UPDATE ! Election 2016 and Abortion

Before we look at the positions of the current 
candidates for president, please consider this...

Abortion is a Biblical issue that 
demands your response!

I.                  LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION: 

Personhood in the womb

Genesis 4:1,17, Deuteronomy 32:18, Psalm 51:5-6, Psalm 119:73, 

Psalm 139:13-16, 2 Samuel 11:5,Hosea 9:11, Matthew 1:18, 

Luke 1:15, 31, 41,43-44, Galatians 1:15

Death in the womb

Job 10:18, Jeremiah 1:5, Jeremiah 20:17

God forms life:  Psalm 119:73; Psalm 127:3; Psalm 139:13-16

God knows man intimately: Job 10; Psalm 139; Isaiah 49:1,5: 
Related Scripture: Genesis 4:1,17; 21:2; 29:32-35; 30:5, 19, 23; 
38:3-4 

 Penalty for death of the pre-born - Exodus 21:22-23 
(compare with Exodus 20:13 and Genesis 9:6) 

Human sacrifice MUST ALWAYS be condemned Leviticus 20:2-5

 
II.    THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS, and that includes:

Birth Defects: Exodus 4:10-11, Leviticus 19:14, 1 Samuel 16:7, 

Psalm 94:9, John 9:2,3

Rape:  Deuteronomy 22:22-27, Isaiah 13:16, 2 Samuel 13:6-29,32,33

Incest: Genesis 19:30-38, Genesis 38 (see Perez in Ruth 4:18-22, 

Genesis 50:20, Matthew 1:3, and Luke 3:33)

Abortion for so-called “saving the life of the mother”

Exodus 21:22-23

(a)   Listen to the professionals:     

Dr. C. Everett Koop,  former Surgeon General

  

"Protection of the life of the mother as an excuse for an abortion is a 
smoke screen. In my 36 years of pediatric surgery, I have never known 
of one instance where the child had to be aborted to save the mother's 
life. If toward the end of the pregnancy complications arise that threaten 
the mother's health, the doctor will induce labor or perform a Caesarean 
section. His intention is to save the life of both the mother and the baby. 
The baby's life is never willfully destroyed because the mother's life is 
in danger."   

Yes, but he is a pro-life Christian doctor. Okay. How about ...

(b)    Alan Frank Guttmacher, MD (1898–1974) was  
past president of Planned Parenthood vice-president of the  
American Eugenics Society and one of the signers of the  
Humanist Manifesto II. 

He said this in 1967 “Today it is possible for almost any patient to 
be brought through pregnancy alive, unless she suffers from a fatal 
disease such as cancer or leukemia, and if so, abortion would  
be unlikely to prolong, much less save the life’

Evidence of Church History: 

            Basil the Great  "A woman who deliberately destroys a fetus is 

     answerable for death." 

     

     Athenagoras of Athens - "All who use abortificients are homicides and 

    will account to God for their abortions as for their killing of men."

     

     Chrysostom   Abortion  -"something even worse than murder."

     The didache (earliest Christian writing)    

     "You shall not slay a child by abortion." 

     The Synod of Elvira A ruling was passed that anyone who had an 

      abortion or helped someone have one would be excommunicated 

      until he or she were on their deathbed. 

      John Calvin   "The fetus carried in the mother's womb is already a

      man; it is quite unnatural that a life be destroyed of one who has not  

      yet seen it's enjoyment." 

      Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian during World War II 

      ‘A great many different motives may lead to an action of this kind 
      (i.e. thinking about and obtaining an abortion), but they cannot in 
      any way alter the fact of murder."

III.     THE GREAT DECEPTION OF THE CHURCH TODAY

    

  A spirit of desensitization:        

  Genesis 13:1-13, Genesis 19, the testimony of Lot  

  Today's impersonal terms:  Fetus. Product of conception. Uterine contents. 

  TOP  (Termination of pregnancy). Reproductive freedom. Choice

   A spirit of intolerance:     "He who justifies the wicked, and he who 

   condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the 
   Lord." Proverbs 17:15 Also see:  Matthew 25:40; John 4:15-18, 27,39,42; 
   John 8:1-11; Acts 5:40-41; Acts 9:1

                  

   Also see:  Matthew 25:40; John 4:15-18, 27,39,42; John 8:1-11; 

   Acts 5:40-41; Acts 9:1

   A spirit of tolerance:  Leviticus 20:2-5, Deuteronomy 21:7,

   2 Kings 24:3-4, Psalm106:34-40, Proverbs 8:36b, Amos 1:13,

   Revelation 2:20, Revelation 9:21, Proverbs 14:34

Theologian Francis Schaeffer: 

 "The evangelical accommodation to the world of our age represents 

the removal of the last barrier against the breakdown of our culture. 

If our reflex action is always accommodation, regardless of the 

centrality of the truth, there is something wrong. Here is the great 

evangelical disaster – the failure of the evangelical world to stand 

for truth as truth. There is only one word for this -- namely, 

accommodation.  The evangelical church has accommodated 

to the world spirit of the age."

Condoning 'exceptions', when there are none biblically 

Being "personally opposed "Deut. 30:19, Proverbs 21:13 – 

compare the mockery of Pilate in Matthew 27:24 with Deut. 21:6)

WHAT, THEN, SHOULD BE OUR RESPONSE? 

IV.   GOD'S SELECTION OF US TO INTERCEDE

    
     Selected to rescue weak and needy: Psalm 82:4

      Selected to speak out: Psalm 15:1,4

            Selected to rescue and defend: (Proverbs 24:11-12)

      Urged to repent, learn to do good, seek justice, reprove, defend: 

     Isaiah 1:10-17; if we amend our ways and practice justice, then 

            Selected to do justice: Micah 6:8, Also: Psalm 41:1; Matthew 18:10, 

     Matthew 23:23; Luke 18:15-16; James 1:27, Proverbs 21:13 

     "He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and 

      not be answered."

 

 

 

 

 

It’s election time again and believers are again tempted to put their  moral views aside, consider abortion a political issue, and choose their candidate on the basis of looks, rhetoric or national polls. 

As you consider the 2016, consider the candidates’ views, 

records, words and future plans:  Do they match scripture?

 

Election 2016 – It all began with this question:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Megyn Kelly an American conservative journalist, former 

attorney, news pundit and political commentator on the Fox 

News Channel: ‘“Would you really let a mother die rather than 

have an abortion?” Kelly asked. “And with 83 percent of the 

American public in favor of a life exception, are you too out 

of the mainstream on this issue to win the general election?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Walker (born again and pro-life) – no longer a candidate:  ‘I’ve said many a time that that unborn child can be protected and there are many other alternatives that will also protect the life of that mother. That’s been consistently proven.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lindsey Graham (no longer a candidate)  

 

"I'm pro-life. The most tragic thing in the world is for a woman to be raped, a child, a pregnancy caused by rape. I'm very pro-life, (but) I can't go there, I can't tell that woman you gotta carry that child," said Graham, a leading Bush surrogate. "I'm very pro-life, that's a sensitive issue, but I think in a general election that will be a hard sell."Graham added: "He (Marco Rubio) has no exceptions for rape or incest. Now, I respect the passion there but most Americans have a hard time going there." 

 

So, when the current Presidential front runners have 

been asked about abortion, what have they said? 

  

1.  Former Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 

Favors expansion of abortion: In order to expand worldwide 

access to abortion, she suggested that “deep-seated cultural 

codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.”  

Women in the World Conference in April 2015. 

Opposed: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to protect 

unborn babies 20 weeks and older claiming the bill is “not based 

on sound science” 

Strongly endorses Planned Parenthood: ‘“I’m proud to stand 

with Planned Parenthood.” “I’ll never stop fighting to protect the 

ability and right of every woman in this country to make her own 

health decisions.”

Links pro-lifers to terrorists: ‘“Now, extreme views about women,  

we expect that from some of the terrorist groups, we expect that 

from people who don’t want to live in the modern world, but it’s a 

little hard to take from Republicans who want to be the president 

of the United States," August 2015 Ohio speech

On the question of life at conception (taught in Scripture): 

Q: Do you believe personally that life begins at conception? 

A: I believe that the potential for life begins at conception. 

I am a Methodist, as you know. My church has struggled with

this issue. In fact, you can look at the Methodist Book of Discipline 

and see the contradiction and the challenge of trying to sort that 

very profound question out. But for me, it is also not only about a 

potential life; it is about the other lives involved.

And, therefore, I have concluded, after great concern and searching

my own mind and heart over many years, that our task should be

in this pluralistic, diverse life of ours in this nation that individuals

must be entrusted to make this profound decision.

2.  Senator Bernie Sanders – Democrat – Socialist

Senator Sanders has a lifetime pro-choice record. 

He has stated: ‘My position is that a woman's decision whether to have an 

abortion is a private one, and that this principle must hold true for all 
women, regardless of income."

In 1993, he co-sponsored the Freedom of Choice Act, which aimed to 

bar states from restricting the right to terminate a pregnancy before fetal 

viability or at any time when a termination is necessary to protect the 

health of a woman.

In April 2012, Bernie wrote "We are not returning to the days of 

back-room abortions, when countless women died or were maimed. 

The decision about abortion must remain a decision for the woman, 

her family and physician to make, not the government."

Sanders voted numerous times to allow women to travel interstate for 

abortions, supported permitting federal funding of organizations that 

conduct abortions, and voted to increase access and funding for 

family planning for women.

In light of these votes, Sanders has repeatedly received ratings of 

100% from NARAL Pro-Choice America 

3.  Senator Ted Cruz is born again and pro-life:  

 

"Every human life is a precious gift from God, and our law should protect innocent human life. .. countless individuals are devoted to affirming life, to promoting adoption and to helping provide comfort and aid to new mothers in distress. Their efforts have continued to make significant steps towards valuing the dignity of each human life. In time, we can all hope that we can come together and create a culture of life, where every human life is protected, cherished, and respected."2014 March for Life statement

According to the Houston Chronicle, “Cruz would allow abortion only in cases in which the mother’s life is in jeopardy: ‘I think that every human life is a precious gift from God and should be protected in law from conception until natural death.’” [Houston Chronicle, 10/31/12]

Ted Cruz Only Supported An Abortion Exception When The Life Of The Mother Was At Risk. According to the Texas Tribune, “But as the Tribune’s Emily Ramshaw writes today, many top Texas Republicans share Akin’s opposition to abortion in cases of rape or incest, putting them at odds with Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, who on Sunday released a statement saying they ‘would not oppose abortion in instances of rape.’ (Romney will appear at three fundraisers today in Midland.) Those Republicans – who include Perry, Attorney General Greg Abbott, U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst – say they only support abortion exceptions when a mother’s life is in danger.” [Texas Tribune, 8/21/12]  Note: see above medical testimony: Dr. C. Everett Koop (former Surgeon General) and Dr. Alan Guttmacher, former director of Planned Parenthood on abortion never being an option to save the mothers life: two patients, ability to treat both, if child does via treatment of mother THAT is NOT an abortion)

Cruz Supported The Life At Conception Act. “A Life at Conception Act – as introduced in the 113th Congress by Congressman Jim Jordan (H.R. 1091) and in the Senate by Senator Rand Paul (S. 583) – is legislation that, quite simply, would declare the unborn to be ‘persons’ under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, and therefore entitled to the right to life guaranteed therein.” [Pro Life Alliance, 11/9/12]

Companies can deny insuring birth control - agreed that companies should have the ability to deny women birth control coverage at their discretion. Source: BurntOrangeReport.com on 2012 Texas Senate Debate , Apr 16, 2012 

Protect innocent human life with partial-birth ban - Ted Cruz has fought to protect innocent human life. He played a leading role in several important cases, including defense of the partial-birth abortion ban, parental consent laws, and prohibiting state funds from going to abortion. These cases have all been part of the ongoing effort to ensure that every child in America receives the protection and respect he or she deserves. 'Ted successfully defended Texas's Rider 8, which prohibits state funds for groups that provide abortions.' Source: Campaign website, www.tedcruz.org, "Issues" , Jul 17, 2011 

Opposes public abortion funding - Cruz opposes abortion funding Source: Christian Coalition Voter Guide 12-CC-q1a on Oct 31, 

Opposes churches providing birth control. Source: http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Ted_Cruz_Abortion.htm

4.  Dr. Ben Carson also states he’s born again, is personally 

‘prolife’ but ‘pragmatic’ about ending abortion. 

a.  In the past, Dr. Carson stated: “As a physician who does not believe in 

abortion, when faced with a patient who has severe medical problems, I 

would refer someone for an abortion. I believe that person needs to 

hear both sides.  

b. I would never advocate it’s illegal for a person to get an abortion.

c. He was involved (although at a distance) with research using fetal tissue. 

d. He argues he is not out of step, is personally pro-life, but has stated: 

“There’s no line of compromise in your belief,” Carson clarified. 

“We can be purists and never get into office, or we can be pragmatic, 

get into office, and then bring about the change that we want.”

5.   Marco Rubio is a devout Catholic who often attends a 
        Southern Baptist mega-church. 

"I'm proudly pro-life, and I won't apologize for being pro-life," Rubio told reporters this week in Manchester. "I understand it's a difficult issue. When you find yourself in a crisis pregnancy, that's a very difficult situation. But I have to choose between the right of a person to do with their body with the right of an unborn child to live. And I choose to support the right of an unborn child to live." 

In remarks during the Aug. 6 (2016) GOP primary debate on the Fox News Channel, Sen. Marco Rubio said he had never supported abortion exceptions in the cases of rape or incest.

However, in an Aug. 9 interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Rubio said he had and would support legislation that included rape and incest exceptions provided the overall goal was to help reduce the number of abortions.

“I'll support any legislation that reduces the number of abortions and there are those that have that exception in it,” said Rubio.  “What I've never done is said I require that it must have or not have exceptions.”

“[T]he number of abortions in this country that are due to rape are very small, less than 1 percent of the cases in the world,” said Rubio.  “But they happen and they're horrifying and they're tragic, and I recognize that.”

He continued, “I also recognize that because of the existence of over-the- counter morning-after [pill], not to mention medical treatment that's now available immediately after the assault that should be widely available to victims, we can bring that number down to zero.”

A “morning-afterpill,” such as Plan B, is now sold over the counter at drug stores and it can induce an abortion by preventing an embryo from implanting in the mother’s uterus. Note: the morning-after pill is also an abortifacient!

Rubio added he'd win a general election argument over the topic with Hillary Clinton because, he said, she's an "extremist"on the issue given her support for abortion even late in a pregnancy. "I want to be frank," Rubio continued. "I would rather lose an election than be wrong on the issue of life." 

Rubio said he unequivocally backs abortion exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger. He said he also would back legislation with allowances for cases of rape and incest — even though he personally doesn’t support those exceptions. In April 2015 he stated that he opposed abortion in all instances -- but he'd support legislation that includes exceptions in cases such as rape, incest and when the life of the mother is threatened, and he has no problem with contraception.'

6.     John Kascich

 

“[Kasich is] pro-life except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger. He wouldn’t pick a pro-choice running mate or nominate pro-choice judges. He sees no point in discussing the abortion issue either. It doesn’t serve any purpose, he said. He can’t change his principles. Unlike other pro-lifers whose abortion position also bespeaks a divisive judgmental look at all citizens, [Kasich’s spokesman said], “you’ll never see him pounding on a podium screaming divisive rhetoric.”  Source:
John Kascich website @ http://http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/John_Kasich_Abortion.htm


8.     Jeb Bush

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said his position on abortion puts him in the "sweet spot" of where a 2016 Republican candidate needs to be to be the nominee. Bush, during a question on abortion rights, touted his position as pro-life with exceptions for cases of rape and incest. He said he was the most "pro-life person" on the stage because of his record as Florida's governor. He did not, however, support a universal ban on abortion. "But I believe there should be exceptions. And so that belief and that consistency on this makes me I believe poised to be in the right place, the sweet spot for the Republican nominee," Bush said during Saturday's Republican primary debate here ... "Politically, it's a tough sell to tell a pro-life mother -- had her daughter been raped -- that she would just have to accept that as a sad fact," Bush told CNN's Jamie Gangel. "This is not an easy decision, but Marco will have to explain that position." 

8.     Chris Christie

“You know, the fact is, that I believe, that if a woman has been raped, that is a birth, and a pregnancy that she should be able to terminate. If she’s the victim of incest, this is not a woman’s choice. This is a woman being violated. 

And the fact is, that we’ve always believed, as has Ronald Reagan, that we have self-defense, for women who have been raped and impregnated because of it, or the subject of incest, and been impregnated for it. That woman should not have to deliver that child, if they believe that violation is now an act of self-defense by terminating that pregnancy" 

Chris Christie (2/6/16 debate) (See note at conclusion of post **)

 
9.     Finally, what about Donald Trump?

 









a.   In 2000 he said, ‘I support a woman’s right to choose, but I am 
uncomfortable with the procedures. When Tim Russert asked me 
on Meet the Press if I would ban partial-birth abortion, my 
pro-choice instincts led me to say no. After the show, I consulted 
two doctors I respect and, upon learning more about this procedure, 
I have concluded that I would support a ban.’ 

b.   Last January (2015) he said, ‘“I’m pro-life and I have been 
pro-life,” Trump says. “It’s an issue and a strong issue.” 

c. Trump goes on to explain that he would only support abortion 
in cases where the mother’s life is threatened and in cases of 
rape or incest.‘


“I am for the exceptions.  You have the three exceptions. I'm for the exceptions.  The health of the mother and life of the mother.” “I absolutely am for the exceptions, and so was Ronald Reagan for the exceptions, by the way,” said Trump.  “There's nothing wrong with that.  You have to do it, in my opinion.” The three abortion exceptions that are usually referred to are noted in the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion except in three instances: pregnancy arising from incest or from rape, and abortion to save the life of the mother.  

Note: (see above re: rape, incest, and mother’s life issues)
 

The issue is not tissue or even ‘wish you’ didn’t ask.        

                                

The question is is also not “Is it a baby?”  

 

Even those who support abortion agree that it is.

 

The question is: Why would we ever support abortion, for any reason 

if it in fact ends the life of that baby? Is the unborn made in His image 

or not, and if so, how can we ever justify destroying that image 

because of how that life was conceived?

What’s the application for us?  

 

William Wilberforce said this: You may choose to look the other way, 

but you can never again say you did not know.”  

 

Scripture puts it this way:

Proverbs 24: 11-12: Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; 

save them as they stagger to their death. ¹² Don’t excuse yourself by 

saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and 

he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay 

all people as their actions deserve.’ 

 

Election 2016 – a difficult time, but an exciting challenge to 

obey God’s Word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The question in 2016 is not as much ‘who will you vote for?

 but as it is: What can I do to be Biblically pro-life? 

 

1.     Certainly, we have a great opportunity to speak up and speak out 

     this election year and to vote.

2.     We also have a great opportunity to continue to support ministries 

     that speak up for life and help women during a crisis pregnancy

3.     Finally, we have a great opportunity to know what the Scripture 

     says about life and live it out in our families

The question is simple: In this election year, will we listen to  

sound bites from CNN or Fox News or the candidates themselves 

or to sound doctrine from the scripture?

 

Will we be discerning or desiring to follow because it pragmatic?

Listen to sound scripture, because the voices of those who are making   
life and death decisions are sometimes deficient in their knowledge of the
 true and living God, His Word or on how to apply His Word in action.

Listen to sound scripture, because false prophets are leading others to 
lawlessness. Sometimes these false prophets are politicians, but they also 
can be in the church or on Christian radio or cable TV.

Listen to sound scripture, because many follow their sensuality,  
especially in these ‘last days’ (2 Timothy 3)

a.      when so many have a form of godliness, but deny it’s power

b.     when so many are captivated and lead away by sin

c.      when so many wish to be teachers, but never have come to the 

      knowledge of truth

d.     when so many will not put up with sound doctrine

e.      when so many churches seem obsessed with an inward focus

f.       when so many of the nearly 50 million who’ve had a personal 

     experience with abortion still need healing

 

 

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, 

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to 

God the Father through him.”

  =========================================================

** NOTE:    

This is an unbiblical position using a poor argument                        promoted by pro-abortion thinkers:

(1)   The truth of Scripture: Psalm 139:13-16 (The ‘defense’ argument pits the thinking of sinful mans against the creator of life)

(2)   Poor argument using the term self-defense: ‘So how would I handle this commenter? I would point out that they seem to be confusing their arguments. If they think the unborn aren’t human in morally important ways then they need to argue why that is. If they think that women are justified in taking morally important life because that life is analogous to a dangerous aggressor then they need to defend two points: (1) their insanely broad concept of behaviors that justify killing human life and (2) how a life that is exactly where it ought to be in a natural physical relationship that is not – under normal circumstances – dangerous or threatening is comparable to home invaders, assaulters, and attempted murderers.’ Source: http://prolife.org.nz/is-abortion-self-defence/

(3)   “A woman surely can defend her life against the threat to it posed by the unborn child, even if doing so involves its death.”

(4)   Unbiblical philosophical argument: see: http://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil160,Fall02/thomson.htm

(5)   Judith Jarvis Thomson, in this argument states that the fetus (unborn child) is not a person from the moment of conception. Ms. Jarvis states that: ‘“A woman surely can defend her life against the threat to it posed by the unborn child, even if doing so involves its death.” http://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil160,Fall02/thomson.htm 

(6)   Inconsistent argument:  The unborn is a person but may be killed because of the situation!

(7)   Poor practical argument: Rape victim victimized a second time in that she destroys life within her, suffers from post abortion consequences, while the rapist has ‘the evidence of his crime’ destroyed, all in the name of empowering the woman!

(8)   This argument, though, is completely consistent with the thinking of the pro-abortion movement  (see this article: 

      New Slogan: Abortion is Self-Defense: Abortion advocates are trying out a new argument for their cause: abortion as self-defense. This is the thinking of Eileen McDonagh, a Northeastern University political-science professor and author of the new book Breaking the Abortion Deadlock: From Choice to Consent.  For McDonagh abortion is a matter of self-defense. She writes that "not only does a woman have this right of self-defense, but the government has a responsibility to free her from this invasion." 

      She contends that all abortions should be legal and fully paid for by the government for all women. The old slogan that abortion is a woman's choice is finally being questioned by the public. Is everything a woman chooses to do acceptable? Is child abuse or drunk driving permissible simply because a woman chooses to do it? Why isn't abortion an act of violence? Doesn't choosing to do an act of violence mean it was premeditated? Pro-abortion groups have said that a fetus is not a baby, but rather a "blob of cells." 

     The alternative is to accept that an abortion kills a baby, but promote the idea that it is a "necessary evil." By this way of thinking, they maintain that the evil of abortion can be atoned for by doing good deeds. They recognize the pain of abortion, assure the woman she's doing the right thing, and admire her noble pain. The new approach of pro-abortion advocates is to make the baby a villain. McDonagh writes: "You cannot kill a person, albeit an unborn one, simply to go to law school or get a better job. . . . People are never justified in making a private choice about how to live their own lives if that choice inadvertently kills another person." 

     After stating this, however, she turns around and says "we must hold [the fetus] accountable for what it does, as we would any other human being. What it does is invade a woman's body, cause massive changes, and enslave her. We would not permit any born person to do this . . . why should we allow an unborn child to take similar liberties? And why shouldn't we use lethal force to stop it?" So a fetus isn't a "blob of tissue" -- it's a criminal. Many pro-abortion leaders believe this argument contains new, powerful ammunition they can use in fighting for government funding of abortion. 

      Source: [7/28/97 - Focus on the Family Citizen]  

 A final thought: http://lti-blog.blogspot.com/2013/03/lti-q-2-abortion-is-self-defense-jay.html