Grace and Truth Seen In Issue 1
May I introduce you to a wonderful resource, ivoterguide.com/vote
I encourage you to click the above link and then at the top of the website click “My Ballot.” Type in your home address. When I did this two ballot issues came up, I want to focus on Issue 1 titled…
The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety
The proposed amendment would do the following:
Establish in the Constitution of the State of Ohio an individual right to one's own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion;
Create legal protections for any person or entity that assists a person with receiving reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion;
Prohibit the State of Ohio from directly or indirectly burdening, penalizing, or prohibiting abortion before an unborn child is determined to be viable unless the State demonstrates that it is using the least restrictive means;
Grant a pregnant woman's treating physician the authority to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether an unborn child is viable;
Only allow the State of Ohio to prohibit an abortion after an unborn child is determined by a pregnant woman's treating physician to be viable and only if the physician does not consider the abortion necessary to protect the pregnant woman's life or health;
Always allow an unborn child to be aborted at any stage of pregnancy, regardless of viability if, in the treating physician's determination, the abortion is necessary to protect the pregnant woman's life or health.
If passed, the amendment will become effective 30 days after the election, which takes place on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Westerville Christian Church lands on grace and stands on truth. Let’s first start with grace. If any woman has had an abortion please know that through Jesus you can be forgiven. I have been forgiven of all my sins. That’s not a few, that’s many, many sins. Anyone can be forgiven of any sin. I love what Jesus said in the Gospel of John.
John 3:17 (NIV2011) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Or what Paul said in Romans 8.
Romans 8:1 (NIV2011) 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…
You are not condemned by God. You are not condemned by anyone who knows they too are a sinner. The promise of the Apostle John’s inspired words in John chapter 1 are true…
John 1:12 (NIV2011) 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
To any woman who had an abortion or to any man who demanded an abortion, Jesus has forgiven you if you look to him as your Savior. This reality is all because of the grace of God.
Jesus continually extended grace to anyone who would receive it. Jesus also spoke truth. Jesus is truth personified. Jesus called himself the way, the truth, and the life. Truth purifies. Truth sets people free. Truth can also be painful. Here’s the truth of Issue 1. I will use wording from the amendment itself. The amendment is italicized.
Establish in the Constitution of the State of Ohio an individual right to one's own reproductive medical treatment… That individual could be a minor and it is not gender specific.
including but not limited to abortion; That could include gender selection abortion or trans surgeries on minors.
Prohibit the State of Ohio from directly or indirectly burdening, penalizing, or prohibiting abortion… This means no age restrictions or parental consent.
Only allow the State of Ohio to prohibit an abortion after an unborn child is determined by a pregnant woman's treating physician to be viable… An abortionist is now protected by the Constitution regardless of the outcome of aborting a fully viable human life.
Always allow an unborn child to be aborted at any stage of pregnancy… Are there no human rights for the unborn?
If you would like clarification on Issue 1, please come to an Information Meeting on Sunday Night, October 22 at 6p in the Fireside Room at Westerville Christian Church. Kris Rankin and Linda Theis will be there to explain what voting “yes” means and what voting “no” means to Issue 1. I plan to be there, I encourage you to come.
The truth is God loves life. Each human has been fearfully and wonderfully made. Please keep grace and truth in mind when you head to your polling station on November 7.
Issue 1 Information Meeting
Sunday, October 22 at 6p in the Fireside Room
Westerville Christian Church
471 E. College Avenue Westerville, Ohio 43081