Muma Happenings

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

What Really Matters?

So recently, I read a transcript of Obama in his senate committee hearing a bill to protect a child born alive after an induced labor abortion. He heard nurse Jill Stanek talk about how she held one such child who survived an induced labor. The induced labor method is used for late-term abortions, but many of the babies were strong enough to survive- for a while. The assertion is that the babies will simply not be strong enough to handle it.

This particular baby had down syndrome and the parents didn't want to see him after he was born. The nurse who was present at the delivery was too busy so she put him in a soiled utility room and he was left there to die. Jill, the nurse testifying before a senate committee, had pity on the child and held him until he died. He was 22 weeks I believe.

This apparently was not a new thing. Jill blew the whistle and legislation was drawn up. Even such abortion proponents like Barbara Boxer went along with it. But Obama voted against it, in the end, to save doctors from being legally liable. His last statement in the transcript was quite telling.

"I think it’s important to understand that this issue ultimately is about abortion and not live births. Because if these are children who are being born alive, I, at least, have confidence that a doctor who is in that room is going to make sure that they’re looked after."

The nurse said that as many as 1 in 5 babies was left to die. I find this interesting that Obama puts so much moral confidence in the doctor or doctors that tried to abort the baby in the first place. Why would they try to kill and then try to save? Maybe sometimes they did. I don't know the story behind that. But its an interesting that Obama thinks they have such moral high ground as to have confidence in the doctors to make a moral judgement to save the baby they just tried to kill. Have I said it enough times now? The Dr who performed the abortion wants to now save the baby?

Here's what I want to get at: There are lots of issues in the election.
-economy
-housing crises
-health care
-social security
-national security
And somehow, we are all overlooking basic issues like abortion, in this case, INFANTICIDE, homosexual rights or marriage, etc. Things most christians look at that make a difference who they vote for. But, I think for many christians now, they have lost hope in the issue of abortion, of homosexual rights. "We're not going to change it" they think, and move on to the long list of pressing questions about economic woes.

But here's the thing. "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and being right with God. And all these things will be added unto you" The economy, while important, I don't think applies to the Kingdom of God. In fact, in this chapter (matt 6) it talks about not worrying. Who hasn't worried about their retirement?!? Their jobs?! I think we just got our answer. Seek first His Kingdom and being right with Him and He'll take care of our needs.

I believe that writing this legislation to protect live babies is seeking his kingdom first. Its caring for the least of us, isn't it? But, its not just about the legislation, its about a worldview.

I'm really not a huge McCain fan, but at least they believe in protecting human life. Our country is one of the VERY FEW who actually believes human life really matters. This is a whole other blog entry, in which I may, very soon write. But, man was the best of all God's creation. I think it matters the most to Him.

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5 Comments:

Blogger steve said...

Good post. Why do you think Christians are starting to get a kind of "abortion fatigue" on this issue? Since I'm at a Catholic university, I don't really have a sense of what the evangelical world is saying (the Catholics are still pretty mobilized on the abortion issue). I share the disappointment that Christians are overlooking abortion in this election. On the other hand, I do think it also might point to a shift in thinking that is not altogether bad, where Christians are thinking that it's not so much the Supreme Court that counts, but the local community. In other words, are we involved in these crisis situations in our own neighborhoods so that girls who would have abortions have people available to them who will help them make the right decision? I think we need both approaches, both grassroots and a federal law against abortion. It is friggin' GENOCIDE, after all.

October 14, 2008 at 8:24 PM  
Blogger jodimichelle said...

Thanks for this Leanne, I love your thoughts on politics - some great biblical foundations here - great post.

October 15, 2008 at 8:08 AM  
Blogger Joslyn said...

good post Lou -to be honest, i was one of those christians looking at the economy ,jobs, etc...but you are so correct on this issue -Life matters and God does want us to look out for the least of these...thanks for bringing this to people's attention...

October 15, 2008 at 8:22 AM  
Blogger The Muma Fam said...

last night in the debate, Sen Obama referred back to this and said that a law already existed like this one drawn up, so he didn't feel the need to make another one. If that was the case, why didn't this transcript contain even a hint of that as a reason for voting it down? And I guess you could construe it as being "ultimately about abortion" but the truth is that it was about children being born alive and not "limp and dead" as Obama also put it. And, why weren't those involved prosecuted if there was already a law? I think it was just some quick talk from someone who didn't want to look like an ogre.

Steve, good point about us taking both approaches, but I do think that we shouldn't negate the supreme court and let them off the hook. I support a local pregnancy resource center b/c when I had anna I realized what a huge deal it was and how much help you need. But ultimately, I think it is about legislating morality. I live in a country that kills babies. Because the law says they can. Someone else legislated their morality- or lack thereof- because christians were not able to get their act together during roe v wade. Anywho, God allowed it, right? I guess my feeling is that our country was once a huge human rights champion, but it will all change if we start getting used to stories like this one about babies being left in dirty soiled utility rooms. Our country is very unique- we actually care. As opposed to many others who don't at all. Their systems are based on evolution and people are on the same plane as animals. So, why would it matter so much to kill a person? But we have a biblical foundation in our country- in the west. Our laws are either based on one or the other. That's why I think the sup court is a huge player.

October 16, 2008 at 6:33 AM  
Blogger lori said...

Leanne,
Can I just say how much I LOVE you!!! WE were just talking about this issue this morning at my Bible study. I want to copy your thoughts and send them to the girls. I look up to you so much! You make me smile so big!
Much Love,
Lor

October 18, 2008 at 8:06 AM  

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