Last week Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation prohibiting nearly all abortions in her state after the unborn baby’s heartbeat is detected. The Des Moines Register reported the pro-life Governor as saying, “I believe that all innocent life is precious and sacred, and as governor, I pledged to do everything in my power to protect it. That is what I am doing today.”
According to the newspaper, “The ‘Fetal Heartbeat law,” which goes into effect July 1, if the courts don’t stop it, will require physicians to conduct an ultrasound test for a baby’s heartbeat on any woman seeking an abortion. If a heartbeat is detected, it’s illegal for a physician to perform an abortion. A heartbeat can be detected about six weeks into a pregnancy. That makes this legislation the most restrictive abortion ban in the nation.
To no one’s surprise, Planned Parenthood, which is Iowa’s largest provider of abortions, immediately announced it would file a lawsuit. The Des Moines Register article concluded, “The Supreme Court has declined to hear similar cases in recent years. But as states continue to pass legislation restricting abortions and President Trump appoints more conservative federal judges, abortion opponents are increasingly optimistic.”
It’s my conviction that abortion is America’s most grievous sin. When the nation of Israel drifted from God’s law, one of the worst indicators of their spiritual decadence was the sacrifice of newborn children to Baal. (See Jeremiah 19:5.) A nation that does not protect innocent babies is a nation that is morally bankrupt and on the verge of God’s judgment.
That’s why a political candidate’s position on abortion is my number one issue when I go to the polls. In my opinion, if you see nothing wrong with killing a baby in the mother’s womb, you have a seared conscience. God’s amazing grace can forgive any sin, and He has been incredibly patient with us. But calling abortion, “a constitutional right” or “a woman’s right to choose” are pathetic euphemisms for infanticide.
Contrast Governor Kim Reynold’s pro-life position with that of Michelle Wolf the guest entertainer at the White House Correspondence Dinner a week ago. One of Wolf’s crass “jokes” was about abortion. Speaking of Vice President Mike Pence, she said, “He thinks abortion is murder, which first of all, don’t knock it till you try it. And when you do try it, really knock it, you gotta get that baby out of there…And yeah, sure, you can groan all you want, I know a lot of you are very anti-abortion, you know, unless it’s the one you got for your secret mistress.”
Notice, the ardently pro-abortion comedian didn’t call the unborn a “fetus” or “a mass of tissue,” she called it a “baby.” Deep down in our hearts we know exactly what we are doing and that it is horribly wrong. The prophet Jeremiah decried Israel’s spiritual insensitivity by asking, “Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.” (Jeremiah 6:15)
I’ve heard the argument from passive believers that a politician’s position on abortion doesn’t make any difference. They reason, “After all abortion is legal and we can’t change that, so we ought to weigh other political issues just as heavily.” However, as the above news story indicates, God is using the tenacious efforts of pro-life politicians to make a significant difference.
Congratulations Iowa! Your state is a bellwether for national elections; may you also lead the way in protecting the unborn. All who relentlessly continue in the pro-life fight across America merit our praise. You have not grown weary in doing good and we are much closer to victory because of your dogged determination. Stay the course!
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?” (Proverbs 24:11-12)
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