There was a time when individuals embracing the label evangelical could count on being united over three essential values: God, the gospel, and the gift of life. Since the days of the reformation, Protestantism has unified under the five Solas of the reformation–Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria. Therefore, Evangelicalism has been loosely united on the truth that eternal life is a gift from God as an extension of his grace, through faith, in Christ, according to Scripture, to the Glory of God alone with Reformed Churches remaining closely united to that original truth. This is the gospel message every evangelical delivers to the world (Matthew 28:18–19). Evangelicals also agree that central to this message is Jesus Christ, who declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
It may be difficult to imagine that the state of evangelicalism in such flux that the faith’s core tenets are under fire. However, Paul warned the Ephesian elders of similar challenges when he said, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29).
Evangelicals supporting social justice now believed that professing Christians must embrace pro-life to mean total care from the womb to the tomb
As social justice breaks into the church, many are surprised that doctrines, ideas, and even the words, upon which we all once agreed, are being redefined. Simple words like human, man, woman, sin, marriage, and even life, are restructured into power-based categories ripe for overthrow in the name of social justice. One of the tools necessary for success in this power grab is government.
In 2020, we witnessed self-professed evangelicals’ total capitulation on the issue of life by changing its meaning and embracing a pro-choice candidate to achieve a goal. Under social justice, the meaning of the word pro-life no longer applied to a baby at the point of conception. Evangelicals supporting social justice now believed that professing Christians must embrace pro-life to mean total care from the womb to the tomb, and virtue-signaling fueled justification for this new definition of life. According to Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden, pro-life now included the following:
Armed with a new definition, Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden equate the dangers of smoking to the moral equivalent of the murder of an innocent child in the womb.
“…Poverty kills millions every year. So does lack of healthcare and smoking. Racism kills. Unless we quickly make major changes, devastating climate change will kill tens of millions. Poverty, lack of accessible health care services, smoking, racism, and climate change are all pro-life issues.”[1]
Armed with a new definition, Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden equate the dangers of smoking to the moral equivalent of the murder of an innocent child in the womb. Such a convenient position provided the confidence to pull the trigger in the election for their candidate. The question to consider is, at what cost? And, what did they get in return?
Did these Pro-Life Evangelicals, like their social justice counterparts–Black Lives Matter–make a deal in a smoke-filled backroom? Would the Biden-Harris ticket offer an olive branch to pro-life causes? Hardly. From the beginning of the campaign, Joe Biden made it clear that, if elected, he would remove a decade-long agreement known as the Hyde Amendment as the final barrier to taxpayer-funded abortion.
If you are unfamiliar with the Hyde Amendment, on September 30, 1976, the Hyde Amendment was passed and served as the final roadblock to ensure the government would not use taxpayer funds for abortion. The Hyde Amendment has blocked federal Medicaid funding for abortion services for 45 years. In 1994, the legislation would provide a few narrow exemptions–the patient’s life, rape, and incest.
For the first time in his 36-year political career, Biden changed his Hyde Amendment position. Once a staunch advocate, Biden made his new position clear when he stated, “I can’t justify leaving millions of women without access to the care they need and the ability to exercise their constitutionally protected right…” What he was speaking of regarding a “constitutionally protected right” was abortion on demand.
On March 2, 2021, Congress passed the American Recovery Act, which includes 1.9 trillion dollars of stimulus for the post-Covid economy. The act contains provisions for women’s health and pregnancy centers. However, what is missing from the bill is what some are calling Hyde Amendment language. This is the language that forbids government taxpayer funds from being used for abortion, leaving the door open for this possible use. The missing Hyde Amendment language caught the attention of Pro-life Evangelicals for Biden, and they issued a statement expressing their disappointment:
Pro-life Evangelicals for Biden should know that the democratic party platform holds as sacred the sacrament of the murder of babies in the womb.
“We are very disappointed about the COVID-19 relief package’s exclusion of the Hyde Amendment, a longstanding bipartisan policy that prevents taxpayer funding for abortion. We’re even more upset that the Biden administration is supporting this bill.”[2]
Later they go on to state, “We feel used and betrayed and have no intention of simply watching these kinds of efforts happen from the sidelines. Many evangelicals and Catholics took risks to support Biden publicly. President Biden and Democrats need to honor their courage.”[3]
It’s at this point that an issue has to be raised as to how they feel “used and betrayed.” Who betrayed them? It wasn’t Joe and Kamala. Both were clear about what they would do if they secured office, and to their credit, they kept their promise.
Pro-life Evangelicals for Biden should know that the Democratic party platform holds as sacred the sacrament of the murder of babies in the womb. They made it clear in their party platform when they stated, “Democrats oppose and will fight to overturn federal and state laws that create barriers to reproductive health and rights. We will repeal the Hyde Amendment and protect and codify the right to reproductive freedom.”[4]
No one should act as if they are surprised at the recent turn of events, least of all Pro-life Evangelicals for Biden. None of these people were duped, used, or betrayed. They had their eyes wide open as they voted in favor of a candidate who promised to advance policies that would end the lives of more children in the womb. So, rather than wallowing in pity, hoping for a different outcome, it would behoove Pro-Life Evangelicals to return to truth. Pro-Life Evangelicals must return to that which unites us. The only hope we have is to turn from this evil and return to that which brought us all together–God, the gospel, and the gift of life.
[1] https://www.prolifeevangelicalsforbiden.com/
[2] https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ai2e2X6jDPVYQBftGJ6FyPQhTvqSV4nGlgutkHR96uU/mobilebasic
[3] Ibid
[4] https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/achieving-universal-affordable-quality-health-care/ p.33
