Missions Monday

In April 2002, Barack Obama was an Illinois Senator getting ready to vote against the Born Alive Act. Apparently, it was not uncommon during an abortion attempt for the "fetus, or child--however you want to describe it" to be born alive. The abortion doctor would then have to make a choice--a medical evaluation--to determine whether the now-born baby had a chance to live, or was a hopeless cause. If the baby had a chance, the doctor would, of course, have to try to save the baby. But, if the doctor determined the baby was going to die anyway, because it was too weak, or too injured, or too whatever, then the doctor could simply ignore the baby and let it die. Some people thought this was a little questionable, especially since doctors never seemed to conclude the baby has a chance to survive. So, the Born Alive Act would have required abortion doctors to call in another doctor and get a second opinion before simply letting the baby die.

These are the actual words of Obama during the Senate discussion of the bill:

As I understand it, this puts the burden on the attending physician who has determined, since they were performing this procedure, that, in fact, this is a nonviable fetus; that if that fetus, or child — however way you want to describe it — is now outside the mother’s womb and the doctor continues to think that it’s nonviable but there’s, let’s say, movement or some indication that, in fact, they’re not just coming out limp and dead, that, in fact, they would then have to call a second physician to monitor and check off and make sure that this is not a live child that could be saved.... [This bill] is really designed simply to burden the original decision of the woman and the physician to induce labor and perform an abortion. Now, if that’s the case — and — and I know that some of us feel very strongly one way or another on that issue — that’s fine, but I think it’s important to understand that this issue ultimately is about abortion and not live births.

State of Illinois 92nd General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, pp. 32-33

So, there is it. Obama voted against the bill because the issue, to him, is not about the "live births" of fetuses, babies, or however your want to describe them. To him, this issue is about not putting any "burden" on the woman or her doctor. Imagine the horrible burden on abortion doctors who would have to get a second opinion before letting a baby die.

Obama believes whether the fetus or baby is, in fact, a fetus or baby is "above [his] pay grade." And apparently, he thinks even a born baby, breathing on its own, outside the womb, is still questionable. And only the doctor who was paid to kill the baby in the first place--the doctor who just failed to kill the baby the preferred way--is able to determine whether the baby is fit to live or should be killed in a less preferred way.

What evil lives in the hearts of men.

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Father, you are the God who created mankind; you made us in your image. And it did not take long before the sin of murder entered humanity. And that sin has continued on for all the generations. How evil is the heart of man when we can look at the killing of 50 million babies in this country and not have the will to call it utterly evil. Oh how evil the hearts are that cannot even bring themselves to decide whether a baby matters, or when a baby is deserving of even the most basic protection.

And, Father, I hear some people who call themselves Christians referring to this issue as some side-topic, at best, or some "distraction," at worst. Can anyone who knows you not see this evil and be filled with pain and anger? Can anyone who truly knows you not long to see this evil wiped off the face of the earth?

I pray that your church would be filled with righteous passion. Give us a passion to reach out to those who are so lost they would think of killing their own children. Give us a passion to care for them and with them, to give them help, and to show them the value of human life--value that comes from us not being mere animals, but being created in your image. And give us a passion to never stop proclaiming the truth that abortion is murder and your justice cannot be withheld forever. Every single one of us will one day stand before you and be held accountable for every act, even every careless word.

I pray that Barack Obama would come to know, before it's too late, that he will one day have to face you and see your response to his unwillingness to decide when a child is entitled to human rights. And I pray abortion doctors, before it's too late, will realize that will one day be held accountable for every murder. May these people see your glory and your salvation. For you are willing to forgive any sin, even murder. You called Saul, who murdered your chosen people, and you chose him to carry your good news throughout the nations.

And I also pray that we in your church will keep in our minds that we were once like them. We were filled with evil thoughts and deeds, and we deserved your wrath as much as any abortion doctor. But, we are saved by grace, through faith. We are not better; we are not naturally good, for there is no one who does good on his own. But, it is only because of your Spirit living in us that we are able to turn from our sinful ways and praise and honor you.

May the world see us, see our thankfulness to you, and come to know you through us. Remove their hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh. Call them and let them hear the voice of their shepherd.

May abortion become like slavery--an evil in our country's past. And may abortion end, like slavery, because your church stood up and defended the weakest among us.

In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.