LIFE OR DEATH
In a recent interview, Democratic Vice-Presidential hopeful Senator Joe Biden tried to walk the line between the staunch abortion-rights advocates in his party and his own religious beliefs. While he said he did not often talk about his faith, he said of those who disagree with him: “They believe in their faith and they believe in human life, and they have differing views as to when life — I’m prepared as a matter of faith to accept that life begins at the moment of conception.”
Sen. Biden may have been attempting to "walk the line" politically, but a closer look at his actual argument is truly horrifying.
Sen. Biden says, and we must take him at his word, that he accepts as a matter of faith that human life begins at conception. But, he argues, he is perfectly willing to support a woman's right to choose to end that human life.
The killing of human life is called homicide. Murder is the willful taking of a human life. The senator has here stated that he believes abortion to be homicide, but he defends a woman's right to kill the unborn human life within her because he would not impose his beliefs about human life (and thus about homicide) on others.
In other words, if we take Sen. Biden seriously, he would defer to others who believe otherwise when it comes to the law.
I believe Sen. Biden to be a serious man, and that is what is most frightening about this. Can a morally serious man really say that he believes that unborn babies are human beings, but that it should be a protected right to kill them? I don’t think so.
6 comments:
Just wondering, do you support the death penalty?
These last few years I have been trying to figure out where I stand on the death penalty issue because I consider myself a very firm believer in ending abortion in the United States, and abroad, ASAP!
Yes, I support the death penalty because I believe it is biblical. God created government and grants government the use of the death penalty to protect the people and deter crime.
Hope that helps.
Thanks! Do you mind leaving the verses of Scripture that back up your belief in favor for of the death penalty?
I am looking forward to your next blog.
Off to go pray then vote!
Be prepared for a rather lengthy answer. Here goes--
The Old Testament law commanded the death penalty for various acts: murder (Exodus 21:12), kidnapping (Exodus 21:16), bestiality (Exodus 22:19); adultery (Leviticus 20:10); homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13), being a false prophet (Deuteronomy 13:5), prostitution (Leviticus 21:9) and rape (Deuteronomy 22:24-25), and several other crimes. However, God often showed mercy when the death penalty was due. David committed adultery and murder, yet God did not demand his life be taken (2 Samuel 11:1-5, 14-17; 2 Samuel 12:13). Ultimately, each and every sin we commit should result in the death penalty (Romans 6:23). Thankfully, God demonstrates His love for us in not condemning us (Romans 5:8).
When the Pharisees brought a woman who was caught in the act of adultery to Jesus and asked Him if she should be stoned, Jesus replied, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7). This should not be used to indicate that Jesus rejected capital punishment in all instances. Jesus was simply exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. The Pharisees wanted to trick Jesus into breaking the Old Testament Law...they truly did not care about the woman being stoned (where was the man who was caught in adultery?) God was the One who instituted capital punishment: “Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man” (Genesis 9:6). Jesus would support capital punishment in some instances. Jesus also demonstrated grace when capital punishment was due (John 8:1-11). The Apostle Paul definitely recognized the power of the government to institute capital punishment where appropriate (Romans 13:1-5).
So, basically, we are back to where we started. Yes, God allows capital punishment. But at the same time, God does not always demand the death penalty when it is due. What should a Christian’s view on the death penalty be, then? First, we must remember that God has instituted capital punishment in His Word; therefore, it would be presumptuous of us to think that we could institute a higher standard than He or be more kind than He. God has the highest standard of any being since He is perfect. This standard applies not only to us but to Himself. Therefore, He loves to an infinite degree, and He has mercy to an infinite degree. We also see that He has wrath to an infinite degree, and it is all maintained in a perfect balance.
Second, we must recognize that God has given the government the authority to determine when capital punishment is due (Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:1-7). It is unbiblical to claim that God opposes the death penalty in all instances. Christians should never rejoice when the death penalty is employed, but at the same time, Christians should not fight against the government’s right to execute the perpetrators of the most evil of crimes.
Hope this helps.
P. Tom,
Thank you for your insightful and Scripture based response. I see those WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets and other knick-knacks everywhere which I would love to replace with: WDJD-"WHAT DID JESUS DO", thus taking the guess work out of my incorrect and very often un-Biblically sound interpretations!
In looking back at my first comment (I'm "Anonymous" on the two previous entries), our now Vice President's comments about infanticide are quite bothersome (which I can only pray, lobby and now blog about). Buggar of it all, I still confused about my thoughts in favor of capital punishment. In Colossians, Paul tells us that Christ is in us all (3:11), so where, and how, does one become so bad off that Christ no longer resides in the believer? Paul goes on in 3:13 telling WE MUST forgive as Christ Himself forgave. I'm certainly not saying to open the doors of our prison's and release very dangerous and malicious people; just where is the "Point of No Return", where one can not be forgiven (in this life) for their sins?
I thank you very much for your kind words and for your time in responding to my posts.
In Him,
A
What appears to be a biblical or spiritual conundrum is not as difficult as it might seem. There is a difference between forgiveness for sin and criminal consequences for breaking the laws of the land. Our justification results in us being declared not guilty and fully righteous before a holy God. The miracle of regeneration is eternal and is the result of God’s mercy and grace. However, if you or I break a law of the land, while our salvation is secure and our forgiveness is assured, we still face consequences for our actions. Scripture is replete with godly men and women who had a heart for God but suffered earthly consequences for their misdeeds.
I hope this helps
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