Well the election is two days away and I know all of us are very glad. No more ads! I can’t wait for that.
Last Sunday I told you it was so important that you vote and that you vote your values. I’ve been thinking about that all week and the truth is, that wasn't really saying anything. We always vote our values. When we pull the trigger in the voting booth, we are always saying the candidate we vote for will best support what I value most.
There are many things we can value in the voting booth. We can value the economy most. The commercials we’ve watched make it clear that there are two thoughts on how to grow the economy. One is nick named trickle down economics where big business grows and gives jobs. The other is being called trickle up economics where the middle class and small businesses are promoted by being given tax breaks and larger businesses are taxed more.
Or maybe you value change. I think just about everyone is wanting change in our country. We’re tired of the cronyism in Washington and the just absolute unwillingness to make hard choices. We want to believe there are some principled men and women who will do what’s best for America rather than adding pork and earmarks to bills running up our country’s deficits. I’ll be honest, change was high on my list of values.
In this election we have an opportunity to elect a man of African heritage. It has been as recent as my life time that the 24th Amendment was passed removing the poll tax which attempted to keep black people from voting. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was the most sweeping reform in civil rights for people of color, was passed when I was five years old. Some folks value putting that chapter of our history behind us and this election gives them that opportunity. That would be high on my value list as well.
I think most of us try to evaluate candidates against the many things we value and see who would be the best. I don’t think a single issue can necessarily qualify a candidate, but I do believe a single issue can disqualify him.
I’m sure there were many issues before the Germans when the Nazis were killing the Jews and Gypsies but don’t you believe that issue should have trumped all the rest?
Or during the time of Abe Lincoln, when his platform was for the ending of slavery and the Douglas’ was not; wouldn’t that issue trump all the other issues?
For all my adult Christian life, I have been unapologetically pro-life. I have done what I can to defend the life of unborn children. We have gone to Washington consistently to speak with our political leaders. We have written letters. We have given money to fund abortion alternatives. And for many years now, I have said that abortion trumps all the other issues I value when it comes to voting. I want to say to all of you that protecting the lives of unborn children, ought to trump every other thing you value.
This is not pro-life Sunday but I want you to watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtYQpA-tics
God’s word is really clear that children are a blessing from God. That life is sacred and shedding innocent blood, ranks super high in what God hates. Listen to what God says about the shedding of innocent blood....
"Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the
LORD." (Leviticus 18:21)If the people of the community close their eyes when that man gives one of his children to Molech…I will set my face against that man and his family and will cut off from their people both him and all who follow him… (Leviticus 20:1-5)
Do this so that innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the LORD your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed. (Deuteronomy 19:10)
He sent them to destroy Judah…Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to forgive. (2 Kings 24:2_4)
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood… (Proverbs 6:16_19)
"Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you." (Ezekiel 35:6)
Last week I told you that I had come to the conclusion that I was writing in my vote. I was pretty confident in that direction but as I’ve thought that through, I’ve come to the conclusion that it was because I had placed the value of change above the value of life. I’ve reconsidered.
On the issue or value of life, there is a vast difference between the candidates. Vast! Now, if you think that's an overstatement, that the difference between the candidates isn't that great, or they will not influence the future of abortion in this country, I challenge you to look their statements and their records. Mr. Obama is clearly and strongly committed to the legalized killing of unborn children, backed up by his 100% pro-abortion voting record. Mr. McCain has repeatedly stated his commitment to life and has also demonstrated it by his voting record to oppose the legalized killing of children.
I’m not thrilled with the pro-life candidate, but you need to understand that the pro-abortion candidate is very committed. In his July 17, 2007 speech to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund Mr. Obama said,
"We know that a woman's right to make a decision about how many children she wants to have and when— without government interference—is one of the most fundamental freedoms we have in this country. . . . I have worked on this issue for decades now. I put Roe at the center of my lesson plan on reproductive freedom when I taught constitutional law. . . So, you know where I stand. . . The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do."
If you don't know about the Freedom of Choice Act, it was written by the most radical pro-abortion activists because they saw informed consent and parental consent laws being passed at the state level. They wanted something powerful that would dismantle anything that could serve to reduce abortions through requiring that people be told the truth before an abortion or before their sixteen year old, who can't be given an aspirin without their permission, can have an abortion.
So on Tuesday you have a clear and different choice. I know there are many things that you value that may make you want to vote for the pro-abortion candidate. Believe me, I understand. But I want to challenge you all to make defending the life of innocent, unborn children your highest value when you go to the polls on Tuesday.
(I am indebted to Randy Alcorn whose blog on this very issue impact my decision.)
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