Protect Life

I want to begin by saying that this is not intended to be a purely political post.  I'm not dense enough to believe that this is not a politically charged post but that is not my primary focus.  In fact, I want you to know that although I have a political lean I have voted for both parties in the past.  That being said, I want to talk about the preservation of life, specifically abortion.

Abortion has been thrust at us again as a key issue in this year's election.  I see political ads with ominous music warning women about how evil Mitt Romney is in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade and ending legal abortions in this country.  While that ad is meant to scare folks into voting for President Obama I think it may also be galvanizing support for Romney.  It is galvanizing support for Romney because to me it stinks of irony.  "Evil ridding the country of abortion."  To me that's pure irony.

Before I continue, let me be clear that I'm not naive enough to think this is a one issue election. You are not evil if you vote for either man.  I truly believe that both men want what is best for my country and I'm serious when I say that.

But abortion is not a debatable issue.  It is wrong.  The Bible is clear about this.  Throughout scripture we see David talking about God knowing and forming him in his mother's womb, as does Jeremiah.  In Luke, Jesus and His cousin John the Baptist have a connection while still in their mothers' wombs.  The Bible is clear that life begins inside the mother at conception.

I know people will bring up the exceptions like: a mother who's life is threatened in pregnancy or pregnancy via rape.  To me life is life; but let's face it, the majority of abortions are done for the sake of convenience.  One study says 86% of abortions are done for convenience sake.

Abortion is a rampant evil.  More than 53 million lives have been aborted legally since the Roe v. Wade decision.  This is something I pray to see end.  Out of 53 million children how many of them would have been doctors, social workers, teachers, preachers, football players, mayors, world class chefs... I mean abortion is stealing great people from our society.

When my mother was pregnant with my sister her water broke early.  My mother was flown from Spencer to Iowa City to save my sister's life.  Miraculously my mom's water resealed and my sister was born on time instead of prematurely.  If my sister had died in my mom's womb that would have been a tragedy.  Why, because my parents wanted her?  If my mom hadn't wanted her and decided to abort my sister then it wouldn't have been a tragedy; it would have been a choice.  Seriously?!  If my sister would have died either through my mom's water breaking early or by the "choice" of an abortion (I should note my mom has never and would never consider an abortion) it would have been a tragedy.  My sister is a beautiful, 21 year-old woman who has a heart for social work.  To lose that would be a loss for everyone.

Or what about my brother?  He was the surprise child.  It was inconvenient for my mom and dad to raise two children who were 18 months apart.  Yet it would be an extreme tragedy to lose my brother who is a caring, loving 19 year-old young man who has a heart for the lonely and forgotten in his world.

I pray that abortion in our country goes the way of slavery.  I pray that my children will shocked by the idea that it was once legal to kill a person because you didn't want them around or because it made economic sense.  I pray that on Tuesday our nation elects a William Wilberforce type character and I couldn't care less what party he/she is from.

Take your vote seriously, it is a great privilege and responsibility.  Pray that the men and women elected are the best to end poverty, create economic fairness and protect life.  And please do what you can to end the murder of children today.