
Do Not Deprive Your Neighbors
What is Truth? Who gets to define it? And what happens when we try to separate God’s law from the laws that govern our society? I had a wonderful conversation with Lisa Koffman about these questions and so much more. We dug into Romans 1 and Romans 12, discussing why God’s law isn’t reserved for believers alone and how Scripture should shape both our understanding of right and wrong and the way we engage with the world around us. Lisa shares how Genesis 9:5-7 fundamentally changed her understanding of why ALL human life must be protected, beginning at conception. She also walks through her journey from being a committed supporter of Missouri Right to Life to questioning the inconsistencies she came to recognize between the organization’s positions and the principle of Equal Protection. For years, Lisa believed abolitionists were hateful people. But when she began listening, asking questions, and actually communicating with them, she discovered something very different. She began to recognize the biblical foundation behind their conviction that every human life has equal value and deserves equal protection under the law. We also wrestled with a difficult question: Can we genuinely claim that a preborn child has the same value as a child outside the womb while arguing that the mother who knowingly takes that child’s life should be treated differently under the law? What does Equal Protection actually mean if it doesn’t apply equally? And while it’s easy to get caught up in the political battles happening in Missouri, I believe we need to take a step back and remember what Ephesians 6:12 tells us about the real battle. Our fight is not ultimately against flesh and blood. Have we lost sight of who our true enemy is? A few things we didn’t get to explore as deeply as I would have liked but are absolutely worth diving into: * How many times have Personhood and Equal Protection measures been introduced in the Missouri General Assembly, and what has happened to those efforts? * Why did the General Assembly choose not to remove the sunset provision from the SAFE Act when it had the opportunity during the last legislative session, particularly in light of arguments now being made about protecting minors? As we approach the Missouri Amendment 3 vote, there are also some important distinctions I want listeners to consider:A previous vote on Amendment 3 (now Article 1, section 36 of the MO Constitution) in 2024 and the current proposal are not interchangeable. The positions of organizations supporting or opposing an amendment do not establish its biblical merits. And the actual language of a proposed amendment matters far more than the talking points surrounding it. Above all, we must remember that our feelings and emotions are gifts from God, not our guide for determining right and wrong. God’s Word is our standard. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and we should be careful not to elevate our own understanding above His. God doesn’t need us to defend His Word. His Word stands on its own. It is only by His mercy and grace that we have breath in our lungs, and it is only through Him that we can know what is good, right, and true. Do not deprive your neighbors. If we believe that truth, justice, and the protection of human life matter, then we must be willing to examine whether our convictions and our laws actually reflect that belief. Sometimes (most of the time!) standing on truth won’t be popular. Stand on it anyway. Nadine@9’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Nadine@9’s Substack at nadineat9.substack.com/subscribe
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