Some God-fearing pro-lifers
claim that abortion is a "states' rights" matter. The claim is that
the very principles of justice (i.e., God Himself) would have federal
governments tolerate a state's decriminalization of murder generally,
or decriminalization of murder for any particular group of victims.
(Whether the victims would be Jews, Christians, or children, the
principles remain the same.)
The
Bible's teachings on the fundamental principles of justice can
benefit not only America, of course, but any nation at any time in
history. Further, Israel's 12 tribes are sufficiently similar to America's original 13 states to draw some lessons regarding "states' rights." For
the Bible is not silent on the question of whether subdivisions of a
national (federal) government have the authority to refrain from
prosecuting the murder of the innocent. The Bible approves of local law enforcement, even local prosecution for murder (Deut. 21:1-9). But Scripture indicates that there is no local right to refrain from the prosecution of murder.
- Negative Evidence: No Scripture says the king should tolerate tribes that permit murder.
- Affirmative Evidence: The Book of Judges chapter 21 teaches that God does not recognize a local right to decide whether or not to prosecute murder. Rather, when one of the twelve tribes of Israel refused to prosecute the murder of a concubine, for that lawlessness, the rest of the nation was justly outraged and moved to action, and with God's endorsement, they lawfully used force to punish Benjamin including of course any local authorities and magistrates who "would not listen..."
So all
the men of Israel were gathered... united together as one man. Then
the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin,
saying, "What is this wickedness that has occurred among you? Now
therefore, deliver up the men... that we may put them to death and
remove the evil from Israel!" But the children of Benjamin would not
listen to the voice of their brethren, the children of Israel. ... [So]
The LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel. And the children of Israel
destroyed that day twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites; all
these drew the sword. Judges 20:11-13, 35The
Bible's teachings on the fundamental principles of justice can
benefit not only America, of course, but any nation at any time in
history. Further, Israel's 12 tribes are sufficiently similar to America's original 13 states to draw some lessons regarding "states' rights." For
the Bible is not silent on the question of whether subdivisions of a
national (federal) government have the authority to refrain from
prosecuting the murder of the innocent. The Bible approves of local law enforcement, even local prosecution for murder (Deut. 21:1-9). But Scripture indicates that there is no local right to refrain from the prosecution of murder.- Negative Evidence: No Scripture says the king should tolerate tribes that permit murder.
- Affirmative Evidence: The Book of Judges chapter 21 teaches that God does not recognize a local right to decide whether or not to prosecute murder. Rather, when one of the twelve tribes of Israel refused to prosecute the murder of a concubine, for that lawlessness, the rest of the nation was justly outraged and moved to action, and with God's endorsement, they lawfully used force to punish Benjamin including of course any local authorities and magistrates who "would not listen..."
God's
Word makes it clear that there is no "right" for a state to
decriminalize murder nor to refuse to prosecute murder. As in Benjamin,
such a "right" is tantamount to lawlessness. And such lawlessness,
being manifestly destructive of all rights, cannot itself be an
instance of any "right", state or otherwise. Righteous anger at any
federal government does not validate perversion of justice. Those
angered at a wicked federal government should exercise self control to
avoid claiming that the evil government can go ahead and look the other
way and ignore crimes committed anywhere within its borders against
the innocent.
It's hard to image
evangelical Christians being killed in Massachusetts rejecting
protection from federal marshalls; but it's easier to claim state
supremacy when the blood is not one's own. Claiming that any
subdivision of government, whether state, district, tribe, or province,
should be tolerated even if it decriminalizes the shedding of innocent
blood is an example of giving man's law supremacy over God. No true
principle of justice, but only unrighteosness, would lead a nation to
tolerate murder within its borders, whether of concubines (Israel), of
Jews (Germany), or children (America).
"The law condemns and punishes only actions
within certain definite and narrow limits;
it thereby justifies, in a way,
all similar actions that lie outside those limits."
-Leo Tolstoy widely attributed
within certain definite and narrow limits;
it thereby justifies, in a way,
all similar actions that lie outside those limits."
-Leo Tolstoy widely attributed
Please see also the pro-life profile of Ron Paul for further discussion of abortion and states' rights. And you're invited to watch online Focus on the Strategy III (or via DVD). And remember, we are the makers of the world's largest protest sign against Barack Obama and the Democrats for destroying unborn children.
Finally, if you'd like a 40-year pro-life education in 40 days, in
less than one hour per day, then American Right To Life will keep track
of your progress! To begin, just click on Get a 40-Year RTL Education!
Finally, if you'd like a 40-year pro-life education in 40 days, in
less than one hour per day, then American Right To Life will keep track
of your progress! To begin, just click on Get a 40-Year RTL Education!American Right To Life
1535 Grant Street #105
Denver, CO 80203
office@AmericanRTL.org
1-888-888-ARTL
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Article from http://americanrtl.org/states-rights-and-abortion
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