Parshall Partners

Power From The Pulpit

​        Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of acknowledging and honoring God but do we recognize that same truth today?

George Washington said:

“The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.”

John Adams declared:

“Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”

Samuel Adams stated:

“I ... [rely] upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

        On this country’s 250th anniversary, America still needs to honor God through the policies we support and the laws we pass.  This election year, this principle will be put to the test in Virginia.  Two amendments have been introduced that would trample under foot God’s truth, if passed.  

        Voters are being asked to consider two new amendments to that state’s constitution.  The first amendment is entitled the “Virginia right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment” which would add language defining reproductive freedom as “the right to make and effectuate one’s own decisions about all matters related to one’s pregnancy.” If passed, the amendment would require that there be no infringement on “individuals’ autonomous decision making.” And, given the language of the amendment, it would eliminate parent rights and allow for unfettered abortions from conception up to birth.

        The second proposed amendment repeals a 2006 provision in Virginia’s Constitution defining marriage as God does – one man/one woman. (The Obergefell decision already rendered this section moot.)  If passed, the new amendment would state that marriage is “one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness” and would prohibit the state from denying marriage licenses based on sex or gender and require legal recognition of those marriages. 

        But this election, pastors aren’t sitting on their hands.  More than 150 pastors have signed an open letter rejecting both amendments.  The letters states in part:

“We believe these two amendments must be rejected for the Commonwealth of Virginia because they will harm our state as they are opposed to human flourishing and contrary to the Word of God.”

        Referencing the proposal on abortion, the pastors wrote

​“Abortion is the killing of a pre-born child in the womb. It is moral distortion to present this violation of the sixth commandment as a moral good or as a fundamental right, and it is deceptive framing to present abortion’s destruction of life as healthcare.”

​        On marriage, the letter states that marriage:

“…has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman into a single, exclusive union…What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate…It is likewise true to say what God has defined, let not man seek to redefine.”

        The letter currently represents about 90 churches and 50,000 plus parishioners across the state. It’s inspiring to see so many Churches in Virginia commit to truth and defend it unashamedly. Our Founding Fathers would be proud.

        Those are my thoughts. I’m Janet Parshall.