A recent example is in Kansas pro-life Governor Sam Brownback from Kansas, who in May signed legislation that enacted more stringent regulations on abortion clinics, which directs “the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to write standards for exits, lighting, bathrooms and equipment. KDHE would issue annual licenses, have the power to fine clinics and could go to court to shut them down.” 

As a result, Friday the first of the three Kansas Clinics was informed it would be closed July 1 for not meeting the new requirements (requirements that are typical for many facilities, and not an undue burden on a place providing medical services). The other two clinics are also in danger of being closed. All three clinics are in the Kansas City area.

Formerly a US senator, Brownback left the Senate to run for governor of his home state. He was elected in November, and last Friday the news broke that Kansas may be the first state where no abortions may be legal. A pro-life governor has taken a pro-life stand and the state may end up free of abortion because of it.

Who we elect matters.

Ironically, the attorney in the Kansas City case who’s fighting to keep the abortion clinic in open is named Cheryl Pilate, whose name is a stark reminder of the governor of Jesus’ day who would not stand up to the crowd. Lou Engle, founder of TheCall, says that Pilate is like the political leader that says “I am personally against abortion,” but then gives in to the tumult of the people and their demands:

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!” Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!” So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. (Mark 15:11-15)

Did you catch that? Pilate wanted to “gratify the crowd.” It didn’t stop there. After trying to gratify the crowd, Pilate pleaded innocence. Matthew’s account says:

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it. And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. (Mathew 27:24-26)

Pilate’s spineless stance as the ruler, even after his wife had given him a prophetic dream warning him to have nothing to do with Jesus (Matthew 27:19), shows what happens when man caves to the desires of the masses, even when those desires are wrong. 

Engle points out what Jeremiah prophesies about this bloodguilt, which is still applicable today:

Also on your skirts is found

The blood of the lives of the poor innocents.
I have not found it by secret search,

But plainly on all these things.
Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent,
Surely His anger shall turn from me.’
Behold, I will plead My case against you,
Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ (Jeremiah 2:34-35)

We don’t even need a secret search involved in the bloodguilt in this nation. The Kansas abortion clinic that was informed of its closure was so far from meeting the minimum requirements in its application that it didn’t even need to be inspected. It was publicly out of compliance.

In this nation, we openly kill our children and then declare that these our somehow our civil rights, that an unborn child isn’t fully a person. In the same gasp that we abhor slavery’s declaration than a slave was not a full person, we gasp in horror that someone might tell us how to control our bodies.

We should rejoice at godly governors like Brownback, who, in the face of the crowd, stands tall and uses the position that God has given him to make godly laws that protect the unborn—whether those are sonogram laws or logistical laws, the object should be upholding Life, which is both constitutional and biblical. 

As a church it’s time to stand tall and speak for truth, even if the crowd rises in tumult against us. There is only one plumb line for truth: the word of God, which was lived in Jesus Christ. As believers, we have to measure our votes, our laws, and our decisions against that truth, or we become like a spineless Pilate.