Is Pro-Choice an Issue or a Distraction?

We live in a self indulgent society. We have become a nation in which individuals consider liberty before law. The predominate American attitude is "this is a free country, and I can do whatever I want to whomever I want, and you have to accept that!" In actuality that is not the attitude of someone who respects freedom at all. That is the attitude of a ruthless dictator. The thoughts of one who respects freedom would be better expressed as, "I can say or do anything I want, and you are in no way obligated to act or to listen." It can be said that an individual's freedom to swing his fists ends where another's nose begins.

However, our problem goes much deeper than that. Not only do Americans feel that we have the right to say or do anything we desire, but if the consequences that we reap are negative, then it must be the fault of someone else. "My actions would never have negative consequences so clearly there was some outside force acting on this." This is clearly seen in the issue of abortion. Several different words are used to describe it but at the heart of the matter is the typical societal attitude.

Those that are for the taking of an unborn life hide under the guise of "Pro-choice." This title does not address the issue properly. It is nothing more than a straw man. The actual problem is that people are either unclear on, or choose to hide from, what the real choice is. The choice that is presented is the same one that man has faced man since the beginning of time. The choice is to keep God's commandments or to sin. Simply state the real choice is between right and wrong - murder and life.

The fact that we have a choice is not even debatable. This is not a distinctly American liberty. God, a power much higher than the United States Government, has always given mankind the right to choose. In the first book of the Bible we see man making a choice (Genesis 3). God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. It was left up to man to obey or to disobey. Even before that God had given Adam the choice of what to name the animals (Genesis 2:19). The point is that mankind is undoubtedly free to choose. However, inherent with this right is the fact that man must make sure that he is fully aware of his choices, and their consequences. It the consequences that result from his choice are negative he must be prepared to accept them.

In Genesis 3 Adam and Eve made the wrong choice. The resulting consequence was separation from God. Likewise the consequences are the same if man sins today. The end result is separation from God. "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood." (Isaiah 59:2-3a). While this passage is not a direct reference to the sin of abortion the principle definitely applies. In actuality, the choice involved in abortion has much more to do with spiritual life than physical. If a fully accountable adult murders an unaccountable child, the child's physical life is ended, but the adult's spiritual life is in serious jeopardy.

God is pro-choice. He expects genuine love from man. The love God desires is shown in the keeping of His commandment, "For this is the Love of God, that we keep His commandments" (1 John 5:3). The Lord has given us direction in order to help us make the right choices. He is on our side. God is "...longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9b). However, He has left us with the choice. Eventually we will all reap the consequences of what we have chosen. We must all "...be diligent to be found by Him in peace without spot and blameless" (2 Peter 3:14b-15). Choose for yourself this day who you will serve.

By Tracy Prater

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