Voice Box Series

A couple of opposing candidates for county office were sitting near each other in the local diner... One turned to the other and said, "You know why I’m going to win this election? Because of my ’personal touch.’ For example, I always tip waitresses really well and then ask them to vote for me."

"Oh, is that so?" replied the other. "I always tip them a nickel and ask them to vote for you."

These politicians discovered as so many have that people vote their pocketbook.

-Bill Clinton won the Presidency twice with the motto “It’s the economy stupid”.

-In George Bush’s online “Agenda for America” the first three chapters of his agenda deal with money issues like tax cuts, better jobs, education help, health insurance, small business help. Abortion, which I think is the #1 issue that Christ followers should be concerned about is not even mentioned as an issue until the 4th chapter.

On John Kerry’s website his “Plan for America”, is dominated by pocket book issues and security are among the eight major topics. On a page with 15 “Other issues”, abortion is not mentioned as a major topic but is discussed briefly on a page entitled “Women”.

-So why this emphasis on government financial help and assistance? “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy”. Alexander Tyler 1747-1813.

This appeal to the pocketbook continues while one million babies are being aborted every year. Since 1973, 45 million unborn Americans have been aborted in this county – that is a rate of 4000 people each day. When both parties agree that abortion should be rare, what is going on here?

There is a lot at stake in this upcoming election regarding abortion.

The stakes in the 2004 election:

-Will you be required to pay for abortions abroad and in America?

-Will parents be notified if their girl wants to have an abortion?

-Will abstinence education be thrown out of our schools?

-Will medical research cloning be allowed?

-Will research on newly conceived human beings be paid for and funded by your money?

-Will new Supreme Court justices be voted in who will ultimately decide abortion issues?

-It was said that 4 million evangelicals sat out the last presidential election. So what are you going to do about it? I think we should VOTE THE ROCK! Vote on the issues that are most important to God’s heart not our wallet. I am entitling this “Voice Box” because God wants us to speak up –particularly for the defenseless. We are to do what is commanded in Ephesians 4:15 to “Speak the truth in love”

Maybe someone is wondering “But should we try to legislate morality”? Morality is the basis of all law. The question is whose morality should we legislate? Christians need to prioritize the issues that are most important – and I think abortion should be our #1 concern?

How to speak up for the voiceless:

1) Know the truth about the __unborn ___.

-Some people have said that Jesus and the Bible don’t talk about abortion so therefore it must be OK. It is true that the actual word “abortion” is not found in the Bible but neither is the word “cannibalism” or “sexual molestation” but I don’t think we want to say Jesus approved of these practices.

-The first question is when does life begin? -Truth is found in the Word of God – this is not just a religious question – it is also a scientific question a biological, logical question – life begins at conception – more and more people seem to agree with this including both major candidates for office

-But the Bible talks about existence even before conception – Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you." When an abortion is performed no matter how early, the work of God is stopped – God has each person in mind as He begins to form them.

-The Bible has a lot to say about Life in the womb

Psalm 139:13-16 - For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret…

Pictures in the womb - Six weeks old. Heart is beating, Brain is giving off waves. Eight weeks old. Toes/fingers fully formed. All body organs present. Eleven week old feet. Four months. Sucking thumb at 5 months. Smiling at 8 months? Fearfully and wonderfully made.