When Roe vs. Wade was passed in 1973, dissenters warned about the slippery slope of abortion on demand. Opponents predicted, “There will come a day when abortion will be so commonplace and consciences so seared that infanticide will be acceptable.” Abortion proponents always responded by scoffing, “Don’t be ridiculous! That’s just a grandiose scare tactic. This is not about killing newborn babies; this is about protecting a woman’s right to choose. It’s about making abortion safe, legal and rare.”

Last week, the New York State Legislature passed a bill that makes it legal in the Empire State for abortions to be performed right up until the day of birth. The so-called Reproductive Health Act passed with a 38-28 vote and thunderous applause in the state Senate chamber. Governor Cuomo signed the bill and afterward celebrated by ordering the One World Trade Center’s spire to be lit pink. One commentator put that action in perspective by stating, “Now it looks just like the needle that is used to supply the lethal injection to the living unborn child.”

Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel at the American Center for Law and Justice, wrote, “This is not an advance in our civilization. It’s a huge step back to a darker time. It’s the ultimate step toward dehumanizing babies in the womb in order to kill them. Horrific is the only word to describe it.”

But abortion advocates around the state gleefully celebrated. The Governor called the bill a “Historic victory for New Yorkers and our progressive values.” Planned Parenthood tweeted out, “This is huge.” Understandably so. Just think of the increased profits the abortion giant will experience now. Huge indeed!

However, God’s Word warns,

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” (Isa. 5:20)

God “knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Ps 139:13)

“The Lord hates hands that shed innocent blood.” (Psalm 6:16-17)

Jesus cautioned, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:10).

I honestly don’t understand how anyone can believe the Bible and love the Lord Jesus Christ yet still endorse abortion at any stage. But a person who can applaud the recent New York law must have a numbed conscience and a calcified heart. If you are a Christian, how can you not be outraged at the thought of the killing of a fully developed baby? And how can those of you who claim to be followers of Christ continue to vote these people into office? Jeremiah asked, “Is it nothing to you – all you who pass by?”

Over 200 years ago the poet Alexander Pope wrote, “Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, as to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace.” Long before Alexander Pope penned that warning about sin’s escalating nature, James, Jesus’ brother, wrote, “…after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:15).

Last week another “progressive” abortion bill was under consideration in the state of Virginia. Its sponsor, Kathy Tran, was asked if a woman about to give birth and dilating could still request an abortion. Following an awkward moment of hesitation, she answered, “My bill would allow that…yes.”

Afterward, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, who supported the bill, slid even further down the slippery slope when asked a hypothetical question about a child born with a deformity. In a television interview, he stated, “So in this particular example, if a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen, the infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”

Nebraska’s Senator Ben Sasse called Northam’s comments, “Morally repugnant.” “In just a few years pro-abortion zealots went from ‘safe, legal and rare’ to ‘keep newborns comfortable while the doctor debates infanticide.’ I don’t care what party you’re from – if you can’t say that it’s wrong to leave babies to die after birth, get…out of office,” Sasse told National Review.

The principle of the regressive nature of sin goes all the way back to the days of Noah in Genesis 6. The Bible says, “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.  The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled” (Genesis 6:5-6).

Because of its complete depravity, God destroyed Noah’s world with a flood. Simon Peter warned, “…in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, ‘Where is this ‘coming” he promised?  Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’  But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word…the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.  By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 3:3-4)

Solomon wrote, “There is a time to weep.” I am deeply grieved today. I mourn for the lives of millions of children who were not given the right to life. I grieve for the young, expectant mothers who were given wrong counsel and chose abortion instead of adoption. I grieve for my grandchildren’s future and for the collapse of a once-great nation that was founded on Judeo Christian values. I grieve for national leaders who are in total rebellion against God’s will.

I also grieve that this spiritual freefall has happened on my watch. I have occasionally been criticized for speaking out against the moral ills of our culture. I’m told it can give the church a negative image and it makes some Christians uncomfortable. I only regret I wasn’t bolder and more prophetic. I should have done more. We all need to repent and ask God’s forgiveness for fearing the disapproval of men more than the Judgment of God.

But let’s not quit. “With God nothing is impossible.” God would have spared Sodom if ten righteous people would have been found in the city. In his book, The Great Evangelical Recession, John Dickerson estimates that only 7% of Americans are Bible-believing evangelicals. But if that small remnant would repent, seek God’s face and pray, perhaps He will withhold judgment on our country, and the lost can be spared. While I pray God protects our country, I’m so discouraged and find myself doubtful out of fear that too many evangelicals’ consciences have also become calloused.

But “Today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart…” (Heb. 3:15).

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