The South Dakota Abortion Ban

The South Dakota Abortion Ban
(no rape, incest, life of the mother exceptions)
By Flip Benham

God always shows up whenever we give Him an opportunity. The folks in South Dakota simply went for it all - no exceptions, no compromise, no apology! Thank God! When our Lord has folks like this, who are willing to unsheathe the Sword of the Spirit, there is no limit to what He can and will do!

South Dakota became a powerful witness for our Lord in the fight against abortion, by standing absolutely on the Biblical principle that life begins at conception. Several news accounts of this law were confusing and stated that it contained an exception for “the life of the mother.” This is not so!

The law reads as follows:

 “No licensed physician who performs a medical procedure designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant mother is guilty of violating this Act. However, the physician shall make reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve both the life of the mother and the life of the unborn child in a manner consistent with conventional medical practice. Medical treatment provided to the mother by a licensed physician which results in the accidental or unintentional injury or death to the unborn child is not a violation of this statute.”

According to Judy Brown of American Life League, “The law says you cannot kill the baby to save the mother's life. You must try to save both mother and child. If, in doing this, the baby is accidentally or unintentionally killed, this is not a crime. But, the intentional killing of the baby is not allowed.”

Judy Brown is right!

Unfortunately, many in the pro-life movement want to help God. We have come to the conclusion that, if abortion is ever going to end in America, we are going to have to build a political consensus. So, instead of standing alone on God's Word, we add to His Word little "exceptions" like “rape, incest, life of the mother” to make our efforts more palatable. Far be it from us to appear so narrow-minded and judgmental as to stand with God on this issue. You know the mantra, "Can't we all just get along?"

This is what just happened in Mississippi. The state House voted to add “rape and incest” exceptions to its bill banning all abortions. What a travesty! The state of Mississippi “snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.” This same kind of political mollycoddling is presently going on in the state of Missouri. It also has a bill to ban all abortions, but there is bickering between the pro-life groups as to whether the exceptions (rape, incest, life of the mother) should be added, or that the timing is not right. Please!

What utter foolishness! It is either kill, or be killed! There is no “reaching across the aisle” on this issue. Abortion is the culture of death manifested in the flesh; a choice between God or the devil!

In all of our efforts to appear non-judgmental of Satan's campaign of theft, murder, and destruction, we are enabling him to rob, kill, and destroy with impunity. That's right! We are “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!” We forget that we are called by God Himself to crush the head of this vile, ravenous serpent with the very Word of God. It's time for us to plead the cause of the fatherless to win it - not to appear politically correct, or to plead for money to keep our pro-life work going.

We pro-life Christians, with all of our supposed political acumen, are queasy about unsheathing the Sword of the Spirit because we fear man more than God. We have bought the lie that if we stand on God's Word (ban all abortions), it will not be politically expedient. Remember what President George Bush said when he signed the Partial Birth Abortion Ban into law: “I don't think the culture has changed to the extent that the American people or the Congress would totally ban abortion.” Maybe not, Mr. President, but God is ready to ban it today!

South Dakota has shown that if we will stand where God stands, we will have the benefit of His aid. Even when the governor of South Dakota wanted the “rape and incest” exceptions added, the congressmen stood firm. Politicians willing to stand where God stands? A lesson for all pro-life Christians!

We pro-lifers, however, have pretty much surrendered the high ground of standing alone upon the Word of God. We don't want to be considered fundamentalist, right-wing bigots by those "in the know." Therefore, our children and our nation are being ravaged by Satan's lies and schemes. Jesus fought and defeated Satan by using God's Word. If it was good enough for Him, isn't it good enough for us?

Since God never compromises His Word, then it is never right to kill an innocent child, even when that child was conceived as a result of rape or incest. When the Republican party came up with the exception clauses (rape, incest, life of the mother) in the early 70's, it gave up all hope of having God's blessing upon its activity. Relying upon politicians to fight this Gospel battle has been a colossal error. Abortion is not a political issue.

We have now weathered 33 years of unabated child-killing in America. Why? In our desire to end abortion, we have come up with legislation that will end some abortions, but will never end abortion itself. The devil is far smarter than we are at playing politics. He has been in the game for years. “Parental notification” and “parental consent” laws have certainly prevented some abortions. The “Partial birth abortion ban” has certainly stigmatized the killing of children in the third trimester. But none of these laws will ever end abortion. Yes, they may prevent some abortions, but they will never end abortion.

Much of our pro-life legislation stands in direct contradiction to God's law. It is not right to kill children if the parents are notified, or if the parents give their consent. It is not right to kill children in the first and second trimester, and not in the third. Though well-intended, legislation won't end abortion. Thus 33 years of Roe.

We need God's help, not more political machinations.

Abortion will end in America when the Church of Jesus Christ makes up her mind it will end, and not one second sooner. When the battles are won in the streets and in the hearts of our fellow Americans, and as the Church brings the battle to the very gates of hell (abortion mills), then we will see the laws of our nation begin to reflect that change. We are not about ending some abortions; we are about making abortion - as slavery before it - unthinkable!

This will require God Himself to bless our endeavors. And He surely will, if we will simply unsheathe the Sword of the Spirit! They did it in South Dakota, and we plan to do it in Jackson, Mississippi .

Thought from Flip:

"Who is most responsible for the murder of innocent children in America? 

It is not Planned Parenthood, the National Organization for Women, the National Abortion Federation, nor the ACLU.  It is not the President, the Congress, nor is it the Supreme Court.  It is not the abortionist, the abortion industry, nor the abortion industry employees.  It is not even the mothers and fathers that seek this horrible solution.

Though each of these has played a part in our national travesty called abortion, and each must bear their own responsibility for this sin, the one most responsible for the holocaust that is devouring us is the one who is sure it is doing everything in its power to stop the slaughter - the church of Jesus Christ.

Abortion will come to an end in America when the church of Jesus Christ makes up her mind it will come to an end, and not one second sooner!"