I read a very disturbing
news report today regarding Virginia Republican Delegate Bob Marshall (R-13) and his assertion that disabled children are God's punishment on women who have chosen to abort a previous child.
Marshall is quoted as saying “The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically," and he continues to say, "Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children.”
He loosely mentions the Old Testament scripture from Exodus 13:2, which reads,
"Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine." and Exodus 22:29, which says,
"Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me." as scriptural evidence supporting his belief.
As a Christian and as a mother I have a number of real problems with what Bob Marshall has said. My response to his comments are based on the Christian bible as that is what Mr. Marshall has cited as evidence for his broad theory.
First and foremost is my knowledge that I have never had nor ever considered having an abortion. Yet, I have two sons born to me who are severely autistic. According to Marshall his theory suggests my children are not a blessing from the Lord (as found in Psalm 127:3) but rather a punishment upon me for my previous sins.
Wow, and here I was thinking I was a bad mother because I let my kids watch TV during dinner and sometimes I forget to brush their teeth before bed.
Perhaps if Mr. Marshall, a Roman Catholic, had read a bit further in his bible to the New Testament he would have found the following:
"Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3: 22-26).
In my bible I also read that prior to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection His grace and mercy are lavished upon those who confess their sins and seek redemption. This is seen in John 8: 8-11 when Jesus is met by a mob of men ready to stone a woman for her sins.
"But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Marshall would lead us to believe that the Old Testament laws are greater than the blood of Jesus which washes away all believer's sins, those from our past as well as those we may commit in the future. This is not to say we have free reign to sin without remorse. Rather it frees us from the desire to continue in sin. I can't help but feel as though Mr. Marshall is questioning the validity of my forgiven status as a child of God.
Women and men who have made the heart breaking decision to abort a child do suffer for their decisions. Mr. Marshall's words are merciless to those who have sought out ministries and support groups in search of forgiveness not only from God, but from themselves. I have friends who have lived their lives with a tortured soul for the decision they made and found forgiveness through a relationship with Christ and His assurance that "He causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Bob Marshall would lead each of these men and women to believe their forgiveness is conditional.
Yet we know that God's love only has 1 condition: We are to accept His son as our Lord and Savior and by doing so ALL our sins are not only forgiven....but FORGOTTEN.
I am most saddened by Bob Marshall's words because he is completely missing the person behind the label of "Disabled". A smiling child with downs syndrome showing joyful exuberance for life, the child with autism who is gazing up into sunbeams as they fall over his shoulders and flapping his hands with excitement, and the individual with cerebral palsy navigating their wheelchair through a
Boundless playground built to include children of all abilities does not bring to my mind an example of "nature's vengence".
Instead it brings to mind the certainty that all children are made in God's image and according to His will. It reminds me of the words of a wise friend of mine who ran an after school and evening program for underprivileged children in a rough neighborhood. He and his wife taught each of the children that "God don't make no junk."
But the world and the words of a simple man can lead you to believe otherwise.
I believe my children are a testament to God's faith in
me. He sees in me a mother who is strong enough, stubborn enough, and can love hard enough to walk a path dictated by the diagnosis of autism. Most days I feel like I am walking a tricky path where I take one step forward and two steps back. and frankly I don't need someone like Bob Marshall standing along the path with his foot out for me to trip over.
I will continue to trust God's will over man's and I pray that I may learn to see myself the way my heavenly Father sees me.
Because really... His opinion of me is all that matters.
