Abortion, Terrorism, and Ron Paul

Last week I wrote about why I dropped Tom Tancredo from consideration for my endorsement for President. The reason I gave was that he said that the U.S. should threaten that, if there was to be another terrorist attack, we would bomb Mecca and Medina. (Tancredo has since dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination.)

In response, Greg wrote (in the principle policy group) …

I must disagree with you regarding Representative Tom Tancredo. The right to life is without doubt the greatest issue facing the United States. Only Representatives Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo and Gov. Mike Huckabee are solidly pro-life.

I disagree with this. Ron Paul is also solidly pro-life. All four of these candidates have different opinions about what is the right way to go about banning abortion (by constitutional amendment, overturn Roe v Wade…etc.). It is wrong not to include Ron Paul just because he says the matter should be left up to the states. Huckaberry Fin also believes this.

Ron Paul introduced this legislation:

H.R.1094 - Sanctity of Life Act of 2007
The text of the bill reads:

Sanctity of Life Act of 2007 - Declares that: (1) human life shall be deemed to exist from conception, without regard to race, sex, age, health, defect, or condition of dependency; and (2) the term “person” shall include all such human life. Recognizes more…that each state has authority to protect the lives of unborn children residing in the jurisdiction of that state. Amends the federal judicial code to remove Supreme Court and district court jurisdiction to review cases arising out of any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or practice, or any act interpreting such a measure, on the grounds that such measure: (1) protects the rights of human persons between conception and birth; or (2) prohibits, limits, or regulates the performance of abortions or the provision of public funds, facilities, personnel, or other assistance for abortions. Makes this Act applicable to any case pending on the date of enactment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctity_of_Life_Act#Summary_of_bill

Greg also said…

I think that Americans need to come to grips with the fact that Islam is a threat to America. It is as Bill Wilson (in his 12/3/07 DailyJot) wrote, "…The theocracy of Islam is not some romantic ideal of another culture, but rather a brutal, fascist death-oriented, fear-based government of control masquerading as a religion. Exodus 23:24 says of other religions and gods, "You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but you shall utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images." Good advice then as it is now." He was referring to Saudi Arabia and the Sudan, but what he says applies to any mosque in the US where the Imam preaches an anti-American, anti-Christian message of hate. We need a candidate who understands these issues and will confront them [sic] with an unwavering commitment. Of the major candidates I believe only Rep. Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo and to a lesser extent Gov. Mike Huckabee would do just that. These are the best candidates to deal with these challenges.

To him I say:

About Exodus 23:24, there are different ways one could interpret this passage that you (or Bill Wilson) quoted.

One could interpret this passage to say that the idol worshippers are those who bow down to actual physical idols made of wood, stone, or metal. This is the interpretation that I favor (it says "images"). Muslims do not bow down before physical idols like this. A Muslim would be more justified in using this interpretation against Catholics (because of their “statues” of Mary and other Saints) and Orthodox Christians (because of their “icons”) than we would be justified in using it against them. I think it is likely that God only meant for the literal obedience of this passage “you shall utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images” to carried out by the nation of Israel of Old Testament times and only in the land of Canaan.

One could interpret this passage more broadly to include other types of idol worship. You could say that the Muslim idea of Allah is an idol because it supersedes the truth about who God really is. But this broader, “spiritualized” definition of idolatry should also include anything else one puts above the true God. Examples would include money, family, romantic relationships, food, work, cars, entertainment, and expensive clothing. If anyone who has violated the Law in this fashion should be put to death by civil government, then let ME be the first to face the executioner. I am guilty. I admit it.

To the general reader of this blog I say:

The penalty for putting anything above the true God actually is death. But this death sentence is not to be carried out by military force or governing authorities. It is not physical death, but a spiritual death (an unimaginably painful, eternal separation from God). I am talking about when one stands before the judgment seat of Christ. Will any one be able to be saved? If you have put anything above God in your life, then you are in the same boat as I am. But there is a way out. When I stand before God on that Great Day, the only thing I will have to stand on is the blood of Christ, shed on the cross so that I would not have to face the death sentence I deserve. In other words, Christ took the punishment himself so that I would not have to. The way to accept this great pardon is to turn away from worshipping these idols, accept Jesus as the true God, agree with Him in everything he says in His Word (the Bible), and be immersed in water for the remission of your sins.