Sunday, November 6, 2011

Amendment 26

When Anna and I started this blog two years ago, we wanted this to be a place where we could share what was going on in our lives and the various things God was placing on our hearts. We never intended this (and still don't) to be a controversial, confrontational, political, or anything of the sort type of blog. In fact, writing this post kinda makes me sweat a little because it's such a hot button issue right now. But at this particular time, the thing that weighs heavy on my heart just happens to be a very controversial topic.

Proverbs 31:8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."

If you have watched the news lately or been on facebook, you know that Amendment 26 has been the center of many stories, arguments, and disagreements. I should say, at this point, if you are reading this and are pro-choice, then we have a fundamental difference in beliefs. You will probably not agree with anything I say. I write this more for the "pro-life" proponents who are against this vote. To make it clear, the actual wording of what we are voting on is as follows:
"Initiative 26 would amend the Mississippi Constitution to define the word
'person' or 'persons', as those terms are used in Article III of the state constitution,
to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the
functional equivalent thereof."


That's it. This particular vote is as simple as a matter of what you believe. When does life begin? Does it begin at the moment of conception? As a follower of Jesus Christ and a believer in the inerrant Word of God, I need to look no further than scripture itself to determine my vote.

Psalm 139:13 "For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb."
Psalm 139:15-16 "My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began."
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Isaiah 44:2 "This is what the Lord says-He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you..."
Isaiah 44:24 "This is what the LORD says-your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb..."

It absolutely breaks my heart to hear friends, "pro-life" voters, and fellow followers of Christ believe the lies surrounding this issue. First of all, the vote is on how this amendment is worded. It is to protect the precious lives of unborn children, and that is it. This is not a vote to ban birth control or IVF. It is a vote to ban abortion....the murder of the voiceless and innocent. I am not naive to the possible repercussions to this amendment. I realize that some forms of birth control may eventually be affected. Do I believe that at any point Mississippi will actually do away with all birth control? No. I think that is HIGHLY unlikely. The forms that might come into question (dare I say?) should be questioned. As far as IVF goes, this is an industry that needs more regulation. This bill could change the methodology by which it is done. It might mean that fewer embryos are harvested, resulting in fewer and fewer unused embryos. Again, it is highly unlikely that IVF will ever be banned.

I have heard several arguments claiming this vote will criminalize mothers who miscarry. This is so utterly ridiculous that it does not deserve the dignity of a response. Another area of concern for several voters is abortion in cases of rape or incest. While situations like this are unimaginably difficult, truth does not change in hard circumstances. Please hear my heart...I am, in no way, being cavalier about the pain and difficulty of a woman faced with such. I cannot even begin to comprehend. But I do know that God alone is the giver and sustainer of life. And I fully believe that no child and no pregnancy is an accident. Even the times when it is so hard to understand, God still values that precious life.

I know have made several, albeit probably weak, arguments on reasons to vote yes. But for me personally, and anyone who is a child of God, the scripture is our final authority. And the Bible is very clear. God gives life, and He is the only one with the right to take it away. At the end of the day, if every single one of these arguments come to fruition, my vote will still be yes. God values life, and because of that, so should we. If we say we are pro-life, how can we not vote to save it? If you believe in the Word of God, then you believe life begins when you are "formless." There is not much shape to little person at conception, but God is "knitting him together" and "planning his days before a single one of them began." God alone knows what is going on inside of a womb. He alone sees it. He alone plans it. Who are we to say that life is not worthy?

Like I said before, if all birth control is banned and "unwanted" pregnancy rates soar, I will still answer to God alone for my vote. I will vote for what I know to be right, and trust our loving, good, and infinitely wise Father for the outcome. Isn't His plan always best? Because of that truth, we need not fear any possible repercussions from voting yes.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."








10 comments:

  1. I absolutely, whole-heartedly, unabashedly and TOTALLY agree with this blog post! God will receive the glory in any situation and I pray that He has mercy on the souls of the deceived and ignorant in this particular one!
    Good job Corrie, way to be bold, I know this was probably not fun to write, but it was important and powerful and I am proud of you!!! Thank you for posting, I'm posting this link on my wall. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amen and well spoken! We as Christians must have FAITH in God in all areas..and He is the giver of Life. As for women who have been raped..i had a friend who was raped and chose to not only have her baby but ended up keeping him and raising him and she told me God used her son to bring healing to her and she would never regret this choice. She traveled with me and many others across the country sharing in different churches about standing against abortion and standing for Life. Please vote for Life!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent, excellent, blog. God's Word never changes,and our obedience is not only expected but ultimately rewarded.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are delusional if you believe this doesn't ban birth control, or make it illegal to prescribe, dispense or consume it either. I challenge to to talk to your OB/GYN about the implications from this VERY vague bill and its wording. Further, I challenge you to look into the Personhood movement that is behind this and what its intentions and implications are. Get educated. Abortion is NOT the only decision this bill affects. It affects the hopes of countless women who hope to conceive, but can't without IVF, it affects the countless women who are raped and get pregnant, it affects the countless women who medically need hormones so that they don't have a period every 2 weeks, it affects the countless and I mean COUNTLESS of uneducated, uninsured, welfare driven women in this state that have no means or business getting pregnant. How many more welfare children will YOU wind up paying for?

    If its abortion thats on the line, the amendment would say "to delegalize abortion". it wouldn't be some ambiguous words to confuse poor innocent minds that think its black and white. Get educated sister.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ok, first off.. if you believe so strongly about your argument- you shouldn't have shame in identifying yourself. Secondly, CLEARLY we (my sister who wrote the blog and I) have different beliefs on the abortion issue anyway. Furthermore, you are the one that needs a little more education on this issue. It is not a vote to ban birth control, IVF, or fertility treatments. Could some of those things be affected if this bill is passed? Yes. But I don't think for one second this bill will ever do away with all birth control. You are either pro-choice or certainly have fallen victim to Planned parenthood's (and the like) lies surrounding this bill.
    Even still, one of the main points to this post is that -NO MATTER WHAT- it is not in our hands to take life. Whatever outcomes may be as a result of this bill, as Christians, we are to leave that up to God and trust that He will do what is best and right.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, delusional definitely is a word that comes to mind in reading the unintelligent and clearly uneducated post above this one. In fact, you're SO brave with your big ridiculous ignorant words that you're even ANONYMOUS! Wow. Way to stand up for something. Even if its WRONG. Clearly a weak mind who has bought into the lies.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Amen! Well worded and so true! I agree 100% :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. And also.. one more point. You stated that "it wouldn't be some ambiguous words to confuse poor innocent minds that think its black and white." Life is as black and white as it gets. God alone has the authority over life.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So proud of you for writing this, friendly!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Amen Anna! Life or death is as black and white as it gets! Planned parenthood is so full of lies and deception and I pray that every one will close down.

    ReplyDelete