Voters in Ohio will decide today whether to enshrine abortion as a state constitutional right, a closely watched campaign that many see as a potential bellwether on the hotly contested issue ahead of the 2024 election.
Deceptively titled “The Right to Reproductive Freedom for Health and Safety,” Issue 1 would affirm “an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment.”
In other words: allow anyone to kill a pre-born baby.
Emboldened by a string of electoral victories since the fall of Roe, abortion activists are optimistic in the Buckeye State, and have cobbled together a broad coalition of support, including liberal pastors who champion the right to end pre-born life.
Reverend Terry Williams is one such cleric, a lead pastor of Orchard Hill United Church of Christ.
In a polished YouTube video posted eleven days ago, the Reverend Williams lobbies for viewers to vote “yes” on Issue 1.
“My faith tells me that people of faith have a right to make decisions over their own bodies,” he begins. “That fundamental idea, that God gives us freedom – that’s at the heart of what it means to be in a relationship with God.”
Reverend Williams is correct that God gives His people freedom, but he appears to be ignoring the Apostle Paul’s admonition to Christians in Galatia.
“For you were called to freedom, brothers,” Paul wrote. “Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
By Pastor Williams’ logic, it seems everything should be permissible, because God has extended to man free will.
The pastor goes on to state, “I am pro-abortion, not in spite of my faith, but because of my faith.”
Once more, Williams appears to be ignoring scriptures that demonstrate the high value God puts on life:
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image. – Genesis 9:6
You shall not murder. – Exodus 20:13
Do not kill the innocent and righteous. – Exodus 23:7
Sadly, though still startling and tragic, pro-abortion pastors aren’t anything new. Certain individuals who claim the name of Christ have long co-opted, twisted, and confused theology for a long time in order to advance any number of wicked agendas, abortion included.
But perhaps most intriguing are the trappings of Pastor Williams’ advocacy video itself. Framed with images of the cross, the Bible, stained-glass windows, a steepled church and even an American flag, the clerically garbed pro-abortion pastor would seem to fit elite media’s definition of Christian Nationalism.
As we’ve written before, elite media, as well as progressive Christians who support liberal priorities like abortion, tend to suggest that Christians involved in politics is the Gospel’s greatest hindrance today.
That is until it’s not – such as Reverend Terry Williams advocating for the right to abortion on demand.
It seems that accusations of Christian nationalism only cut one way.
In reality, Christians should be actively involved in the political arena – and do so in ways that honor God and His Word, and love (not destroy) our fellow man.
Image from Shutterstock.
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