Standing strong on pro-life legislative efforts

There’s an argument going around that says that the pro-life cause is legislatively lost, whether it is McCain or Obama who wins the White House.  Dr. Albert Mohler writes about it here.

The supporting logic continues to say that we should rather vote for the social policies of Barack Obama, because they will improve the economic factors which underlie many decisions to abort.  The proponents of this line of thinking say that pro-life legislation should be abandoned and that we should rather work to change hearts.

The problem is that this line of thinking could be extended to almost any societal ill that we have outlawed.  Slavery, for example.  Why legislate against it?  Why wasn’t it enough to just change the slave-owner’s heart?

Or perhaps, murder.  (Of adults, not unborn infants, I mean.)  Surely, if we increased the economic prospects for our country and for the world, no one would be angry or abused or depressed and no one would kill another person.  So why don’t we just do away with all of those laws?  Laws have been on the books against murder since the time of the ancient Hebrews, and there is still murder.

There is an element of truth here.  God wants our heart.  He wants obedience out of love.  But as the ultimate Judge, He ordained laws to keep societies functioning and to protect the strong from harming and preying on the weak.

This is no time to abandon the issue of pro-life legislation.  I believe, rather, that we are on the cusp of the next generation of young people who could possibly vote to outlaw abortion on demand.  I am the mother of a 16 year old who can’t wait to vote for pro-life leaders.  The United States is home to more than 2 million home-schooled children, and that number continues to grow rapidly. (I should note that I think this is a modest estimate.)  Although parents choose to home-educate for many reasons, a majority of them are pro-life people.  I also believe that new technology offers a wonderful opportunity for ALL mothers to see their babies as living, breathing, moving, precious people.  I believe in the power of prayer to change hearts and eventually, legislation across our nation.  Should we abandon our efforts just before they come to fruition?

Many point out that there is no guarantee that McCain would nominate pro-life justices to the Supreme Court.  That is true, but we can pretty much conversely guarantee that Senator Obama would NOT nominate a pro-life person to serve in the capacity of Supreme Court Justice.

This is no time to “go wobbly.”  This is a time to stand strong and vote on the side of life.  It is a time to  pray ever more fervently for heart changes and to continue to work in support of pro-life legislation.

Holly writes at her blog, Seeking Faithfulness.