During the first time slot of sessions Friday morning, four men courageously stood to set forth the far-reaching theological, strategic, and political ramifications of the pro-life movement in our times. Their subject matter was “How to End Abortion in America: A Look at the Spiritual, Practical and Constitutional Realities.” Jim Zes, a Vision Forum board member and longtime, dedicated champion of the pro-life cause, introduced the panel.
Dan Becker, President of Georgia Right to Life and a Board Member of National Right to Life
Mr. Becker asserted, first, that the historic position of the church is the sanctity of life, which is not just anti-abortion but extends to all phases of life. We are created imago Dei — in the image of God. In terms of Genesis 1:27, we must defend life from the start, fertilization, to the end, natural death. The church has universally affirmed, since the Didache in 95 AD, through the Church Fathers, Calvin, and the Reformers, that we must embrace life rather than death. The church has historically rejected abortion and birth control. Basil of Caesarea took action to establish pregnancy crisis centers for unwed mothers in 365 A.D., and the church boycotted businesses that used human collagen for women’s cosmetics. Christians in Corinth took care of pregnant prostitutes and promoted life, rather than abortion and death.
Mr. Becker insisted, secondly, that we must maintain the legal doctrine of personhood. God has already established the right to life by defining personhood from fertilization, so we don’t even need a constitutional amendment. Even if Roe v. Wade were overturned, the battle would not be over; we face issues such as elderly “futile care” cases, cryogenically frozen human embryos who are dying, human-animal hybrids, euthanasia, and anencephalic infants who are severely disabled and can be eliminated, according to wicked ethicists such as Peter Singer.
Flip Benham, Founder and Director of Operation Save America
Today, our goal is to birth some anguish in the hearts of believing Christians. In Luke 22:44, in the midst of Jesus’ great anguish of soul, He prayed more fervently.
Having witnessed the atrocities of Nazi Germany, the French existentialist philosopher Albert Camus said that a time always comes in history when a man who says that 2+2 = 4 will be punished with imprisonment and death. The issue, however, is not the result of making a stand, but whether 2+2 does, in fact, equal 4. As Christians, we have replaced truth, the real issue, with strategy. We have forgotten that our battle is truth.
We must have anguish, rather than becoming numb at the sight of murdered babies torn apart, and women placed in bondage with a chain around their necks. They have been convinced by our culture and by wicked, selfish men that they can secure “freedom,” but the action of abortion leads to slavery. In terms of Proverbs 28:17, when we embrace murder, we will be ensnared in a pit; no one will help us. Rather than covering sins, we must encourage confession and repentance. Only Jesus can heal and release us from bondage.
The church in America is the solution, but this means that she is also the problem. No one sees her fighting right now. The theology of the church must become a biography in the streets. You can’t wait for the legislature or conservatives to fix the problem because you will have to wait forever.
Bob Renaud, Oakbrook J.D. and a Legal Scholar
The fundamental problem, from a political and legal standpoint, is that we have relied on compromising “incremental” methods that have rendered us impotent in the fight to end abortion. As Howard Phillips says, “To achieve victory, you must seek it.” We have been more concerned about being respected and earning a seat at the table, than fighting for God’s truth and proclaiming His standard. Our fundamental problem is spiritual. Laws are needed, but as Adams said, the Constitution could only govern a religious people.
The pro-life movement has largely assumed, wrongly, that Roe v. Wade is the supreme law of the land. Unless the decision is overturned, the operative premise has been conformance. But this is unwise and even unconstitutional. Article VI of the Constitution says that the Constitution, laws made in pursuance with the Constitution, and treaties, are the supreme law of the land. Federal courts do not make laws, and the Founders operated on the assumption that courts issue only opinions, not laws. Each branch is responsible for interpreting and upholding the Constitution. The legislature and executive are never duty-bound to the court’s monopolized interpretation. The essence of the rule of law is that no branch has ultimate power. There are checks and balances, as Madison articulated in Federalist #47.
A “person,” which is protected by the 14th Amendment, must be defined as starting with conception. Although Justice Scalia wants to leave the abortion issue to the states, the Federal government has the duty to enforce the equal protection to life for all persons. Abortion is illegal as it violates God’s law, so it is not up to the states to decide.
Statutes on the books in various states require prosecution of abortion. These are unenforced because the district attorneys and attorney generals wrongly believe Roe v. Wade is the law of the land.
We cannot continue voting for compromising candidates. Don’t vote for anyone who will kill even one baby. Stop compromise at every level: birth control, funding abortion, compromise in the voting booth, etc. McCain and Palin are not the champions for the pro-life cause. For example, McCain boasted to Hillary Clinton’s supporters that he had stood with Bill Clinton in favor of pro-abortion judicial nominees. Palin appointed a Planned Parenthood person to the Alaska Supreme Court.
Posted by Caleb Hayden
To read Caleb’s full summary of this session, click here.