Thread by @ErikaSchanz

When abolitionists say baby murder must be criminalized as homicide for everyone including mothers, our #ProLife friends often characterize our position as unloving to women.

To those friends, I ask: What is love?
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The Bible says that obeying God’s commands toward others is love.

“This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” 1Jn 5:3

So, what are God’s commands related to legal/criminal penalties for women who willingly abort?

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1. Do not show partiality in legal judgments.

“You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God's.” Deut 1:17

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2. Do not distort justice.

“You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.” Deut 16:19

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3. Do ONLY justice.

“Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” Deut 16:20

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Additionally, we are warned about the negative effects of withholding righteous penalties from those who commit crimes.

“Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.” Ecc 8:11

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Laws that protect women from criminal prosecution when they knowingly and willingly murder their preborn children actually harden their hearts in doing evil. That’s what the Bible says.

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Some Pro-Life folks respond to this by saying, that criminalization is the goal but that right now women are deceived and don’t know it’s murder so we have to wait until they know before we subject them to the law.

To this argument
abolitionists say:

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The Bible says that the law is a tutor. The best, quickest (not to mention most God-honoring) way to teach women and men that abortion is murder is to criminalize it as homicide for everyone.

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It would be a great mercy to women today if the LAW would tell them clearly and unequivocally that abortion is murder and that if they choose to break the law they may well end up subject to its penalties.

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The possibility of prosecution and criminal penalties would take abortion off the table as a legitimate option to consider for many women.

Most women don’t go around breaking homicide law every day.

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As Christians we must assess these things biblically or we will find ourselves showing cruelty in the place of righteous compassion.

“Even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.” Prov 12:10

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For the abolitionist, the conclusion of the matter is this: God’s way is the best, most loving thing for everyone and should be implemented without delay.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” 1Jn 5:3

/end