly declared his fears, but those fears were relieved by the reality of his cause. He wrote: When I consider the magnitude of the subject which I am to bring before the House—a subject, in which the interests, not of this country, nor of Europe alone, but of the whole world, and of posterity, are involved: and when I think, at the same time, on the weakness of the advocate who has undertaken this great cause—when these reflections press upon my mind, it is impossible for me not to feel both terrified and concerned at my own inadequacy to such a task. But when I reflect, however, on the encouragement which I have had, through the whole course of a long and laborious examination of this question, and how much candour I have experienced, and how conviction has increased within my own mind, in proportion as I have advanced in my labours;—when I reflect, especially, that however averse any gentleman may now be, yet we shall all be of one opinion in the end;—when I turn myself to these thoughts, I take courage—I determine to forget all my other fears, and I march forward with a firmer step in the full assurance that my cause will bear me out, and that I shall be able to justify upon the clearest principles, every resolution in my hand, the avowed end of which is, the total abolition of the slave trade. 5 If we want to be on the right side of history, we need to hold our fellow Americans accountable for their vote. We need to educate them on the unseen genocide that occurs daily in our country. But if we want to reach their hearts, we need to love them more now than ever. May they never be able to say, “No one told me,” or, “They didn’t love me.” As the world gets darker, may we shine ever brighter.
1https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/ensure-the-health-and-safety-of-all-americans/
2 Klusendorf, Scott. The Case for Life (p. 29). Crossway. Kindle Edition. 3, 4 https://www.str.org/articles/only-one-question#.XUNpbFClDOQ 5 From ‘Debate on Mr. Wilberforce’s Resolutions respecting the Slave Trade’ in William Cobbett, The Parliamentary History of England. From the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803, 36 vols (London: T. Curson Hansard, 1806-1820), 28 (1789-91), cols 42-68. http://www.brycchancarey.com/abolition/wilberforce2.htm
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We are collective of every day people that want to Speak Up for the Life of the Unborn. We hope that as we find our voice, you find your own. Archives
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