Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Join me for a more personal look into the weekend sermons, as well as some thoughts on theology, marriage, parenting, and leadership. I will also explore some of your most asked questions throughout the year.
www.nic-williams.com
Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Standing for Life: Why Christians Should Vote No on Amendment 4
But this isn't just about politics; it's about standing up for our values in a world that often overlooks them. We'll talk about the importance of engaging in informed, compassionate conversations within our community while staying true to our faith and convictions. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that issues like these deeply matter to the heart of God. Join us as we return to our regular content in the next episode, focusing on spiritual growth and biblical teachings. Remember, keep living out your faith boldly and lovingly, because we don't just go to church—we are the church.
Hey everyone, welcome back to Beyond Sunday. Usually on this podcast, we explore what I preached about over the weekend or dive into different theological concepts that impact our lives, but today we're stepping into something a bit different, something that's both deeply personal and profoundly biblical. We're talking about Amendment 4 here in Florida, and I wanna share why I believe it's important for us as believers, as Christ followers, to vote no Now. I don't often venture into political issues. My heart is to share the love and truth of Jesus Christ, but this isn't just a political issue. It's a biblical issue that has been politicized. As a pastor who believes in the sanctity of life, I feel it's my duty to speak out, not to influence your politics, but to stand for a biblical principle the value of every human life. Let's start by understanding what Amendment 4 is all about and then look at it through a biblical lens. So what is Amendment 4? First, let's clarify what Amendment 4 actually says, and this is what it says Amendment to limit government interference with abortion. No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's health care provider. This amendment does not change the legislature's constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion. Now, on the surface, this might sound like it's simply about maintaining certain rights. However, there are significant concerns embedded in this language, concerns that could profoundly impact the lives of the unborn and the very fabric of our society. But before we dive into those concerns, I want to share the biblical foundation for why I and many others hold a pro-life stance. I'm going to tell you that this is why Christians hold a pro-life stance, but I also understand that not all Christians hold that stance, but I also understand that not all Christians hold that stance, but I do firmly believe that the Bible holds that stance, so, in turn, all Christians should hold that stance. So let's take a deeper look at why Christians, and I personally, hold a pro-life stance.
Speaker 1:The term pro-life is often defined as being opposed to abortion, and it can include an opposition to euthanasia. But for most Christians, it's not just about what we're against. It's actually fundamentally about what we stand for. The Bible and Christians are pro-life because we believe in the sacredness of life, that life is a gift from God, created in His image and worthy of protection. Here are several reasons rooted in Scripture for this conviction.
Speaker 1:First off, life is a gift from God. Jesus taught that the Father has life in Himself. That's in John 5, verse 26. God is the source and sustainer of all life. From the very beginning, god created life out of nothing. Genesis 1, verse2 describes how the earth was formless and empty until the Spirit of God began to hover over the waters, bringing forth creation. When God created humanity, he did something unique. Genesis 2-7 says that the Lord God formed the man from dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Christians are, and should be pro-life, because all of God's gifts should be cherished, including the precious gift of life itself.
Speaker 1:Another reason that you can find pretty much anybody talking about is life begins at conception. Scripture clearly indicates that life begins at conception, not at some arbitrary point later. In Psalm 139, verse 13,. Verse 16, david says For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. In a similar fashion, in Jeremiah 1.5, it states that before I formed you in the womb, I knew you Before you were born. I set you apart. Medical science also supports this view, affirming that life begins at conception.
Speaker 1:Christians should be pro-life because life is life, no matter a person's size, no matter their development stage, no matter their abilities. A third reason is that human life bears the very image of God. While all life is a gift, human life is uniquely valuable because it bears the very image of the God we serve. Genesis 1.27 tells us that God created mankind in his own image. In the image of God, he created them, both male and female. He created them. This divine imprint gives every person an inherent dignity and worth that surpasses all other forms of creation. The psalmist echoes this truth, declaring I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. Psalm 139.14. Christians should be pro-life because every human life reflects God's image and has unique value.
Speaker 1:Number four the innocent should be protected. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the responsibility to protect the innocent and those who cannot defend themselves. In Exodus 23, 7, god commands do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. Proverbs describes the shedding of innocent blood as one of the things that the Lord hates. Proverbs 6, 16, and 17. And in Isaiah 1, 17, we're instructed to defend the oppressed. It's hard to imagine anyone more innocent or more in need of protection than a baby in the womb. Christians are pro-life because they have a moral obligation to defend those who cannot defend themselves.
Speaker 1:Number five God has plans for each individual. God's involvement in our lives begins even before conception, god tells Jeremiah, before I formed you in the womb, I knew you Before you were born. I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1.5. This verse emphasizes that God not only forms life but also has a purpose for each life, even before birth. The apostle Paul also speaks of God setting him apart from birth. Galatians 1.15.
Speaker 1:Christians are per life because they believe there are no accidents in God's plan, that each life has a purpose, a calling, a reason for being. Number six everyone has a right to live. Since life is a gift from God, it is not ours to take away. Job 1.21 says the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised. Christians believe that life is basic human right, a gift from the creator, and no other human has the right to end that gift. Christians are pro-life because they respect God's decisions and refuse to play God by deciding who lives and who dies, and refuse to play God by deciding who lives and who dies.
Speaker 1:Number seven what God thinks is most important. Ultimately, our views should not be shaped by social pressure, human opinion or even political tides. Isaiah 55, 8 through 9 reminds us, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither your ways. My ways declares the Lord. God's word, not human culture, not the laws written by man. God's word defines what is true and right. Christians are pro-life because, in the end, they answer to God alone, not to the societal trends or political movements. Now, gratitude number eight is gratitude for all of God's gifts. Finally, christians love Jesus, who called himself the life John 11, 25, john 14, 6. To love Jesus is to love life. As followers of Christ, it is natural for us to be pro-life because we cherish the life he gives us, both physical and eternal. We celebrate every life as a reflection of his goodness and his purpose. I could go on and on with biblical insight on this. There are tons of resources and websites I could point you to. Some of this information here was gathered from a site that I watch very frequently Now I understand that there may be some of you listening who either know someone or have personally chosen to have an abortion.
Speaker 1:When you hear a podcast or a sermon like this, it's easy to write it off, thinking that you're hearing from another pastor who's closed-minded and doesn't understand your circumstances. Maybe you are in a position where you felt strongly encouraged or even forced into making a decision you weren't comfortable with, or perhaps you didn't have the resources you would need to care for a baby and it seemed like there was no other option. I want to acknowledge that for some, abortion was a decision made out of a sense of desperation, where you felt like you had no support and even the local church didn't help you when you needed it most. If that's your story, I want to say that I'm sorry. The church's role is to come alongside those in need to provide support and encouragement, and too often we've fallen short here at our church. I want you to know that everyone is welcome.
Speaker 1:We don't believe that anyone is defined by their past mistakes and praise God. He offers us forgiveness and grace. My job as a pastor is to help people accurately understand what I believe God's Word is saying. My prayer is that you take time to lean into what God is saying regarding these issues and if you've made mistakes in this area, I encourage you to allow God to use your experience to help someone else who may be facing similar challenges. God's word will sometimes step on our toes. It'll go against what culture says is okay, but we can't change his word to fit our circumstances. We have a responsibility to trust the one who knows more than we do, even when it's difficult, and I want to emphasize that our church is not just about talking. We're about acting. We have many families who've adopted children, others who have worked within the foster care system. We actively support our local pregnancy center, which hands out free resources to those struggling through these moments. We believe in being the hands and feet of Jesus, not just in word, but also in deed.
Speaker 1:So why vote no on Amendment 4? Now let's talk about why I believe we should vote no on Amendment 4. Number one there is a lack of clarity and loopholes. Amendment 4 does not define key terms like viability, health care provider or patient's health, nor does it clarify how serious a health concern must be to justify an abortion. These undefined terms could create significant loopholes, allowing more late-term abortions than many voters might anticipate or intend. I was on a call with the governor just last week and, based on research that other states that have gone this direction, he says that we will see an increase of up to 40,000 babies aborted a year in the state of Florida if this goes through. Another reason we should vote no allowing late-term abortions.
Speaker 1:This amendment would permit late-term abortions far beyond when a baby can actually feel pain. Science has shown that by 20 weeks, and possibly even earlier, an unborn child can experience pain. You can find this research. Don't take my word for it. Go to fetal pain in the first trimester. You can see that on the National Library of Medicine. This isn't a Christian website that I'm getting this information from. This is a scientific research. Amendment 4 would make it possible to terminate pregnancy even at these later stages, which many of us believe is morally wrong.
Speaker 1:Number three overturning parental consent. Currently, florida law requires parental consent before a minor can have an abortion. Amendment four would overturn this, making abortion the only medical procedure a minor could undergo without a parent's knowledge or permission. That undermines parental rights and responsibilities in a profound way. Number four going beyond Roe versus Wade. Proponents of Amendment 4 argue that it simply brings these things back to how they were under Roe versus Wade, but that's not accurate. This amendment actually goes much further, creating a constitutional right to abortion throughout all nine months, with no protection for the unborn child.
Speaker 1:A fifth reason why we should vote no is the potential for taxpayer funding abortions. Here's another concern. In Michigan, where a similar amendment was passed, the same lawyers who created Amendment 4 here in Florida are now suing the state to try to force taxpayers to fund the abortions that it legalized. If Amendment 4 passes here, we could see the same situation play out in Florida, where taxpayers are compelled to fund something they may morally oppose. Now I want to make it clear I am not speaking on this issue lightly or without careful consideration. As a pastor, I have spent years studying the biblical view of life, and over the past few months I have invested countless hours researching and understanding this amendment. Just last week, I spoke with Governor Ron DeSantis, attorney General Ashley Moody, matt Saver from the Liberty Council and others to ensure I have a comprehensive grasp of what this amendment entails and what it could mean for the state of Florida.
Speaker 1:I know this topic is sensitive. I understand that some of you may feel differently, but, as your pastor, I feel a responsibility to speak truthfully about what the Bible says and how that should guide our decisions, especially when those decisions could affect the most vulnerable among us, the unborn. What can we do? First, I encourage you to pray about this issue. Seek God's wisdom, ask for clarity in your decision-making. Remember that, as Christians, we are called to protect life and to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. Second, I want to ask you to consider voting no on Amendment 4.
Speaker 1:This isn't just about politics. It's about standing up for biblical values in a world that often overlooks them. Lastly, I encourage you to engage in conversations with others about this issue. Let's be informed, compassionate and proactive in our community, standing firm in our faith and our conviction. Thank you for taking the time to listen today. I know this is a heavier topic, but I believe it's one that deeply matters to the very heart of God and should matter to us as his people. Remember we are called to be salt and light in the world. Stand for truth, to love others with the very love of Christ. I hope that you'll join me in the next episode as we return to our regular content focusing on spiritual growth and biblical teachings. But until then, keep living out your faith and remember we don't just go to church, we are the church. God bless you.