The "Issue" of Trump and Planned Parenthood

The Issue: Trump and Planned Parenthood

Lately, since the videos about how PP uses aborted baby parts, I’ve heard a lot of chatter about how Trump should not be President because he won’t come out and say he will ban PP; although, he has been pro life for over a decade.  Over and over Trump has said he is pro life, but that he likes the good things that PP does for underprivileged women.  While I personally am against PP and would like to see them defunded … we must present a viable alternative plan to help cover underprivileged women before yanking away their security net.  That is the sentiment of Trump, but his enemies refuse to acknowledge this of him … just because he won’t say he will totally defund PP.

I also have a problem with this legalistic line of thinking on another level.  I looked at the history of PP (I also have a link that you can read for yourself) and guess what … it’s been around for a very long time … actually … from inception … since 1916. I realize Sanger is a very wicked women, but that is not my point here; although, I am well aware many will  point at her and cry … burn the witch at the stake!  My point can be reflected in the last 3 Republican Presidents who did nothing to defund PP during their 20 year tenure in the White House.

*Ronald Reagan did not defund Planned Parenthood*

*George Bush Sr. did not defund Planned Parenthood*

*George W. Bush did not defund Planned Parenthood*

My point in this is that the wickedness of abortion is just as egregious 1 second after inception as it is 1 second before a live birth.  This is something the legalistic crowd seems to be blind and deaf to, for their own reasons.  I know this group that is shouting at Trump means well … I know they say there are acting on core principles … I know they say not voting for Trump on the basis of abortion is a matter of conscience.  But … where was this outcry during the election of Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush W?  Where was the outcry that demanded they defund PP or they would not vote for them as a matter of conviction and/or conscience?  It was not there … why … because Trump wasn’t the clear leader and they didn’t create an issue for followers to piggy back upon.

I would put forth that this attack on the “issue” of Trump and PP has not been thought out too well … which is  par for the course for many on the conservative legalistic side of this argument.   Does Trump talk before thinking things through so he can articulate it more clearly … YES.  Is Trump boisterous … YES.  Is Trump out of the mainstream political environment … YES.  Is Trump a believer … I don’t think so (but nobody knows but him and God).  Does Trump love America … I believe he does and has proved it over and over in his life (maybe not in ways conservative, legalistic bending Christians who have lost touch with a post Christian culture and can’t be IN the world but not OF it in a practical sense would do it).

So … please don’t try to bully and preach to people about Trump being a baby hatter and an overall PP lover when that isn’t the truth.  If that were true then Ronald Reagan, George Bush SR, and George W. Bush would be baby hatters and PP lovers too.  Please think things through before attacking Trump on this issue. If Trump proves to be untrustworthy and is lying about what he wants to do to make America Great Again then I will adjust my position, but … until then … GO TRUMP!

Ted Cruz has hurt the cause of Christ more by his ongoing deceit (while thumping his Bible while holding it high in the air) in his campaign than Donald Trump has done in his lifetime.  People look at Trump and don’t really believe he is a Christian (although nobody really knows that but him and God); however, people do believe Cruz is a believer (although nobody knows that but him and God) and he is causing millions to not trust what Christians say or do.  I despise this in the Cruz campaign and wish more believers would rise up and condemn him for this travesty on the cause of truth and the cross of Christ!

This is Mark Harrell … I am a dedicated Christian and Pastor … and I, as of this point, am a supporter of Donald Trump for President so he can follow up on his promises to the American people and Make America Great Again!

History of PP - https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-heartland/who-we-are/history

RU FIT!

Mark Harrell - …and I approve this message!

Habakkuk 2:2

Biblical Voting And Exodus 18:21 - A Bible Study

Biblical Voting – What it looks like

With all of the hugabaloo going on around the election this year, I thought it necessary to drop a few thoughts about what I am seeing and HEARING (understanding) on social media and the mainstream news.  I am not so much concerned with what I hear in the mainstream media; my concern resides in what people in the “church” are saying about voting, especially when they throw in a scripture to “support” their statements.  Some of these statements are right on spot, while others could use a little twisting back into proper context.  That is the point of this post … it is a little Bible study so we can know who to, and how NOT TO use scripture to support a thought, belief, or statement.

Here are a few thoughts to consider when applying scripture:

1.  Know the HISTORICAL context

2.  Know the DOCTRINAL context/meaning

3.  Know the DEVOTIONLAL or INSPIRATIONAL context/meaning

There is a whole lot of learning/understanding that goes into those three statements, but I will try to do my best with the scripture presented.  The scripture presented is:

Exo 18:21  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

 

This verse was used to say that we are to vote for Godly people in America if we are to think Biblically.  The idea is that if a person does not vote for a Godly person then they are not thinking Biblically.  However, is that what the Bible is really telling us?  I will lay out my thoughts on this and let you be the judge.

 

There is are two passages I’d like to provide at this juncture that will help us THINK through this principle:

 

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

 

The words unlearned and unstable do not mean someone does not have an education, it means that don’t UNDERSTAND properly what it is they are reading.  In short … because they do not understand they are applying it improperly … hence … wrestling (wrestling out of proper meaning/context).

 

So ... back to Exodus 18:21.  This passage is HISTORICALLY talking about Israel (the wife of God) when Moses needed help making decisions on a little bigger than small matters for the people.  His father in law suggested he select godly men from among the people in order to help with the little bigger than small matters that would come up when dealing with millions of people wondering in the wilderness for 40 years.

 

DOCTRINALLY this passage is also referring to Israel, but it has DEVOTIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL tentacles that touch our lives today.  The KEY is UNDERSTANDING how this passage in the OT that deals with the nation of Israel touches our lives today.  We can’t just make it say what we want it to say, no matter how “good” our intentions.

 

The way one applies an OT passage to the church age in a doctrinal way is to look at it through the template of the books the Apostle Paul wrote.  This is vital because it was to Paul that the “mysteries” of the church were given (there are 7 mysteries to which every believer is accountable).  In short, when speaking about Israel, it is important to realize that she (Israel) is a picture of the “church,” and as such, the applications are devotional and not physical.  We don’t want to make the same mistakes that “preachers” like Joel Osteen make when he takes a physical promise given to Israel (and only Israel) and applies them physically to the church.  That is wresting the context of scripture out of joint.  Let’s not do this with the Holy word of God.  Why … because Jesus IS THE WORD …

 

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

 

OK … stop and take a breath and we will continue …

 

There is SO MUCH MORE I could say to establish the proper principles of UNDERSTANDING the Bible, but it would only confuse you if I couldn’t develop it more thoroughly.    Hopefully this will whet your appetite to dig into proper Bible study on your own.

 

The PROPER APPLICATION of Exodus 18:21 to today – in the context of the post of voting:

 

Remember, the author of the post was stating that to think Biblically one must obey the principle in Exodus 18:21 to our voting choices.  Well … that is not the proper application.  As Israel is a picture of the church, and it’s principles to be applied devotionally … we are to put the obligation on the church to select “its” leaders in the manner prescribed.

 

The “church” is to select leaders, not a nation (although that would be an amazing thing if our nation was in a position to do that), that are godly so that the church can fulfill its purpose.  What is clear as a bell is that the church has not obeyed this principle over the generations.  We have not been faithful to the imperative of the Great Commission (which is making disciples … not soulwinning)!  We have not been producing soldiers of the cross who can battle with the powers and principalities of the air (demons and fallen angels), much less overcome the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  If our leaders had been faithful over the centuries to fulfill the command to make disciples (selecting godly men), then America would not be in the position she is in today.

 

My point is that it is easy to point fingers at HOW people vote, rather than to put the responsibility on the church for not selecting leaders that would follow the most basic command given to the church … make disciples of all people groups.  Instead of influencing our culture with the truth, the culture has influenced the church with their way of thinking.

 

So … to the author I would say … let’s make disciples and occupy till He comes, and trust people to make decisions based on a proper understanding of the times and the word of God.

 

1Chron 12:32  And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

1Chron 12:33  Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.

 

If the church, over the years, had been equipped to:

 

1.  Go forth to battle

2.  Be expert in war

3.  Could use all instruments of war

4.  Could keeprank

5.  Were not of a double heart

 

Then we would not be a post Christian culture today.

 

Mark Harrell – Habakkuk 2:2

President and Founder of RU FIT Ministries