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Dr. Del Tackett is the author, architect and teacher for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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An Appeal to the President and Congress
Posted on November 17, 2009
Filed Under Personal, The State |
To the President and the Congress of the United States of America: An Appeal
As Christians and those who base our beliefs upon the truth claims in the Old and New Testaments, we present this appeal before you today.
We believe that life is sacred and just as the Declaration states that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, we believe that “life” has been held from the foundation of this country to be an inalienable right that should be protected by the civil government. Just as we protect the unborn lives within the egg of the eagle or the sea turtle, so, too, the life of an unborn human should be given the same protection we afford birds and animals.
Legislation is being crafted at this moment that would use public tax monies to fund the abortion of human babies. There is a growing majority of the citizenry of this country that finds the act of abortion to be ethically wrong. Please do not use our tax dollars for this act and therefore burden our consciences.
As Christians, we believe that the civil authority has been established by God and therefore we are called and bound to obey you in this capacity. We are also called to pray for you that you might properly punish that which is evil and condone that which is good. It is our privilege to honor you and act as model citizens. We additionally believe that you have been given the authority to levy tax and we are obliged to pay that tax—and we will continue to do so, for we are under the authority of God and His word to do so.
However, the other privilege we have in this great country is that we are free to stand before you and make an appeal such as we are making today. Please do not grieve a majority of the citizens by proceeding with this legislation.
If you do choose to proceed, may we then make another appeal?
If you establish the law in such a way that public funds are used to abort babies, would you at least make it an option for us on the tax form? In much the same way that you provide an option for funding election campaigns, make this an option as well. For those whose conscience is not burdened by doing so, give them an “opt in” box to check. Use those funds, if you then choose to do so, rather than ours. This would show great understanding of the citizenry and acknowledge that a majority find this to be egregious. It is obvious that you could not do this with every contentious act, but because this is so volatile and one of the key issues in our country, it appears appropriate that, if you persist in this legislation, this would be appropriate to deal with through voluntary funding rather than mandatory funding.
We pray that you make the right decision in this matter. Whether you do or not, we will continue to pray for you.
We are called by God to honor you, and we will.
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18 Responses to “An Appeal to the President and Congress”
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I retired from a large corporation about eight years ago. I recall a conversation at lunch with my chairman about abortion. We both agreed that abortion should be limited to cases where the life of the mother is a stake. He was surprised to learn that our company health insurance covered abortions. He asked what the Catholic Church did since they use the same insurance company. I told him they specifically deleted abortion from their insurance and we could as well if we wanted to make abortion an issue. After more thought, we decided it was not proper for Christian leaders to impose their views on employees when their views are not supported by current law. It is one thing to work to change the law and speak out against abortion but to deny lawful procedures to employees was not proper and to not pay taxes, private or corporate, was not proper. We also believe that marriage is limited to the union of a man and a women but, we do not attempt to police the private lifestyles of our employees and do not provide same-sex benefits.
This sounds like a reasonable request to me. I don’t agree with your position on abortion, but I support this idea (I would prefer an opt-out check box).
The eagle and sea turtle egg analogy is flawed. We don’t protect their eggs out of a general respect for life, but as an effort to protect species that would otherwise be threatened by extinction. We have no reservations about killing and eating eggs or even adults of non-endangered animals. Humans, of course, are not an endangered species.
Dr. Tackett,
My wife and I have been inspired by your TRUTH PROJECT series. Thank you for going through all of the hard work to put it together. Your appeal is great. I especially liked the honor and respect that you showed through the entire piece. Will this remain a personal appeal or will you leave the option for signatures?
Philip
Great appeal! We all should follow it with our own. We not only have the privilege to make such an appeal, but we also have the privilege to exercise our right to vote into office those who will align themselves with our worldview. We are called and bound to exercise that right as well as the privilege to make appeals to those in office.
I could not tell you how much the “Truth Project” has made an impact on myself as well as others that gather every Sunday evening to understand our Creator and His desire for us. We have been appointed his Watchmen and it is our duty to make this appeal to our leaders, each and everyone of us. Although it may not appear that we are not an endangered species our actions today affect our future. And if we value other species so much should we not care for each other even more. We are a unique creation because we were endowed to be the guardians of HIS many wonderful creations.
Amen! Well written appeal. Shows honor and respect to the office as it should, yet as Christians we have Biblical truths to see that we can refuse accept laws and decrees that cause us to disobey God. As Peter so laid out the path for us in Acts 5:29 ” we ought to obey God rather then men”
Thank you very much for being a voice in the wilderness
Amen, and amen!!
The logic of one thinking he can stay out “after curfew” because his mother asked him to “steal a goat” does not stand up to scrutiny. Goats are not curfews and curfews are not goats. But money is just money. If I “opt out” of having my tax money used to pay for abortions, it makes no difference to those doing the accounting. Tax money all ends up in the same general fund. At best the government will just use bookkeeping to allocate the money other people to accomplish the same purpose and the same number of babies will die as though I had not opted out at all. So the point comes down to whether Romans 13:3 and Acts 5:29 apply or whether Hebrews 13:17 carries the day and 1Peter 4:17 is the result.
I believe that the word does not contradict itself, therefore Romans 13:3, Acts 5:29, Hebrews 13:17, and 1 Peter 4: 17 coincide with one another. God calls us to obey the leaders of this country because he has placed them there for a reason. This being said if those in power begin to directly go against what God tells us is true, we do have the responsiblity to change it. God calls us to be a light unto this world and personally I agree with this appeal.
Dr. Tackett, your appeal is admirable. I have made similar appeals in the past to my representatives and plan to continue doing so. But this issue has been used on both “sides” for political purposes exclusively and I believe that unless something changes, namely our involvement in our society, it will continue to be just talked about as ground is lost.
If I am not mistaken, it was a “conservative” majority judiciary which gave us Roe vs. Wade. On several occasions since, we have had “conservative” majorities in all three branches of federal government. Until this current administration, the executive and the legislative branch held a “conservative” majority for six years. Yet throughout, “legal” abortions only increased.
I say all of that to say that the body of Christ must find a way to do more than vote for the lesser of two evils. This philosophy has neutered the American church to the point that politicians on all sides can nearly count on us being a non factor.
We have a responsibility to engage in this debate in the public square at every level that we can, influence the elected public servants, and run and elect true Christians that do more than claim to be believers. Then maybe good legislation such as the Sanctity of Life Act could begin reversing the evil effects of “legal” abortion in our land.
I like this letter for what says and stands for. Keep it up. I didn’t know this was giong on. Now that I know, I am concously and moraly obligated to earnestly pray for this issue.
Thank you for bringing this matter to light, Your brother in Christ.
Can I download a copy of this so I can send this to the Presidents office as well?
I think your appeal sounds great and if Congress still passes the health bill which includes abortion funded through our tax dollars, then we should be able to opt out of this idea. It’s a great idea to put it on our tax forms just like you said and we can either say no, don’t use my tax dollars or yes, use my tax dollars.
Please Support The Manhattan Declaration!
The Manhattan Declaration
“Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.
We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:
1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.”-Manhattandeclaration.org
http://manhattandeclaration.org/
An excellent suggestion.
The only thing I cannot agree with is the final line:
“We are called by God to honor you, and we will.”
I do not think we are called by God to honor a government when it is as anti-God as this one has become. Yes, we must obey as far as we can, but I cannot honor a government that despises and spits upon everything Christ stands for!
It’s time to take a stand. Have you signed the Manhattan Declaration yet?
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=116974
Dr. Tackett,
Thank you for using your diplomatic intelligence, as well as your knowledge of Biblical truth to thoughtfully compose this letter. You are a high example of the kind of Christian role modeling our country needs.
Your TP series as well as you, have certainly inspired me to become more involved. I am striving to speak up in my little corner of the world.
I believe that “a steady drip will eventually fill the bucket”. All our voices matter, but we must speak in a way that is respectful, and consistent with Whom we serve. It encourages me to speak up knowing that the big fish are doing their part in the larger ponds of life! (I am but a worm! :))
Again, thank you for being willing to make a splash in the ocean of trouble our world is in.
Peace,
Rachelle
We have the highest respect for you and for The Truth Project….and are doing all we can do to pass it on …..thanks for giving us a thoughtful and respectful way of addressing our leaders.
Tonight our group just finished the first lesson on the State. I really needed this one. I have been so conflicted on whether my recent political action is really a spiritual or earthly enterprise. Most of the people in my TeaParty group are Mormon or “non-religious” I’ve been wondering, “Where are my Christian brothers?” Since God has placed himself within the sphere of the state, can’t we consider our constitutionally allowed political action a spiritual activity? Why do so many Christians appear to think they would somehow be being subversive to “God’s Annointed” were they to engage in political protest against an obvious present pathology of the state. Don’t they realize we are a nation of laws and not of men. In our form of government we don’t have a King, so what do we put in the King’s place? Some in my group mentioned the sitting President. I say no! I say we must substitue the constitution here. Thus the phrase, “We are a nation of Laws and not of men!!!” and, “Government of the People, by the People and for the People.” We have impeachment proceedings in case the sitting president does not follow the constition. Is it any less spiritual to speak up against a president or congress who violates gods laws than to speak out against the infidelity of our own clergy and to call for their removal from office? Each one opperates in a different sphere, yet each one has God as their head. Each one is accountalbe to God. We currently still have the right of protest and the right to petition the government for greivances. Are we as Christian’s going to speak up while we can and the cost is not as great if we wait till those rights are no more? Perhaps we feel we are at fault and the State is only picking up the slack where we have left off. This may be, but while the giant is swiftly poised to cut the head off of the goose, it does better for the goose to warn the giant against the sin of breaking the command not to murder than it does to appologize for slackness in laying golden eggs and eggs may be laid quickly yet the societal ills due to the spiritual ommisions of the Church will take years to mend barring an overnight revival. There is no magic pill we can take!!! The question is, are we going to stand up and fight the fight or are we going to watch the gruesome power of the pathology of an all powerful state. Blessed be the nation whose God is the Lord!!!!