by Lynette Auch, former President of Lutherans For Life
We are truly blessed in the land. Most of us have an abundance of food, clothing, homes, cars, vocations, medical care, and luxuries beyond compare. At least for the moment, as we don’t know what the turbulent future may hold.
Even as we celebrate the overturn of Roe v. Wade, another great evil afflicts our world and our land. Experts estimate that 800,000 children go missing every year in the United States alone. Many of them become victims of human sex trafficking, and authorities believe this nation serves as a hub for it. Yet many of our public officials and institutions remain inattentive to the dangers, and even some hospitals and religious organizations are complicit in it—or at least negligent about it.
Why are we letting this great evil dwell amongst us?
“So God created man in his own image … male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion’” (Genesis 1:27-28).
God gave US dominion over His creation.
“… We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government … all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security ….” (Declaration of Independence)
These words were penned and signed by the God-fearing founding fathers of this nation of the United States of America (Historical and Theological Foundation of Law, Volume III, pg. 1012, 1013). The very foundation of government of the United States of America, was based on the Word of God.
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).
Who are the governing authorities in this land?
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, insure domestic Tranquility … secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America (Preamble of the Constitution).
We the people are the governing authorities. We are supposed to have a constitutional republic form of government and be able to elect representatives that do the people’s will.
“Luther believed that government is instituted by God to preserve order … He would have found the United States Constitution, established according to its preamble to ‘form a more perfect Union’ and ‘insure domestic Tranquility,’ consistent with his convictions about the role of government. Luther believed government should remain limited and not consume the liberties and resources of the people” (Historical and Theological Foundation of Law, Volume III, pg. 1011).
Romans 13 continues: “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments … are summed up in this word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:8-10).
According to America’s founding documents, it is our right, it is our duty, to hold our elected representatives accountable and to correct their shortcomings, including electing new and better guards for our future security. We must remember that Under God the People Rule.
Heavenly Father, “the hour has come for (us) to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:11). As the presidency of LFL is now transferred to Diane Albers, I pray that this life-affirming ministry will continue raising awareness of the travesty of these children, being their voices, casting off the works of darkness, and putting on the armor of light. In Jesus’ name. Amen.