Is it possible to regain legal protection for the most innocent?
By Dr. Eric M. Wallace
On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down a decision that would continue to split Americans across political lines. The decision gave women the right to abort their children. Instead of bringing closure to this debate, the Roe vs. Wade decision exacerbated it. The decision opened up a great chasm that many believe can't be overcome. Is it possible to regain legal protection for the most innocent?
In today's news, there is a lot of distress about killing "innocent people" by the police. Many people like me believe that rogue police officers should be held accountable when an innocent person is shot and killed. There's much distress when innocent bystanders are hit with a stray bullet from the gun of a gang-banger. In both of these scenarios, we grieve over the loss of life and demand answers from our elected officials. Right?
Well, why isn’t there also this concern when women abort their babies? The most innocent of human beings is a baby. Yet for only a hand full of people who tirelessly pray, fast, march, protest, build health clinics and women’s healthcare facilities, does anyone seem to care.
However, for the Christian, this should not be the case. All of these instances of death and destruction should be the concern of the church. In Proverbs 6:16-19, the writer lists seven things that the Lord hates. He lists (1) haughty eyes, which speaks to pride, (2) a lying tongue, and (3) hands that shed innocent blood, (4) heart that devises wicked plans, (5) feet that make haste to run to evil, (6) a false witness who breathes out lies and (7) one who sows discord among brothers.
In his commentary on Proverbs, John Miller says, "The list of hated characteristics begins with the eyes and proceeds downward (tongue, hands, heart, feet).” He also noted that each of the negative characteristics paralleled the decalogue. “First mentioned, haughty eyes or looks (pride) are the opposite of the humility that characterizes those who fear Yahweh. Next is a lying tongue, a violation of the ninth commandment (Deut 5:20 Bearing false witness). Hands that shed innocent blood comes next, a violation of the sixth commandment (Deut 5:17 You shall not murder). The fourth and fifth traits, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that rush into evil (Prov 6:18), are violations of the tenth commandment (You shall not covet … your neighbor’s house or land, Deut 5:21). The sixth trait mentioned (a false witness who pours out lies, Prov 6:19a) expands on the second trait (a lying tongue). The seventh and final trait mentioned (Prov 6:19b) is similar to the one at the close of the prior poem: He always stirs up dissension, yet here it is added that he stirs up dissension among brothers (6:19b). The brothers referred to are fellow Israelites, members of the covenant community of Yahweh.”
All these are abominations to God. All of these seven "things the lord hates" are found in the actions of those who perpetuate the death of the innocent from, the womb, to the streets, to the courthouse.
For the sake of our conversation, we'll focus on number three, located in verse 17, "hands that shed innocent blood." If you look up the reference, you'll see that God has a dim view -of those who kill the innocent. Duet 19: 10-13, we are told that cities of refuge for accidental deaths are to be set up so blood revenge will not spill out. The innocent can find an adjudication of the matter in safety. Duet 21:8-9 has measures to be followed if a murdered body is located so that God will “not set guilt of innocent blood in the midst of Israel.” I Samuel 19:5, Jonathan states to David that he will challenge Saul not to kill him because Saul would "sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause." You see, "Innocent blood" is the killing of someone intentionally knowing they are innocent. King Manasseh is judged for doing this very thing 2 Kings 21:16 it is called "evil in the sight of the Lord," and 24:4 recounts the shedding of innocent blood that filled Jerusalem and brought judgment.
There are other verses we don't have time to expound upon except to note the one place in the New Testament where Judas laments betraying Jesus and says in Matthew 27:4, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
The innocent are those who have done nothing to deserve the death penalty meted out to them by the police, gang bangers, or abortion clinics. Being conceived is not a crime, nor is it the fault of the baby. The Prophet Joel 3:19- 21 has an oracle for Egypt and Edom that we need to heed, “Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall be inhabited for ever, and Jerusalem to all generations. I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the Lord dwells in Zion."
It is long past time for the church to stop the shedding of innocent blood in the streets and the abortion clinics. Roe vs. Wade has codified the death of innocent blood, and one day we will pay the price. Maybe the death of the innocent in our streets results from the death we've allowed through abortion clinics, like planned parenthood? God help us to turn the tide of death and destruction, restoring legal protection for the innocent unborn should be part of our cause.
We are Kingdoms in Konflict. May heaven help us stand firm!
[This is the final thought for the Kingdom in Konflict interview with Evangelist Alveda King which you can watch here]
[Dr. Eric Wallace is an African American scholar and the cofounder of Freedom’s Journal Institute (FJI), an Illinois-based nonprofit organization addressing contemporary social, political, and religious issues on behalf of African Americans. FJI’s mission is to "advance the Kingdom of God through sociopolitical education and engagement rooted in a Biblical Worldview." FJI vigorously challenges liberal ideology with conservative principles, essential to promote and sustain thriving families. He is also the host of FJI's flagship television program "Kingdoms in Konflict: A Matter of Faith, Race, and Public Policy" found on the NRBtv Network and other media platforms.]
On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down a decision that would continue to split Americans across political lines. The decision gave women the right to abort their children. Instead of bringing closure to this debate, the Roe vs. Wade decision exacerbated it. The decision opened up a great chasm that many believe can't be overcome. Is it possible to regain legal protection for the most innocent?
In today's news, there is a lot of distress about killing "innocent people" by the police. Many people like me believe that rogue police officers should be held accountable when an innocent person is shot and killed. There's much distress when innocent bystanders are hit with a stray bullet from the gun of a gang-banger. In both of these scenarios, we grieve over the loss of life and demand answers from our elected officials. Right?
Well, why isn’t there also this concern when women abort their babies? The most innocent of human beings is a baby. Yet for only a hand full of people who tirelessly pray, fast, march, protest, build health clinics and women’s healthcare facilities, does anyone seem to care.
However, for the Christian, this should not be the case. All of these instances of death and destruction should be the concern of the church. In Proverbs 6:16-19, the writer lists seven things that the Lord hates. He lists (1) haughty eyes, which speaks to pride, (2) a lying tongue, and (3) hands that shed innocent blood, (4) heart that devises wicked plans, (5) feet that make haste to run to evil, (6) a false witness who breathes out lies and (7) one who sows discord among brothers.
In his commentary on Proverbs, John Miller says, "The list of hated characteristics begins with the eyes and proceeds downward (tongue, hands, heart, feet).” He also noted that each of the negative characteristics paralleled the decalogue. “First mentioned, haughty eyes or looks (pride) are the opposite of the humility that characterizes those who fear Yahweh. Next is a lying tongue, a violation of the ninth commandment (Deut 5:20 Bearing false witness). Hands that shed innocent blood comes next, a violation of the sixth commandment (Deut 5:17 You shall not murder). The fourth and fifth traits, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that rush into evil (Prov 6:18), are violations of the tenth commandment (You shall not covet … your neighbor’s house or land, Deut 5:21). The sixth trait mentioned (a false witness who pours out lies, Prov 6:19a) expands on the second trait (a lying tongue). The seventh and final trait mentioned (Prov 6:19b) is similar to the one at the close of the prior poem: He always stirs up dissension, yet here it is added that he stirs up dissension among brothers (6:19b). The brothers referred to are fellow Israelites, members of the covenant community of Yahweh.”
All these are abominations to God. All of these seven "things the lord hates" are found in the actions of those who perpetuate the death of the innocent from, the womb, to the streets, to the courthouse.
For the sake of our conversation, we'll focus on number three, located in verse 17, "hands that shed innocent blood." If you look up the reference, you'll see that God has a dim view -of those who kill the innocent. Duet 19: 10-13, we are told that cities of refuge for accidental deaths are to be set up so blood revenge will not spill out. The innocent can find an adjudication of the matter in safety. Duet 21:8-9 has measures to be followed if a murdered body is located so that God will “not set guilt of innocent blood in the midst of Israel.” I Samuel 19:5, Jonathan states to David that he will challenge Saul not to kill him because Saul would "sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause." You see, "Innocent blood" is the killing of someone intentionally knowing they are innocent. King Manasseh is judged for doing this very thing 2 Kings 21:16 it is called "evil in the sight of the Lord," and 24:4 recounts the shedding of innocent blood that filled Jerusalem and brought judgment.
There are other verses we don't have time to expound upon except to note the one place in the New Testament where Judas laments betraying Jesus and says in Matthew 27:4, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
The innocent are those who have done nothing to deserve the death penalty meted out to them by the police, gang bangers, or abortion clinics. Being conceived is not a crime, nor is it the fault of the baby. The Prophet Joel 3:19- 21 has an oracle for Egypt and Edom that we need to heed, “Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall be inhabited for ever, and Jerusalem to all generations. I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the Lord dwells in Zion."
It is long past time for the church to stop the shedding of innocent blood in the streets and the abortion clinics. Roe vs. Wade has codified the death of innocent blood, and one day we will pay the price. Maybe the death of the innocent in our streets results from the death we've allowed through abortion clinics, like planned parenthood? God help us to turn the tide of death and destruction, restoring legal protection for the innocent unborn should be part of our cause.
We are Kingdoms in Konflict. May heaven help us stand firm!
[This is the final thought for the Kingdom in Konflict interview with Evangelist Alveda King which you can watch here]
[Dr. Eric Wallace is an African American scholar and the cofounder of Freedom’s Journal Institute (FJI), an Illinois-based nonprofit organization addressing contemporary social, political, and religious issues on behalf of African Americans. FJI’s mission is to "advance the Kingdom of God through sociopolitical education and engagement rooted in a Biblical Worldview." FJI vigorously challenges liberal ideology with conservative principles, essential to promote and sustain thriving families. He is also the host of FJI's flagship television program "Kingdoms in Konflict: A Matter of Faith, Race, and Public Policy" found on the NRBtv Network and other media platforms.]
Posted in Opinion
Tagged with Roe vs Wade, prolife, United States Supreme Court, #prolife, babies, innocent, Legal Protection, innocent blood, Bible, Proverbs, Jesus, #RoevsWade, #freedomsjournalmagazine, Freedoms Journal Institute, Dr. Eric M. Wallace
Tagged with Roe vs Wade, prolife, United States Supreme Court, #prolife, babies, innocent, Legal Protection, innocent blood, Bible, Proverbs, Jesus, #RoevsWade, #freedomsjournalmagazine, Freedoms Journal Institute, Dr. Eric M. Wallace
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