By: Kevin Townsend
In Proverbs 6:16-17 one of the “six things” that “the LORD hate(s)” is “hands that shed innocent blood.” This principle is rooted in God’s eternal, perfect justice and holiness. Just so mankind does not miss this point, it is repeated elsewhere in Scripture: Exodus 23:7 “Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.”
In times past our nation generally upheld these principles to a much greater degree. “Between 1939 and 1945, Nazi Germany invaded many countries across Europe, inflicting 27 million deaths in the Soviet Union alone.” (Wikipedia Community 2024, vol. Nuremberg trials) This does not include the extermination of approximately 6.5 million Jews by the Nazis in the Holocaust. Following World War II, the United States participated in the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal (IMT) to punish those responsible for the death, suffering, and war crimes that occurred during the war. 24 Nazis were indicted, of which 12 were given the death sentence for their crimes. There were many more than 33.5 million who died due to these evil men. You may wonder what this has to do with us in United States in the year 2024 and a false matter.
Although many public and private agencies try to make obtaining the data difficult, using publicly available data I was able to get a MINIMUM number of “legal induced abortions” (Kortsmit 2023) reported by 46 of the 50 states (excluding California, Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey) for the period 1973-2021. During that period, there were 43,119,558 so called “legal” abortions that were performed within the US. Rest assured that there were many more e.g., the remaining four states and other non-reported abortions, etc. Our government and leaders are complicit in this. “The federal government gave nearly $700 million to Planned Parenthood during a 1-year span…” (J. Joseph 2024). If the Nazis were worthy of death for exterminating untold millions (and they were) then our leaders are even more culpable, for the unborn are sinless and pure in the sight of God. Deuteronomy 27:25 says: “Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.” Those who DO this and those who SUPPORT/ENCOURAGE/FACILITATE this are under a curse proclaimed by God Himself!
A false matter, in the context under discussion, is the murder of the innocent. It begins in a false heart. When our hearts (minds, thoughts, intellect) are corrupted, then false actions occur. Jesus tells us in Mark 7:21: “For FROM WITHIN, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,” One false statement of women who believe that they have the right to abort their children is, “My body, my choice.” That false belief in their heart is a lie that they tell themselves and believe which brings forth death. In 1 Corinthians 6:20, Paul tells us by inspiration: “For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your BODY, and in your spirit, WHICH ARE GOD’S.” We do not own our bodies, so we do not have the supposed choice alleged by the proponents of abortion.
Some of our government leaders who support abortion believe and use another old lie. This is the same method and lie the Nazis used. They proclaim infants in the womb are not persons/human beings and thereby allegedly making them eligible for destruction. The Nazis similarly proclaimed Jews to not be Aryans of the Master Race, giving them supposed legal authority to exterminate them. Once men proclaim that certain human beings have not met some artificially devised humanly standard not consistent with the word of God, they then falsely believe that they can “legally” proceed with their evil. The real question I propose to you, the reader, is, “Do you want to be part of this? Do you want to support/encourage/facilitate the death of the innocent?”
In history, people were often governed by kings who became ruler automatically due to a bloodline, lineage, or some other method out of the control of the people. We are blessed in this country to have the freedom to elect our leaders. With the blessing of us having this choice comes an obligation and responsibility for each voter before God to act righteously for Him giving us this blessing. In Psalm 82:2-4 we are told of this obligation: “How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” Who is more “poor and needy” than an innocent child in the womb ready to be unjustly put to death? Are we willing to “rid them out of the hand of the wicked?” We have the ability to do this, if we are willing.
At the ballot box, there are many factors we each use when we place our votes. We consider: Will the leader/party I vote for have policies that lower prices of the goods I buy? Will they have policies that increase jobs and prosperity? Will my party selection help reduce crime, providing a more secure living environment for my family? But more important than any of these is how they act regarding the murder of the unborn within the womb! It is our duty to oppose those who murder the unborn in ANY and ALL ways possible, consistent with God’s word. In Isaiah 32:7-8 (WEB) we learn: “The ways of the scoundrel are evil. He devises wicked devices to destroy the humble with lying words, even when the needy speaks right. But the noble devises noble things; and he will continue in noble things.”
There are no perfect political parties or perfect political candidates. Yet there are individuals and political groups that stand closer to God’s ideal than others. Both you and I must educate ourselves so that we make decisions and choices consistent with God’s word and His expectations. God sees all that we think and do. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:12: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” Our choice can potentially save lives or cost lives. It can be found pleasing or unpleasing by our God. Choose wisely.