National or State Issue?
This is the promised follow-up to my email from July 11, which explained the abuse of the process that took place at the National Platform Committee last Monday. That letter can be viewed here. This letter will help explain why those who are truly pro-life are upset at the weakened language on life
Since Roe v. Wade was sent to the States by the Supreme Court, the often repeated phrase has been, “The life issue is now in the States where it belongs.” It seems we are just expected to accept that statement with no reasonable evidence or argument for why this issue belongs in the states. It looks like an attempt at gaslighting to me. How can the value of a person’s life be priceless and protected but lose its value and protection after a 5-minute drive across a state line? The value of life is not determined based on one’s zip code. Here is what the new platform says about defending life:
We proudly stand for families and Life. We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process, and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those Rights. After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the States and to a vote of the People.
The language from the previous platform is very detailed and leaves little room for misinterpretation regarding the personhood of the unborn child. In this new platform, there is no condemnation of abortion, and if it were not for the phrase “After 51 years” (apparently a reference to the overturning of Roe v. Wade), there would be absolutely nothing to tie this language to the child in the womb.
This statement about life in the new platform is, in itself, a contradictory statement that lacks basic logic. It cites the 14th Amendment (a federal document) on protecting life, and then ignores logic by declaring states are now free to protecting those rights. Since the 14th Amendment as well as the Declaration of Independence and the 5th Amendment contain similar language, and all three are federal documents, logic dictates that protecting life, liberty, and property are all national issues, not just state issues.
Perhaps the most dangerous, though subtle, error in this new language is the idea that, because a court made a ruling (overturned Roe v. Wade), now States are “free” to protect life – or not. The Declaration of Independence is clear, the right to life comes from God and it is unalienable. Government has no ability to grant a state or anyone else the “freedom” to protect life. The right to life comes from God, not government, and the purpose of government is to protect that God-given right. When people accept the idea that rights come from government and not God, they are surrendering to tyranny.
I strongly believe in States Rights and limited Federal Government, but when it comes to foundational issues like life, those issues must be addressed by Congress. It is the job of federal government to provide the glue that binds the States together as a nation by enforcing these issues uniformly across the United States – otherwise we will not remain united. Kicking the life issue down the road to the states only serves to further divide our nation.
Personhood
The most foundational question on this issue of life is the personhood question. Is the unborn child a person or not? If not, then life is not the issue, it is just “women’s health care.” But the personhood question has already been answered by the majority who believe late term abortion is wrong. By holding that belief, they have answered the question. Yes, the child in the womb is a person who deserves protection.
From there, we can see that the argument to permit early abortions but not late-term abortions, is based on the same flawed logic that says life has value in one state, but not after a 5-minute drive across the state line. How can life have value at 38 weeks of pregnancy, but not at 37? Or should it be 30 weeks, or 20 weeks? Where does one draw the line?
Drawing a line in time to define when to protect life is just as arbitrary as drawing a line on the map to define where life has value and where it doesn’t. Both are ludicrous – life is an unalienable right and should be protected everywhere all the time.
Who has the authority to answer the personhood question? This is where we have to go to the authority recognized by those who penned the Declaration and told us that the right to life comes from the Creator — God. God made it clear in His statement to the prophet Jeremiah how He views life before birth.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I consecrated you; I ordained you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5).
In this verse we see that God knows us, even at conception, even before the fertilized egg travels down the fallopian tube and implants in the womb. While we are still in the womb, He consecrates us for the purpose and calling He has for us.
The unborn child is a person, from conception to natural birth. Of course, when there is a life threatening complication, such as an ectopic/tubal pregnancy, the life of the mother must be saved – there is no other option. But, we must fight for personhood and life at the state level while we make our case for personhood at national level as well. It is the logical thing to do.
There is no more noble pursuit for any of us who live on this planet than protecting life. Anything less is uncivilized.
The LORD Himself says, “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” Proverbs 24:10-11
As such, it is EVERYONE’S job to protect life, in the womb, and out of the womb.
By contrast, it is tragic for any in the federal government to relinquish their involvement in the issue of abortion, and relegate it exclusively to the States (while hypocritically funding millions for military abortions and Planned Parenthood’s abortion mill).
Those who can’t get this foundational issue right are prone to deception on every other secondary issue.
We not only need a federal LIFE BILL banning abortion (by surgery and pills), but it needs to be a comprehensive LIFE BILL, financially and uncondemningly supporting pregnant and hurting mothers who will preserve their babies, and matching them with adoptive parents when possible.
This bill would also permanently eliminate the $553 million in annual federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which has parasitically fed off vulnerable mothers for 108 years by murdering their babies!
So let’s increase the intensity of our fight for life on every front. The kids are worth it. As the father of six children, I wholeheartedly agree with what the LORD says: “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a real blessing. Happy is the man who has many children.”
— Psalm 127: 3, 5