Tennessee House Bill 0570 (equal protection for the fetus) failed – the Sovereignty, Immutability & Divine Impassibility of God
Yesterday, the State of Tennessee made national news when Tennessee House Bill 0570 failed to pass in the 114th General Assembly. HB 0570 would have provided the unborn fetus with the same equal protection as those outside the womb. This bill would have made abortion of the preborn as punishable as the murder of those murdered outside the womb. I do believe abortion is premeditated first-degree murder with malice aforethought, and yes, I prefer that the bill would have passed (Lord willing). But I’m going to talk about Biblical Doctrine, and the lack of faith demonstrated in the defeat of this bill.
I don’t know a professing Christian who audibly denies the sovereignty of God. But their actions (or posts) speak loudly.
God’s Elect are called to be steadfast in our faith. However, typical American evangelicalism appears to be more faithless than faithful. I saw this firsthand in California when COVID hit. Even confessional believers (and churches) seem no longer to believe in the doctrines of decree and providence. Instead, they capitulated with the Trump-Pence Coronavirus Taskforce, the “authorities,” and the media to “flatten the curve” of a virus that our Lord providentially decreed. And in my opinion, I believe it was a test.
And then again, when President Trump (#45) lost his bid for reelection to President Biden (#46), it was apparent that the MAGA movement had infiltrated the evangelical movement. Where their god (little ‘g’) was less sovereign when Trump was gone, their god was somehow more victorious and sovereign with President Trump (#47) back in the White House.
Let me make this Biblically clear. Not only is the God of the Scriptures sovereign in all and through all, I also believe in the Doctrine of the Immutability of God, that God and His Word never change; they are unchangeable. I also believe in the doctrine of the Divine Impassibility1 of God. That God is without passions, and so He does not change because of secular events. Nor is God biting His nails, saying I didn’t see that coming when HB 0570 failed. To have such a low view of who God is, is blasphemy, and like murder, blasphemy is one of the Ten Commandments.
Biblical doctrine is clear. Though God is not the author of sin, He providentially decrees things to occur, including the result of HB 0570. Sadly, I’m seeing an increase in proponents broadbrush blaming and social shaming Christ’s bride for this failure. If that’s you, repent. God truly is on His throne, and the judgment of Almighty God is inevitable. It is my opinion that abortion is a judgment of God.
In the meantime, while fearing God and trusting in Him, the Lord’s people must take His Law and Gospel into the streets.
- London Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 2, paragraph 1: The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will for his own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just and terrible in his judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.
( 1 Co 8:4,6; Deu 6:4; Jer 10:10; Isa 48:12; Exo 3:14; Joh 4:24; 1Ti 1:17; Deu 4:15-16; Mal 3:6; 1 Ki 8:27; Jer 23:23; Psa 90:2; Gen 17:1; Isa 6:3; Psa 115:3; Isa 46:10; Pro 16:4; Rom 11:36; Exo 34:6-7; Heb 11:6; Neh 9:32-33; Psa 5:5-6; Exo 34:7; Nah 1:2-3)
LBCF 2:1 ↩︎
About The Author
Bill Rhetts
An ordinary sinner saved by an Extraordinary Savior. Radically saved, and radically changed, by a Radical God. For more details, see the above 'About me' tab.
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Posted this one week ago.
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When I see pastors who identify as “Christian nationalists” and “Theonomists” travelling across the nation, promoting prolife legislation in those states. In my opinion, I see pastors who are most likely neglecting their own church and/or family at home. And when I see them lifting their voices at the statehouse promoting man’s law over God’s Law, I see a social justice gospel. If this was a necessary work, then why doesn’t their local church send laymen from their church to do this work? Whatever happened to delegating duties? Perhaps they think too highly of themselves? Do they believe they personally are required to accomplish God’s will? One of these aforementioned celebrity pastors is with a 1689 Confessional church. And Chapter 25, paragraph 11 of his own confession aligns with my thoughts on this (or is applicable to them).
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“Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches, to be instant in preaching the Word, by way of office, yet the work of preaching the Word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also a gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform it.”
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As I’ve said before. The Triunity of the Godhead, His Law, the Gospel, and His Scriptures must be the Vanguard of the pro-life movement. Lest the cause becomes a social justice gospel, or the fetus becomes idolatry.