Filed under: Culture
Its never good to be a one issue voter when choosing political parties or a political candidate. For example, if Hitler was a pro-life republican, it would still be a horrible idea to vote for him. We need to use wisdom to discern the whole person and all the issues involved in order to make decisions.
Now that I have made that clear, check out these stats that I read today.
Abortions per day in USA: 3,700 (abortionno.org)
US Casualties in Iraq War to date: 4,124 (icasualties.com)
Iraqi Civilian Casualities: 90,000-100,000 (possibly more… its really difficult to find a solid number on this)
Abortions since beginning of Iraq War 3/31/03: 7,196,500
Christians, don’t forget about this issue and how abortion is a tragedy that is still occuring everyday in this area of the modern world. We as Christians should be talking about it just as much as we talk about the Iraq war. I don’t think abortion is just a political issue to God. Please make this issue a priority.
Here are some other important issues:
“Remember the poor”- Gal. 2:10 (foriegn aid/global debt/the state of welfare and the church’s relationship with them)
“Act Justly and Love Mercy”- Micah 6:8 ( justice against corrupt leaders/nations/businesses)
“Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth” -Mt. 5:5 (the way politics are done)
“He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” -Micah 4:3 (peaceful negotiations should be highest priority among nations for God values peace and wants more peace-makers from the local level to the global level).
“15 “Look at the behemoth,
which I made along with you
and which feeds on grass like an ox.
16 What strength he has in his loins,
what power in the muscles of his belly!
17 His tail sways like a cedar;
the sinews of his thighs are close-knit.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze,
his limbs like rods of iron.
19 He ranks first among the works of God,
yet his Maker can approach him with his sword.
20 The hills bring him their produce,
and all the wild animals play nearby.
21 Under the lotus plants he lies,
hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
22 The lotuses conceal him in their shadow;
the poplars by the stream surround him.
23 When the river rages, he is not alarmed;
he is secure, though the Jordan should surge against his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him by the eyes, [c]
or trap him and pierce his nose?”
-Job 40:15-24 (No one knows for sure what the ‘behemoth’ is, but it is obvious in this passage that God is delighting in this creature that He has made. Remember that ‘God is green’ and you should be too! He takes pleasure in interacting with his creation and finds it to be very good! So preserve His creation and join Him in restoring our world to His original intent!
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Good connection between the war and abortion. Abortion is a serious issue and it often gets overlooked. Although, one of the few things that I have read in Obama’s book was his view on this issue. I would hesitate to call him pro-abortion. From what I’ve read he shares my disgust with abortion but disagrees on how to prevent people from doing it. He still believes that it is choice and that it is not the governments place to ban it. I clearly disagree, but I do agree with him that we need to encourage prevention through education and through moral appeal.
Comment by brokenx August 4, 2008 @ 1:15 amOut of curiosity, do you have any idea where Obama said that he would sign every piece of pro-abortion legislature? I’m interested in reading that quote.
January 22, 2008
Chicago, IL — Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.
“Thirty-five years after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, it’s never been more important to protect a woman’s right to choose. Last year, the Supreme Court decided by a vote of 5-4 to uphold the Federal Abortion Ban, and in doing so undermined an important principle of Roe v. Wade: that we must always protect women’s health. With one more vacancy on the Supreme Court, we could be looking at a majority hostile to a women’s fundamental right to choose for the first time since Roe v. Wade. The next president may be asked to nominate that Supreme Court justice. That is what is at stake in this election.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America.
“When South Dakota passed a law banning all abortions in a direct effort to have Roe overruled, I was the only candidate for President to raise money to help the citizens of South Dakota repeal that law. When anti-choice protesters blocked the opening of an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic in a community where affordable health care is in short supply, I was the only candidate for President who spoke out against it. And I will continue to defend this right by passing the Freedom of Choice Act as president.
“Moreover, I believe in and have supported common-sense solutions like increasing access to affordable birth control to help prevent unintended pregnancies. In the Illinois state Senate, when Congress failed to require insurance plans to cover FDA-approved contraceptives, I made sure those contraceptives were covered for women in Illinois. In the U.S. Senate, I’ve worked with Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) on a bill that would make birth control more affordable for low-income and college women, and introduced the Senate version of Representative Hilda Solis’ bill to reduce unintended pregnancies in communities of color. As President, I will improve access to affordable health care and work to ensure that our teens are getting the information and services they need to stay safe and healthy.
Comment by theologian21 August 4, 2008 @ 7:32 pmI am glad that Obama has acknowledged that there is a moral dimension to abortion, but in his policy decisions, from what information I can find, he always supports pro-choice decisions. Many people have called him the most pro-choice candidate ever running from president. I am sympathetic with his passion for equality and women’s rights, but I think pro-choice legislature hinders women from fully living in their humanity and rather gives them opportunity to morally degrade themselves.
Comment by theologian21 August 4, 2008 @ 7:39 pmHi Kyle. Very interesting stats you got there. I think you forgot to figure in Iraqis who have been killed, not to mention other countries involved in the war. If McCain wins, you also must factor in the many lives that will be lost in conflicts with other countries such as Iran.
Plus I would contend that there must be some kind of difference between an embryo and a human being in a war-torn country. Let’s remember that it is not Christians who having abortions but Christian leaders who are conducting the wars. There is a big difference.
Comment by Michelle August 9, 2008 @ 6:33 pmYeah, excellent points. I totally forgot to post the Iraqi deaths which is something that should have def. been posted, and also the deaths from other countries.
My main point in the post really is that Christians should still be aware that thousands of humans beings are being killed everyday. I have personally been tempted to neglect the issue of abortion and I know many of my Christian friends have also. As far as the difference between an embryo and a citizen in a warn-torn country, I can think of some differences, but I think both should be highly valued and not destroyed.
You also made a good point that it is Christian leaders who are leading these ‘wars’ (Iraq and Afghanstan?) and that most Christians aren’t having abortions. Im not totally sure what to make of the comment. In the post I’m less concerned about what Christians are doing (which is an array of things!) and more concerned about influencing how Christians think and prioritize their lives. We should be pro-life on all fronts–foreign policy to domestic policy.
Comment by theologian21 August 10, 2008 @ 2:45 am