Playing Politics With Babies' Lives
Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) recently gave hope to pro-lifers that he, like Rep. Stupak (D-Michigan) in the House, would go against his party and uphold what is right for all Americans by taking a stand for life in the Senate. We believed he was helping us to have real choice by introducing an amendment so we would not have to pay for abortions with our tax dollars. And he stood—for a while.
Then he compromised. That’s a bad word to most Christians. We teach our churches to not compromise for the cause of Christ. But in politics it’s a word that is supposed to mean a solid business deal with benefits for all sides. This "compromise" actually, upon examination, didn't change anything significant when it came to abortion funding. Senator Nelson caved to political pressure, with the end result being he received more money for the state of Nebraska. I've been unable to shake Ezekiel 22:12, which is all about God's attitude at nations that shed innocent blood.
“In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me,” says the Lord GOD.”
Jesus says "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth" (Rev. 3:16). It would have been an easier fight had we not been led astray by false loyalty, ready to sell babies lives for cash.
Sen. Nelson defended his actions by saying that, essentially, it was too complicated for us to understand all the details of the Senate. However, there is nothing complicated about compromise. And this applies to us all.
We can cast stones at Sen. Nelson, but are we comprising? How many of us, if the health care bill ultimately passes with abortion funding, as it looks like it well could, will say, “well, I sure don’t like it but what can I do?” A recent poll showed that 72% of Americans oppose abortion in health care, but how many of the 72% will rise up like never before?
Focus on the Family’s James Dobson said:
I don't say this glibly at all. ... Shirley and I will not be able to comply. That is absolutely untenable to us, because it would make us participants in the killing of babies, and we can't and we won't do that. Now I don't know where all of this is leading or what the implications of it are, but if we have to pay ruinous fines, or have to go to prison, or even if we have to leave this beloved country and spend the rest of our lives in exile, that's what we are prepared to do. (Focus on the Family Daily: A Manifesto for Righteousness: 11/23/09)
Let that reality set in...
About the Author
Susan Tyrrell leads Bound4LIFE in Gadsden, AL and works with prayer ministries in the state. She completed her doctorate this year in educational psychology from Texas A&M University, and she teaches college English to support her prayer habit.
