Obama and McCain on Moral Issues
With the presidential election coming up quickly it is becoming increasingly important to know where the candidates stand on important topics. Certainly there are many issues which accommodate intense discussion such as the war in Iraq, government spending, homosexual marriage and national defense as well as many others. Where the candidates pose opposing views on many of these issues, they both present arguments which are in proportion with the Judeo-Christian ethic, which our nation was founded on, so I don’t think there is much sense in addressing those topics. It is up to the individual citizen to line up behind the candidate which represents, more accurately similar opinions on these matters. There is one issue which is in need of addressing because it does present a moral conflict which does conflict very directly with what God has defined as moral. That issue is abortion.

John McCain on Abortion
I am pro-life and an advocate for the Rights of Man everywhere in the world, because to be denied liberty is an offense to nature and nature’s Creator. I will never waver in that conviction. Our liberty will not be seized in a political revolution or by a totalitarian government. But, rather, as Burke warned, it can be “nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts.” I am alert to that risk and will defend against it, and I will be encouraged in that defense by my fellow conservatives.

Source: Speeches to 2008 Conservative Political Action Conference Feb 7, 2008

John McCain is extremely conservative on the issue, believing that any deliberate end to life, even in the womb, is murder.

Barak Obama on Abortion
Question: Do you personally believe that life begins at conception?
Answer: This is something that I have not come to a firm resolution on. I think it’s very hard to know what that means, when life begins. Is it when a cell separates? Is it when the soul stirs? So I don’t presume to know the answer to that question. What I know is that there is something extraordinarily powerful about potential life and that that has a moral weight to it that we take into consideration when we’re having these debates.

Source: 2008 Democratic Compassion Forum at Messiah College Apr 13, 2008

Barak Obama has not formed a conviction on the matter and therefore is not able to provide direct perspective, however he is in favor of life if possible, but not able to suggest pro-life is best in all circumstances and therefore he is pro-choice and pro-education.

The Bible on Abortion
There are questions which must be addresses in order to understand the opinion of God presented by the Bible. Does life begin before birth and if so, is it murder to end that life? Deuteronomy 12:23 says, “…the blood is the life…” (NAS). A human fetus has blood circulation of its own at four weeks of age. “…the baby in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:44 NAS). While Mary was pregnant with Jesus, he leapt for joy within her womb. Not only is this a deliberate action taken by the unborn child, but it also is an expression of emotion, joy. Job 3:11 says, “Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?” (NAS). Job is suggesting that he could die at birth. Death requires a very specific component, life. “If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life” (Exodus21:22-23 NIV). In other words, if you accidentally hit a pregnant woman and the baby dies, it is murder. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV). God is speaking to Jeremiah. The implication is that God knows the life before it begins “in the womb”.

So, according to the Bible, if you have blood, are capable of deliberate action and emotion, and are capable of death, then you are indeed alive. And so is an unborn child.

Since the child is alive according to the Bible, then is it murder to end its life? Of course. Exodus 20:13 puts it clearly when it says, “You shall not murder” (NAS). Numbers 35:17 says, “If he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he will die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death” (NAS). This defines murder. If you intend to end life and you do, then you are a murderer and not only that, but deserving of death yourself. For those who want to see a New Testament example, Romans 13:9 and James 2:11 both reinforce the Old Testament commandment, “YOU SHALL NOT MURDER”, “DO NOT COMIT MURDER” (NAS).

It’s at this point that I will leave it up to you, the reader and voting citizen to decide for yourself who to vote on. Will you vote according to biblical morality? Or will you vote according to what pleases your personal desires for government and consider ethical consequences secondarily? For many the choice is obvious. Others should consider this closely. Regardless of which candidate you choose, I would suggest reading up on both candidates’ opinions on adoption as an alternative.

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