contraception will grow until it wants to kill the child already conceived.”
—Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Because children have been devalued, and we’re so busy pursuing “more important ventures”, it’s not as hard to let someone else raise them and abdicate our responsibility. We truly have not maintained the import of nurturing and training children among society.
Because of our self-centered drive, careerism has been exalted above making a home, and an “unwanted pregnancy” is, well, unwanted. And now I have a *choice* without anyone knowing.
The breakdown of the family…that’s the root of this monster we’ve created. Feminism, humanism and socialism are at the root of this breakdown.
Since we sloughed off all basic responsibilities of parental values being transferred to children, we’ve received the consequence of teen promiscuity to a degree never imagined before in history. (And remember, now that there’s birth control, parents are all the less anxious about pregnancy; and all the more encouraged to exterminate one.)
We’ve allowed the state to teach our children–the institution that has abandoned every principle upon which morality is found, and has reinforced to them the “isms” that are destroying us.
We said home is not important. We said it when we said Mom should, or at least can leave and “be somebody”. And when the gatekeeper leaves, bad things happen.
We said men were no longer responsible for leading and lovingly guiding; and they gladly stepped aside.
Marx and his cronies were smart enough to know how to break the entire nation down to where we are; we’re just not smart enough to realize it and be willing to change it.
If anyone is thoroughly sick and desperate for the atrocities of abortion to end, I am. Please don’t sling accusations to the contrary. Hear my humble desperation. This is a problem far too out of hand to solve with a vote for a mostly pro-life President and his feminist Vice President. This is a job for God’s favor on a nation that turns back to Him.
I can’t justify supporting the root of the cause in some feeble hope of hacking at the branch.
41 comments
Amen Sister!
Let me pick up an ax with you and hack!
Many Blessings 🙂
Ace
Great article, Kelly. Thanks so much for writing this.
I wrote about The Root recently as well. But, I see the root of the problem a little differently.
http://gombojav.blogspot.com/2008/03/root.html
Fantastic article yet again Kelly! Your so able to eloquently state the truth we so much need to share. Keep up the great work sister!
My husband insists that I vote for McCain/Palin.
OK, Kelly, how do you explain your response to anonymous if your premise is that it is wrong, according to God’s Word, to vote women into office? If we are to obey God first, then doesn’t it rightly follow that she should disobey her husband since God’s commands trumps her husband’s?
There is no argumentative discourse intended.
Cathy (I’m the one with whom you communicated by email)
Let me talk out loud for a minute:
First I didn’t feel “settled” about that answer, I’ll be honest.
I do believe that a woman is justified to “disobey” her husband if what he is asking her to do opposes her conscience before God. If she is convinced it would be a sin for her to vote for McCain, she would need to appeal to her husband and explain her obligation to God first.
So, maybe a little recanting of my former answer, but not knowing whether Anon. is convinced, or whether she has appealed, it’s hard to give a flat answer.
Wonderful article! I agree with you on every point. I would like to address the comment by Anonymous. If your husband tells you to do something that is clearly sin (against God’s teaching), then I believe you should obey God over your husband. Scripture tells us that we are to obey our government leaders; however, the apostles and those in the New Testament Church clearly disobeyed government officials (many of them to the point of being put in jail and even death) in order to obey God. I think the same would apply as far as the authority of the husband. What if a husband insists that his wife have an abortion or rob a bank or murder her next door neighbor? Obviously, you would not do those things. The question is, therefore, whether or not a vote for McCain/Palin is sin against God OR just a matter of opinion. If it is a matter of opinion, then you should absolutely obey hour husband. But if it is a matter of sin against God, you should obey your God. For me, it would be sin against my God.
SM,
I see we agree…ditto.
Kelly,
Looks like several of us were talking at the same time without realizing it. Didn’t want to appear to be “beating a dead horse”. You did a great job in your further explanation to Anonymous.
But, that is exactly my point. Haven’t you, by way of your multiple posts, stated that a vote for the McCain ticket is in direct disobedience to God’s Word? I’ve read all of them since you began to write about Palin (my first intro to your blog) and that is a common thread.
Correct me if I’m mistaken.
Cathy
Yes, I believe it would violate God’s Word. But Anon must believe it too, or else her “opinion” doesn’t constitute disobedience to God.
Does that make sense? I’m not “flip flopping” here..I think honestly my brain is about dead! 😉 I know not everyone feels that it is SIN to vote for McCain or Palin. I guess I’m trying to include those in my answer without weakening my position.
Some women feel it is sin for them to work outside the home while others don’t believe it is. I’ve shared what I believe to be Scriptural. But ultimately, each one will have to be convinced before they cast their vote.
If it were me, I would have to refuse my husband’s request.
On an interesting side note, if a huband and wife vote oppositely, their votes will cancel each other out so they could save themselves the trouble.
May I add, regarding anon’s question…
By humble admittance, this has been a confusing topic. With devout Christians on both sides of the debate, all of us have really had to dig into the Word and ask God for guidance.
I have stated through many posts here where our family stands, and what we believe is Scriptural about this election.
Each family must search the Word and consider the debate and be convinced of their standing.
That’s why I faltered a bit answering the question…forgive my imperfections 😉
Kelly,
I appreciate your tempered approach to my question. However, here’s my concern: your other posts were extremely pointed. They didn’t sound like you were saying it was sin for you to work outside the home or vote the McCain ticket, it sounded as though all Christians were sinning if they don’t adhere to those ideas.
This is but one quote from your post that would, from my perspective, be an indictment of anyone voting McCain or not being a “keeper at home.”
“You can pick apart Scripture, and try to justify a rebellion against God’s sovereign order of the family, and in the end, you’re only left with chaos, confusion, and the mess that is our current society.”
What am I not seeing?
I understand fried brains, so no worries there. When/if you have time, please expound.
Cathy
Cathy,
I quite understand your confusion…I battle with my own all the time!
What it comes down to is what we see as black and white. I see almost everything in B/W terms. (I am constantly asking God “show me truth!”)
Question is, I honestly don’t know if God equates the sin of women ruling with the sin of murder. I wouldn’t have any problem telling a woman she is absolutely justified disobeying her husband’s request to commit murder. But somehow, I find it harder to be as black and white when I’m giving someone a personal answer.
Maybe I’m more pointed in my posts because I am not responding to a personal situation, but rather appealing to a general consensus about what I perceive the Bible to say?
Still, each one must answer to God. I can only point to the Word, defining it as clearly as I see it.
I generally believe it defies the Word of God to place a woman in civil rule; does one woman sin by voting because her husband insisted on it, when he hasn’t embraced that truth for his family?
I can’t answer that.
Kelly, I have been reading your blog for a couple of weeks now and haven’t commented due to time. Nine children, new grandbaby, homeschooling ect. But, I just can’t wait any longer.
First, AMEN to ALL I have read.
Second, God bless you and keep you!
Third, I pray for you, your heart is so similar to mine, only you express it WAY, way better:)!
Thank you for speaking on all the topics you do with such conviction and grace. I know it might be difficult sometimes when we are misunderstood or attacked. We have been there so many times with strangers, friends, family and members of the Body of Christ. So that is why my heart goes out to you and pray for continued wisdom and boldness.
God is using you to be a voice in a very dark time. I think He has not given me a platform at this time in my life because people like you say it so well and frankly, I get so impatient with the ignorance. But the Lord has showed me that if I judge others for what they are not convicted of, then I must also take credit for what I am convicted of…which is WRONG, because revelation, wisdom and guidance is from Him not me! So, I rejoice He has me where I am, I probably would do more damage than good;) Make sense?
Anyway, may the Lord keep you and bless and make His face shine upon you. I probably represent many women who just literally have seconds to check the blogs and little ones playing in the toilet at that!!
Gentleshepherd
Thanks, again, Kelly, for your thoughtful, honest answer.
I see a lot of what God says in black and white, but, from my view, there are a lot of gray areas, too. I think that liberty in Christ, grace and mercy play a huge role in the life of the believer. I’m with you on constantly asking God to show me, teach me and give me wisdom. Often, I ask that when I’m in despair and can’t find my way. It causes me to rely on God more fully, so that’s always a good thing.
Romans 14 is clear about not allowing your liberty in Christ to be a stumbling block to younger, less mature believers. If you believe that voting for the McCain ticket is sin, then it would be wrong to vote that way. However, another Christian’s conscience may allow for a vote in that direction.
Let me draw an analogy (without opening a can of worms). There are those who believe that if you do not homeschool your kids, it is sin. They use Deuteronomy 6 as the proof text to make the case. What happens, though, if the mom falls ill or there is a death in the family and there is no one to homeschool the kids? If it is sin, it is sin, regardless. (I do not believe that it is sin to send kids to school since I have homeschooled and sent kids to both public and Christian schools.)
This is one of the issues that I don’t see as black and white.
Some would say that mothers/wives shouldn’t work outside the home and that it is sin according to Titus 2. They’ll hasten to say, however, that if there is no other tangible means of income, it’s OK for a woman to work. You can’t have it both ways. If it’s sin, according to the Bible, situation ethics don’t apply.
I think it would help to remember, as you stated, that we must all answer to God. That would go a long way in helping us respect other believers who don’t have the exact mind set as we do.
After all, God is still in control. I had to remind myself of that this morning as I watching a political show this morning.
Thanks for your humility.
Cathy
Amen
I agree with you that the root of the abortion problem is not the legality of abortion. But minds will not change until a “wrong” label is put on it by the law. This is something I’ve written and lectured about quite a bit. I’ve been involved in the political side of the pro-life movement since well before I could vote.
The fact is, abortion has been legalized, and we cannot change this except to UNlegalize it. It’s never going to be won in the hearts and minds of America until it is declared morally wrong by law…a large part of our current culture of death and the enmity toward children has developed directly from the legalization of abortion, though abortion itself had similar roots. The war will not be finished when abortion is eradicated legally, it will only have begun. But it cannot begin until.
On the topic of abortion, even many people who defend the possibility of legal abortions, they say they are not pro-abortion, but they don’t want to punish women who are in this difficult situation. In Germany a curious thing has happened. Something that reflects that legal abortion affects adversely to the country. And also that the change is possible: you can promote a culture of life with the support of the citizens, when really there is a real wish of avoid abortions. Since the liberalization of abortion in this country, the number of abortions is officially four million. For that reason, among others, children are seen as an unintended effect of having sex. Many people thought it was necessary to promote greater social acceptance of children in an aging society. And civil society acted, without waiting for action by the State to promote births. They joined several media organizations in a campaign. Interestingly, after the campaign, the birth rate has risen in Germany. The video is exciting. Look here: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=SztG8JpxvHY
Santiago Chiva (Granada, Spain)
You are so brave, Kelly…..You and Voddie Baucham and a few others….CBMW and James Mcdonald among others are back-pedaling, but you hold firm…..Thank you…
Kelly it does seem that you are a bit undecided on this issue.
1. Can God Sin?
Of course we all know that the answer to that is no. He also will not contradict himself. So if we believe that women rulling is a sin, what will we do with the following Biblical Passage?
“Judges 4:4And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
5And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment”
Did God appoint Deborah a judge? Did He give her inspiration to prophesy? Of course the answer to these questions are yes.
I know some may say well that is only one time and in the old testament. I would then have to ask what are they going to do about Priscilla?
“Acts 18:18And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.”
“Romans 16:3Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:”
No one will debate that she was a leader IN THE CHURCH. One can even make the case that she was the most important for in the era that the New Testament was written the only way a woman would have been mentioned before her husband, especially in written form, would be if she was in a more important position than he.
This would lead one to conclude that there is no way that you can say women in leadership is a sin against God.
I will agree that it is not God’s 1st. plan. But often, because of man’s rebellion, we have to settle for God’s 2nd. best.
I think in direct refernce to Sarah Palin it would be a far greater sin to allow the opposing party to win. For not only do they directly oppose Mrs. Palin they proudly and directly oppose God. ie.
Abortion
Relegious Freedom
Homosexuality
I also know that there are those who will say I’m not voting for either, I’m voting for a third party. COME ON any thinking American knows that a vote for anyone other than the 2 main canidates is a vote against McCain and a vote for Obama.
2. What is Subjection to your husband?
Is only when you happen to agree? Or when you like what he says?
If you believe that women should live in absolute submission to their fathers and husbands. Then you must believe that includes everything execpt anything that is a SIN against God or breaks a law.
I again recognize your falter in this area. It is easy to obey when you happen to agree.
That brings me to another interesting side line you stated in an earlier post, “Yes, I believe it would violate God’s Word. But Anon must believe it too, or else her “opinion” doesn’t constitute disobedience to God.
Does that make sense? I’m not “flip flopping” here..I think honestly my brain is about dead! 😉 I know not everyone feels that it is SIN to vote for McCain or Palin. I guess I’m trying to include those in my answer without weakening my position.
Some women feel it is sin for them to work outside the home while others don’t believe it is. I’ve shared what I believe to be Scriptural. But ultimately, each one will have to be convinced before they cast their vote.”.
To which I must ask the question is sin determined by what an individual thinks about it? If I thought unfaithfulness to my husband was ok and justified would I not sin if I had an affair? Then how can you say that the sin of working outside the home and voting for a female in leadership is determined by what one believes. It is either a sin or it is not.
If it is not sin it is simply ones opinion or personal conviction. In either case by all means obey what you believe. However it is unfair and improper to force those opinions and convictions on other people.
I think one could even make the case that to militantly try to pursuade others to opinions or convictions (that has not been given to them by God) would be improper and maybe even border on sin it’s self. If we set the bar to high and dissuade others from following Christ then we have done Christianty a disfavor.
So I like you think that all families need to make the election a matter of serious prayer and study. Looking at what scenerio will do the most damage to the cause of Christ.
People need to get past the campaign rhetoric and look at real voting records and established positions.
People need to also realise that no vote or a vote thrown away on a 3rd party is actually a vote for liberlism, Obama, and all that they stand for or maybe more correctly don’t stand against.
I don’t think a Biblical Christian can give this kind of consideration to the questions and stay home or throw their vote away.
Anon
Ps. Ask me latter about my beliefs on women voting.
Anon,
First, on the issue of “wasting your vote”, which I’m so tired of hearing…I re-post this comment from an anon. author:
“To be honest, the Signers of the Declaration of Independence were wasting their ‘vote’ per se. They were signing a document that would have them hanged and expressing their opposition to the most powerful empire in the world. They risked everything they had including their lives to make a statement without knowing what the end result would be. They founded our Freedom based on ideas that seemed radical at the time and risking that they would not come out as winners because they valued the the possible end result of Freedom.
Our country was founded on the ideas of making your vote count based on what you believe, not betting on the winning horse. Just remember that by voting for the winning horse, you are VOTING FOR A HORSE.
Why not just vote for where your principles and ideas are? Is it really bad for you to lose? We all lose if you don’t vote for your principles and rather follow who the media says will be the front runner.”
Once again, the lesser of two evils is still evil.
If I’m wasting my vote to choose third party, then I don’t live in a free republic, and I am imprisoned by the law of pragamatism. I’m not a pragmatist, nor is my God, and neither were our forefathers.
The answer I gave about sin vs. not sin, black and white vs. gray…I won’t deny that I have some confusion here about how to answer. I’ve thought a lot about this today. Yes, I believe Scripture teaches it is wrong for women to be in rule, just like I believe to ignore the commands to be a keeper at home is blasphemy.(Not my words.)
We may cringe at the very sound of those words, but the words are there! What else can we do but believe them?
Deborah is not an exception that trumps the commands of Scripture. Because there’s not enough room to expound, and because other people have said it so much better, I’ll include this link that explains why Deborah doesn’t justify Palin:
http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/ballot_box/should_christians_support_a_wo.aspx
I haven’t “militantly tried to convince others to opinions or convictions”. If God’s Word said it, it’s HIS word, not mine. Someone’s interpretation doesn’t nullify what is written there.
I can’t be convinced Priscilla was a leader in the church. She was with her husband serving with Paul; who cares if her name is first. Scripture is CLEAR that women are not to be in leadership roles within the church. (And why do we scorn this, imagining that it’s because we’re not capable or worthy? It’s a glorious, protective command!) She holds no example for women ruling in leadership positions.
As deperately as we want a savior, we can’t embrace the very rebellion that caused this destructive snowball in the first place. It’s not the answer.
Truth is the answer. We don’t have to compromise our belief in God’s Word in order to help Him and elect “the best choice”. We can say “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” And be one of the 7,000 who did not bow to Baal.
“They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;…Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation;…The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel…” Psalm 78
A little off the immediate subject, here is an excellent, short article by Voddie Baucham asking,
“Was the Proverbs 31 Woman a Career Gal?”
Thank you, thank you for this article. You are not alone and God is raising up voices that can not remain silent! I join your voice. I will see about putting a link to your blog on mine….
http://www.strongquiver.blogspot.com
Emma
Thank you, Kelly, for your response to Anon and for countering his/her assertion that to vote for a third party would be sin. Since there is really no difference in the two main parties (and this is easy to confirm if one cares to, then to attempt to take away a Christian’s choice for a non-socialist candidate by calling it sin is….. I’ll let the reader decide on that one. VERY SCAREY, to say the least!!!
Kelly, I know you must grow weary at times as you fight these battles, but I am thankful God is using the gifts he so obviously has given you to encourage us. The “Deborah” argument has baffled me from the beginning, since there were so many things practiced in the OT that we KNOW God would not have us practice today. I wonder if those using this argument would believe that Christians today should practice fornication, adultery and even incest since it was practiced by God’s people in the OT. God has obviously, throughout history, allowed things that are not righteous. Should we practice unrighteousness and even blasphemy when the Titus 2 teaching and other teaching in the NT re gender roles is so clear that a young child can easily understand it? I think we had better go with what is absolutely clear.
I also really appreciated the Voddie link. Thank you. A very balanced article.
A quote from my husband yesterday: “Why on earth would I want a ‘weaker vessel’ to be in a position to possibly command the Armed Forces of the United States?” I hadn’t thought of that one yet, but I am sure others have 🙂 Again, we will vote for righteousness and leave the rest to God.
Oh dear sister in Christ, please do not take offense. I am not slinging accusations, as you assert. No, instead I am asking questions. There is, I would hope you’d agree, a vast difference between the two. But then I see that another anonymous poster replied to you in the comments to the same post, which may have complicated the issue somewhat. I was not that poster.
I feel as though I, as an anon, was having a conversation with you and then others intervened, and my identity was no longer clear. I was the one who started the headship vs. abortion discussion. However, the last message I posted ended with the words: “God could intervene, of course. But barring that, John McCain is the only one, besides one of the liberal Supreme Court Justices, who has the power to end the wholesale killing of over 3,000 Americans on a daily basis.” I was not the poster who questioned your heart motives or accused you of being a Southern Baptist (most anyone with a cursory examination of your blog could tell that you are Reformed).
Because there is some confusion, I will sign my comments “Jenna” so you will know who I am. Of course, others could always post with that name as well, but I don’t believe anyone intended to impersonate me or pretend they were the same anon as I am. So I’ll sign “Jenna” to differentiate.
~Jenna~
And now I’d like to respond to some things you posted in reply to me that got lost in the shuffle of other anons posting.
1. Children are not being raised in homes where they are being taught abstinence and then being guarded, on a practical level, against it (this used to be the norm), so as more youth are sexually active, more abortions are performed.
While that’s technically true, it’s not the root of the problem either. Teenagers only have 17% of all abortions. Half of women who have abortions are actually over the age of 25. Most who have abortions already have at least one child, and about 20% of them are actually married! So it’s not just about, or even mostly about, the teenager who’s “in trouble” anymore. To be truthful, I think the best remedy to abortion, other than making it illegal (which WILL help), would be to set support systems in place for women who choose to give birth to their children. I also think encouraging very early marriage (late teens to early twenties) would do a lot to reverse the trend of broken families we are now seeing. This is only provided that spouses are wisely chosen, but I don’t believe it requires the degree of deliberation that some seem to think. If the Lord is in it, almost any two people can thrive in a marriage.
2. The moral character of children which holds hands with the above statement has deteriorated because there aren’t even parents home to take on this huge responsibility of teaching it. The nurturer of the family has gone to pursue a career so they can have a “better life”. Even when the physical presence is there, the vision and understanding of the parent’s role is not.
True enough. However, I’d add that I was raised by non-Christians, but I was still abstinent before marriage. Of my friends who had “godly” parents who strongly encouraged/forced premarital celibacy, all but one became pregnant before marriage (none had an abortion, though).
3. Since parents aren’t teaching morality, we’ve allowed the school system (and our kids’ peers) to do it. Planned Parenthood is having a hay day.
That’s definitely true. I’m definitely not in favor of any education to our children by Planned Parenthood. However, having graduated from public high school only a few years ago, I can assure you that I never heard a peep out of Planned Parenthood in my sex ed classes. The danger of the public schools with regard to sex education is greatly exaggerated, in my opinion.
4. The heavy pressure of women to succeed in their careers causes far more married women to seek abortions–children interfere. Of course far more parents seek abortions for their own grandchildren (when their kids are pregnant out of wedlock) as they place a higher priority on “future success” than anything.
That’s true, too. I totally agree that the pressure to succeed in careers not only pushes marriage too far into adulthood, but childbearing as well. I’m not at all convinced that this should preclude women from having careers, but I do think there has to be a work/family balance for which our current system does not allow.
I could go on…do you see the cycle? Bottom line? The breakdown of the family is at the root of the abortion industry’s success. That’s why holding up yet another career woman, to say “this is the answer to end abortion” is so nuts to me!
No one would accuse a husband of being a bad father for working outside his home. Why, then, must a woman be a bad mother if she uses her talents to benefit the world? Mothers are uniquely suited to take care of their children. However, they are endowed with abilities and instincts that enable them to decide the best way to do this, based on the whole counsel of Scripture. You admit that others may see the issue differently than you. Might you be willing to admit that they don’t sin by doing so?
~Jenna~
Now for some questions:
1. Do you believe that a McCain administration has a greater probability of ending the horror of legalized abortion than an Obama administration does?
2. Do you believe that a McCain Presidency could be God’s will for the United States?
3. Romans 13:1 says that all authority comes from God. That means that whoever we elect, that person will be the leader God has chosen for our county. Do you realistically believe that Chuck Baldwin or whomever you support might be God’s choice for the next President of the United States?
4. If you cast your vote for Mr. Baldwin (or another third party candidate you know will not win), are you at peace with the idea that you are deliberately casting a vote against the will of God for this country?
5. If you were driving along the road and there was an animal in the middle of the road but a small child on the side of the road, would you choose to hit the child or hit the animal? Both are admittedly bad choices, but I would hope you’d have the sanity to say you’d hit the animal.
6. If it is okay to choose the lesser of two evils in this situation, why is it unacceptable in a Presidential election?
You claim you will be held accountable for your vote, and that is why you must not vote for Mr. McCain. While I agree that you will be held accountable for your vote, I would say this makes a case for you voting FOR Mr. McCain, and thus potentially contributing to the end of legalized abortion in America simply with the replacement of one liberal SC Justice with a judicial conservative.
~Jenna~
Jenna,
Thanks for clarifying some things–that really helps!
First, I wanted to respoind to a couple of things in your first comment…
You said:
“No one would accuse a husband of being a bad father for working outside his home. Why, then, must a woman be a bad mother if she uses her talents to benefit the world? Mothers are uniquely suited to take care of their children. However, they are endowed with abilities and instincts that enable them to decide the best way to do this, based on the whole counsel of Scripture. You admit that others may see the issue differently than you. Might you be willing to admit that they don’t sin by doing so?”
This is where we part ways drastically. The reason why a man isn’t a bad father for working outside the home is because by order of Creation his job is to provide. If he has to work outside the home to do that, he must. I firmly believe Scripture teaches that a wife and mother is “to be a keeper at home so that the Word of God is not blaphemed”. Period.
Has NOTHING whatsoever to do with her gifts and talents–in fact, those gifts were given to her for a reason. It’s not like God messed up or contradcits Himself. We’re so naieve to think that “having gifts” means we’re wasting them at home! It’s not that we can’t have a business, or help our husbands in his business, or display our talents in other ways, but we are commanded to guard the home and family by being there.
The other thing was I’m glad you mentioned that abortions are more prevalent among older married women..which was part of the point I was making. WHY is that true? There can only be one answer, and it finds its roots in careerism, a self-centered world where we’ve told women their worth is found in something other than children and home.
Jenna,
I may not answer all your questions thoroughly here just because I’ve answered them in other comments so many times!
I do not believe it is God’s will for McCain to run the nation. Or Obama. And I don’t believe it’s God’s will for Christians to compromise because they feel that “we don’t have another choice”.
If every Christian voted according to principle and conscience, we would see–maybe not in this election, but soon, a return to a government who operates according to godly principles, like we once did, and therefore a nation blessed by God.
Our problem? We won’t to fix it, and we want to fix it now. God doesn’t work that way.
This question you asked…
“If you cast your vote for Mr. Baldwin (or another third party candidate you know will not win), are you at peace with the idea that you are deliberately casting a vote against the will of God for this country?”
Wow. This is not how our forefathers thought, and I’m devasted to see so many Christians compromising for pragmatic answers. This question doesn’t even register with me…might I add that in Bible times, leaders were appointed by God and people didn’t vote in a republic forum.
You asked:
“If you were driving along the road and there was an animal in the middle of the road but a small child on the side of the road, would you choose to hit the child or hit the animal? Both are admittedly bad choices, but I would hope you’d have the sanity to say you’d hit the animal.
If it is okay to choose the lesser of two evils in this situation, why is it unacceptable in a Presidential election?”
I hate to state the obvious, but we’re not choosing between animals and people in this election; we’re choosing between people and people. By the way, abortion isn’t the only topic that McCain falters on…traditional marriage and, listen up, guys–this is BIG, he’s not a Creationist. Lest you think that’s not a big deal, I can talk about why whether you’re a Creationist or Evolutionist forms your entire world view.
And finally, what makes me or anyone else think that McCain will end legalized abortion when every Republican president before him has said the same thing and NOTHING has changed?
True reform comes from rock-solid, unashamed, face-like-a-flint obedience and dependence on God!
Thank you so much for writing this! It is very articulate and right to the point.
This is where we part ways drastically. The reason why a man isn’t a bad father for working outside the home is because by order of Creation his job is to provide. If he has to work outside the home to do that, he must. I firmly believe Scripture teaches that a wife and mother is “to be a keeper at home so that the Word of God is not blaphemed”. Period.
So do I. I just differ in what I believe it means to be a keeper at home. As I’m sure I’ve heard you say before, the word translated “keeper at home” means “one who watches over or guards the home.” A woman’s place is to guard her home and watch over it to make sure that the Word of God is not blasphemed. To me, this is much different than the assertion that she must not be employed outside the home. A woman need not be there at all times in order to guard it; otherwise, it would be a sin for her to sleep!
Has NOTHING whatsoever to do with her gifts and talents–in fact, those gifts were given to her for a reason. It’s not like God messed up or contradcits Himself. We’re so naieve to think that “having gifts” means we’re wasting them at home! It’s not that we can’t have a business, or help our husbands in his business, or display our talents in other ways, but we are commanded to guard the home and family by being there.
I did not say that confining her gifts to home would be a waste of her talents. I heartily approve of stay-at-home motherhood (and even childless stay-at-home wifehood). However, I also believe it’s possible for God to call a woman to a position of responsibility outside her home.
The other thing was I’m glad you mentioned that abortions are more prevalent among older married women..which was part of the point I was making. WHY is that true? There can only be one answer, and it finds its roots in careerism, a self-centered world where we’ve told women their worth is found in something other than children and home.
The worth of a woman is found in something other than her children and home. The worth of a woman is found in her relationship with her Lord and Savior, and nowhere else. Even an infertile, unmarried orphan still has value in the Lord. Marriage and motherhood are high, godly callings, but there are other callings for women which are also high and godly.
Abortion exists not because of careerism, but because of the evil of this world (yes, this includes self-centeredness). Since time began, I believe many women would have killed their babies if only they had known how, just as I believe many more men throughout the ages would have fallen to the sin of pornography if they had had internet access. I don’t believe it’s a sign of our values so much as a sign of the convenience of violating our values.
~Jenna~
I do not believe it is God’s will for McCain to run the nation. Or Obama. And I don’t believe it’s God’s will for Christians to compromise because they feel that “we don’t have another choice”.
Do you believe, as Romans 13:1 states, that ALL authorities are set in place by God? Understand, Paul here was not talking about a religious government…he was talking about the secular, Roman authorities. He said that ALL authority is given by God.
God cannot act against His will. Therefore, if Barack Obama is elected, it will be God’s will for this country (maybe God’s will is to punish America). Similarly, if John McCain is elected, it will be God’s will. God puts leaders in power. God cannot act against His will. Therefore, those who are in power are God’s will. This is a non-negotiable, basic, Biblical truth. I’m sorry if you can’t see that.
If every Christian voted according to principle and conscience, we would see–maybe not in this election, but soon, a return to a government who operates according to godly principles, like we once did, and therefore a nation blessed by God.
Our problem? We won’t to fix it, and we want to fix it now. God doesn’t work that way.
This is easily as applicable to your argument against gradual change against Roe v. Wade.
This question you asked…
“If you cast your vote for Mr. Baldwin (or another third party candidate you know will not win), are you at peace with the idea that you are deliberately casting a vote against the will of God for this country?”
Wow. This is not how our forefathers thought, and I’m devasted to see so many Christians compromising for pragmatic answers. This question doesn’t even register with me…might I add that in Bible times, leaders were appointed by God and people didn’t vote in a republic forum.
The leaders are still appointed by God. Just because we vote for them doesn’t make them any less appointed by God. Can the Lord not work through the electoral process?
I hate to state the obvious, but we’re not choosing between animals and people in this election; we’re choosing between people and people. By the way, abortion isn’t the only topic that McCain falters on…traditional marriage and, listen up, guys–this is BIG, he’s not a Creationist. Lest you think that’s not a big deal, I can talk about why whether you’re a Creationist or Evolutionist forms your entire world view.
This may or may not be a true statement, but the question of whether we are talking about animals vs. people or people vs. people totally misses the question. Is it ever appropriate to choose the lesser of two evils? If so, why is it not appropriate in a Presidential election?
And finally, what makes me or anyone else think that McCain will end legalized abortion when every Republican president before him has said the same thing and NOTHING has changed?
That’s where you’re wrong. Plenty has changed. Roe v. Wade was decided 7 to 2, and most political thinkers now believe that if Roe were retried today, we would have a much closer 5 to 4 decision. Just one more conservative Justice could put us at reversing Roe – and we would have already been there if Bill Clinton had not been elected. You can deny the change all you want, but it’s clearly there. The Supreme Court is much more clearly positioned to reverse Roe than it was before this string of conservative Presidents.
~Jenna~
Loved this article. Very well articulated. Please, let’s not forget one of the biggest roots of abortion–a root that is in the church–sexual immorality.
Go to http://www.abort73.com. Their fantastic approach is so eye-opening. Basically, the church’s abortion problem has become the nation’s abortion problem.
Just like David’s sin of sexual immorality was compounded with murder by his desire to hide the sexual immorality from being exposed, the same thing with abortion.
Remove the sexual immorality, and you remove most of the abortion. That’s my thinking.
Jenny
http://ladyinthelamb@wordpress.com
Jenny,
That’s true, but what then of the married women who are having abortions? About 20% of abortions are performed on women who are currently married. Presumably their sexual intercourse was not immoral…just their hearts. While cutting down on sexual immorality will perhaps lower the rate of abortion, it will not eliminate it. The practice is still legal, and people’s hearts are still evil and selfish.
Also, I’m not sure Kelly believes that sexual immorality is the root of abortion. I’m pretty sure she believes that feminism is the root of both sexual immorality AND abortion, but I really can’t speak for her.
~Jenna~
Jenna is right…I believe that a series of reactions, rooted in the feminist mindset is at the foundation of what causes so many abortions. Until our hearts are circumcised, we will not see an end to abortion, legal or not.
Interestingly, in the early 1900’s when there was talk of allowing artificial birth control to the public, the church drew up a “warning” (if I can find it I’ll post it), about the inevitable consequences. In that document they warned that the rate of marital affairs would increase drastically, as would the rate of divorce, fornication and abortion.
No one paid attention.
Wow, what a convicting article!
Now that I’ve read a few of the comments, I can see that I’ve missed a lot. Evidently, voting for a woman has been called a sin?
I have to wonder what you think about Deborah, who judged Israel? She had a husband, but SHE was put in the position of leadership. She even led men into battle. Obviously, it was during a time when Israel was in turmoil, and evidently the men were not being men, were not taking their place. In that place and situation, God used a woman.
Is it not true that in America today, men are not taking their places? Righteous, God-fearing men are not standing up to be counted. Where ARE the men? I honestly believe that perhaps God’s plan could be to use a woman, to shame those men who have forgotten how to lead.
Yes, it does seem contrary to God’s instruction in scripture, but God raises and overthrows leaders as He will. Far be it from me to question that what He does is done perfectly.
Of course, I don’t vote, so that’s rather easy for me to say. I don’t have to decide. But if I did, I would tend to think of it as a vote against Obama, who seems to me to be evil incarnate, rather than a vote for a woman.
And as I look back over this comment, I realize that it’s not at all about the post itself, but about the comments…sorry!
thanks for your interesting thoughts~
Homefire
Just saw that the subject of Deborah had already been tossed out–I guess I missed some comments the first time.
Also noticed the idea that a vote for a third party is equivalent to a vote for Obama. That I DO NOT agree with. I get sick of people saying it. If everyone believes that, then yes, it’s true. BUT if everyone who honestly believed in a third-party candidate actually **voted** for them, who knows what God could do? WHY do we limit God so?
~homefire
Okay, I’m finally up to speed and have read ALL the comments. 🙂 Wow. Lots of good discussion!
There is one thought that you expressed that I’d like some clarification on.
I do not believe it is God’s will for McCain to run the nation. Or Obama…If every Christian voted according to principle and conscience, we would see–maybe not in this election, but soon, a return to a government who operates according to godly principles, like we once did, and therefore a nation blessed by God.
On what do you base that? Why do you think that God means for this nation to go back to being a Godly nation? Perhaps it’s sort of like the time of Noah, when God saved a few, but destroyed the rest.
I know that sounds awful, but in studying prophecy, I can’t find *anything* about the United States. It simply doesn’t enter into the picture. I have to wonder if God’s plan DOES include restoration of our Christian nation.
He has set up the rulers, always. We know that because Scripture says so. And this election is NOT introducing anything new. The groundwork has been carefully laid for years for all the horrors that we fear might come to pass during this administration. Which party comes into power may not make any difference at all in the long run.
We have been blessed to live in a nation that was based on Christian principles, but I believe that the handwriting is on the wall that it may not endure much longer. Face it, we WILL endure persecution (REAL persecution) in the end, because the Bible says that it will happen.
I’m just curious what basis you have for believing in a return to a Godly nation? I know that belief is widespread, but I honestly have not been able to find any reason for it.
Blessings to you, and thanks for sparking a very interesting conversation!
Homefire
homefire,
You question is a very good one that helps me “clean up” my point a bit…
I don’t know if it’s God’s will to restore America. I do know this:
God always requires HIS PEOPLE to do the right thing. He always preserves the remnant of the righteous. He spared Noah because “He found favor with God”.
He begs His people, “Obey Me, and I will bless you”.
So in regard to anything, including this election, I don’t believe it is up to us to “help God” by voting against the “scary one”, even if it means we compromise with the lesser one.
I believe we hold fast to choosing righteousness, and allow God to do what He will, knowing that our ONLY safety is in His protection when we have done what is right.