One-Issue Politics, One-Issue Marriage, and the Humane Society
Posted in: Politics ArticlesBy John Piper
Investigating dog life in Minnesota has solidified my decision to vote against those who endorse the right to abortion. So then what is my response to the charge of being a one-issue voter?
No endorsement of any single issue qualifies a person to hold public office. Being pro-life does not make a person a good governor, mayor, or president. But there are numerous single issues that disqualify a person from public office. For example, any candidate who endorsed bribery as a form of government efficiency would be disqualified, no matter what his party or platform was. Or a person who endorsed corporate fraud (say under $50 million) would be disqualified no matter what else he endorsed. Or a person who said that no black people could hold office—on that single issue alone he would be unfit for office. Or a person who said that rape is only a misdemeanor—that single issue would end his political career. These examples could go on and on. Everybody knows a single issue that for them would disqualify a candidate for office.
It's the same with marriage. No one quality makes a good wife or husband, but some qualities would make a person unacceptable. For example, back when I was thinking about getting married, not liking cats would not have disqualified a woman as my wife, but not liking people would. Drinking coffee would not, but drinking whiskey would. Kissing dogs wouldn't, but kissing the mailman would. And so on. Being a single-issue fiance does not mean that only one issue matters. It means that some issues may matter enough to break off the relationship.
So it is with politics. You have to decide what those issues are for you. What do you think disqualifies a person from holding public office? I believe that the endorsement of the right to kill unborn children disqualifies a person from any position of public office. It's simply the same as saying that the endorsement of racism, fraud, or bribery would disqualify him—except that child-killing is more serious than those.
When we bought our dog at the Humane Society, I picked up a brochure on the laws of Minnesota concerning animals. Statute 343.2, subdivision 1 says, "No person shall...unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate or kill any animal." Subdivision 7 says, "No person shall willfully instigate or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal." The penalty: "A person who fails to comply with any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor."
Now this set me to pondering the rights of the unborn. An eight-week-old human fetus has a beating heart, an EKG, brain waves, thumb-sucking, pain sensitivity, finger-grasping, and genetic humanity, but under our present laws is not a human person with rights under the 14th Amendment, which says that "no state shall deprive any person of life...without due process of law." Well, I wondered, if the unborn do not qualify as persons, it seems that they could at least qualify as animals, say a dog, or at least a cat. Could we not at least charge abortion clinics with cruelty to animals under Statute 343.2, subdivision 7? Why is it legal to "maim, mutilate and kill" a pain-sensitive unborn human being but not an animal?
These reflections have confirmed my conviction never to vote for a person who endorses such an evil—even if he could balance the budget tomorrow and end all taxation.
Excerpted from A Godward Life, Book I: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life by John Piper (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 1997, pp. 279-280).
10 comments:
I know this is from a book written in 97 so this isnt about todays candidates, but honestly B what do you do about a guy who just changed his position on abortion before running for pres and has been in the Senate for 26 years with no change? Both candidates have different positions, but nothing has or will be done to stop this horrific business. Do we vote for the guy who is against it to sleep better at night even though he has not and will not effect change in this area. Where is the church? Jesus come get me!
Dawn--There are numerous articles and writings in print stating how Dr. Piper feels on THE issue as recent as September of this year. I chose that one to post because it was short and stated my stance on THE issue...as far as your other point about is anything going to change?....actually WHOEVER the next president is-- will be electing supreme court justices and that my friend will be effecting the course of this country for years and generations to come...and do we REALLY want to go into CANDIDATES changing their minds because there are FAR MORE issues and stances that Sen. Obama has CHANGED his mind on than Sen McCain,but have you at all considered that maybe he changed his mind because Christ has changed his heart, much like myself on this very issue, if you would have asked me ten years ago, I TOO would have been for a woman's right to choose, but the closer I got to Christ I realized how diametrically opposed this is to the WORD of GOD and Spirit of GOD---how very pressumptious of you to try and judge a man's heart?, regardless MURDER is MURDER in the womb or out of it... My mamma taught me a very important lesson growing up, which is also a biblical truth, "to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it,therefore sins."(James 4:17) just because everyone else says something is ok and makes justification for it does not make it right---at the end of the day sin is still sin,wrong is STILL WRONG, and murder is still murder no matter what sugar coated packaging it comes in--this kind of passive reasoning and mentality is dangerous---Where would we be today if people like William Wilberforce would have not stood up for what was right in a day and age when it was not popular to stand up for what was right, or Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill,Mrs. Parks refusing to give up her seat, Dr. King refusing to accept that change was not possible...at the end of the day we are ALL "pawns" in the Kingdom of God...and if OBAMA believed in NOT MURDERING INNOCENT BABIES I would VOTE FOR HIM--trust me I would much rather vote for the cooler kid, but I am not voting on who is cooler.But I do agree with you on one thing-- JESUS PLEASE COME GET ME!!
Hey B, I voted yesterday.
And---I voted for McCain/Palin whom stand on God's word about Abortion.
No way will I go to bed at night knowing I voted for exactly what the enemy wants..abortion.
NO WAY. and..you bet I will sleep better. And you know what, I'll sleep better because McCain professes it. I will not vote based on my 'assumption' of McCain making any changes or not in that area. For pete's sake, for any president to make change takes a team of people to decide. In fact, that would be judgement and somewhat of an uneducated stand if you really know what it takes to make change in Congress. I'm voting on whom professes the word of God and what God says.
You freaking bet I'll sleep better.
Hugs,
A (yes..I'm passionate about my Abba's ways) forgive me for being bold.
did you know donald miller has actually been campaigning for obama?
hmmm...that got way personal. I would think I could ask a friend a question without being accused of judging a mans heart. I wont respond to the details because obviously I know about electing supreme court justices etc. But, I have alot to say more in defense of me and judging a mans heart, but I think for now I will stick a fork in it. No one knows anyones heart except Christ, whether thats mccains, obamas, or mine. So for now I have already voted..yes with education and yes with prayer not based on coolness. As an African American I know ALL about MLK, Rosa Parks and lots of other people, including studying how Mccain feels about those of my race and listening to his speech here in Memphis. Thats why I live a life where I push Red Revolution, pray with my mentor for people encountered at abortion clinics she fights at as well give my time, life and money to people in neighborhoods that have been forgotten by more than one president years ago. I feel satisfied when I go to sleep at night, not because of who I indeed voted for, but because despite who becomes president I live my life for Christ and will continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus no matter who holds an office. Obviously in my first response I wasnt attacking you, but that must have been misconstrued without voice tone or something, but no harm no fowl. My character stands for itself. No matter who I vote for, my own life and how I continue to work the plow in a plentiful harvest will go alot further than my ballot. I too am concerned with "Abba's ways." Love you B Ho.
I have a friend, whos daughter is 25 years old. This daughter got pregnant and CHOSE not to have this baby. She just didn't want the hassle,she even found a group to pay for the abortion! I prayed and prayed that God would change her heart but she was determined not to have this baby. About a week before she had to have a sonogram and we all could see this healthy little boy, with a heartbeat and hair. She still didn't want him so at was 5 1/2 months along she went to a clinic and had a partial birth abortion. She was told ahead of time every gruesome detail of what was going to happen to her baby and still CHOSE to go through with it...She was given a drug to start her contractions, soon after a doctor crushed his little skull and killed him... I used to be "alright" with a right to choose, not anymore. Where was his choice to not feel that painful death? Who will speak for him? I WILL! I did, I voted McCain/Palin...I don't have any illusions that things will change drastically right away and without opposition. I do however have faith that someone will stand up for the little ones without a choice and say enough is enough, murder is murder no matter how small the body. I continue to pray for my friends daughter, she suffers from extreme depression since she made her choice. Thank you for having "brass ones" to post about a subject that instills so much passion in people.
so i made the call/email and hopefully my blog crisis will be solved. so fun hanging out with you last night! did you leave smelling strongly of bread & syrup, or was it just me?
brandi, it's time for a new blog, please. I love you and can't stand the month-long silence.
Would you blog.
Son of bitch....dang.
A
Friend! please call me 214-673-5754. i miss ur sweet spirit and radiance! send me ur number! you are gorgeous!!!!!
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