Politics 2020: My views – day 3

I have great confidence that God has great plans for America.  He is not finished with America… not by a long shot.  He’s the God of welcomed surprises.  I do not fear, nor am I worried.  Ultimately, my hope is never in the cunning or strength of man.  God has a ‘ways and means committee’ and He means to have His way!  😊  I just want to be on His side of the matter.
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Yesterday we talked about the need to evaluate the foundational widely diverging worldviews between the political platforms of the two presidential candidates.  We addressed parties and party platforms.  It wasn’t my aim to denigrate individuals, because we remember that God dearly loves each candidate beyond our wildest imaginations. 

Today, I’d like to focus on the matter of life… all life.  I think most Americans are uncomfortable with any termination of life whether it’s pre-born or aged… or for that matter, even a pet.  Thank God for a conscience that is disturbed by such things.  

First, I’d like to highlight the beginning of life… and the value of life.  How does God view it?  What does the Bible say?  In the Gospel of Luke, we have the account of Jesus’ advent into the world.  Let’s look at Mary’s meeting with Elizabeth in chapter 1. 

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. – Luke 1:39-44

Twice the Bible calls Elizabeth’s preborn, not a fetus and not tissue… but, “the baby”.  And think of this; the very first person to acknowledge and respond to the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ into the world was an unborn child.  How special!!  From this, I wonder what value God puts on the unborn? In addition, this Biblical account tells us that preborn babies have the ability to be cognizantly aware of their natural surroundings.  And beyond the natural awareness, it seems that they have the ability to be aware of their spiritual surroundings… and respond to them.  

In ancient Bible times, there was a practice among some idol worshippers to sacrifice their children to the gods of Molech and Baal.  The belief was that there must be a trade in order to get something in return.  In modern practice of commerce or exchange, there is always a tradeoff.  For money, we trade time and services rendered.  For favor, we trade a favor.  For convenience, we trade a precious life resulting from a brief elicit pleasure.  Hmmm.

BTW – It never went well for the nations or people who practiced child sacrifice.

But abortion is not just an embarrassing unseemly practice in the underbelly of our society.  Americans cringed when some of its leaders brazenly and shamelessly celebrated when new abortion laws were extended to full term.  Here are the revealing headlines of several popular papers when New York and Virginia passed full-term abortion laws in January 2019.  Headlines:

USA Today
Most Americans don’t want a standing ovation for abortions until birth. But Democrats do.
“What happened in New York last week was tragic. But it was a teaching moment in that it made clear the left’s views on a deeply divisive issue.” – Jan 30, 2019 

Washington Examiner
Disgusting: New York not only legalized late-term abortions, but also celebrated like it won the Super Bowl
“When the bill passed, the video shows the assembly chamber erupting into cheers” – Jan 23, 2019

BBC News
Virginia late-term abortion bill labeled ‘infanticide’
Jan 31, 2019

Without question, the majority of Americans are repulsed at these headlines because most Americans have a heart that cares and a conscience that can be moved.  Question: If it’s legal, does that make it right?  If ‘legal’ makes is right, then how do we feel about slavery?  It used to be legal at one time.  Was it right?  Of course not!!  So what are we going to do about this? 

Now, if one of my readers feels the guilt of having had an abortion, this writing is not in any way intended to devalue you or single you out.  We all keenly remember, “For ALL have sinned….”   The wonderful thing about God is that He has more than enough mercy for all of us.  If you need help in coming to terms with this regret, find someone soon to help you experience full forgiveness and begin a fresh new start in life.

This writing is to highlight what we all know in our heart of hearts… abortion is wrong!  I pray that none of us forget the sacredness of a life and that it is within our power to preserve that sacredness when we go to vote.

— MLH

 

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