Three great civil rights movements: abolition of slavery, women’s rights, unborn children’s rights

There have been several long and difficult civil rights movements in America that have had world-changing impact. But, there is another civil rights movement that is happening right now. What are unborn children’s rights? Here is my opinion as a Christian, husband, father, and grandfather.

The subject of civil rights was brought to the forefront of the modern world by Jesus Christ, who summed up all the Old Testament laws and prophets with 2 statements: love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40). This was later amplified by the Apostle Paul in describing the children of God, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female.” (Galatians 3:28) Therefore, we should treat people of all colors, nationalities, demographics, and sexes with equal love and respect.

I am grateful that godly people imbedded these godly convictions in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. These people weren’t perfect but they wanted their country to operate according to godly principles.

• We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. –Preamble to the Declaration of Independence (National Archives)
• Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. –First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States (Constitution Annotated)
• It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors. –Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789 (AZ QUOTES)

From these shaky beginnings, we have made huge strides in civil rights. The struggle isn’t over yet, but we keep working.

Abolition of Slavery

This has been a very long worldwide struggle against humanity’s inhumanity to humanity. Slavery has been inflicted on people of all colors, nationalities, and demographics. It will forever be a moral stain on the early United States. But, I am grateful for the effort to abolish slavery and other civil rights abuses in America and throughout the world.

• Timeline of abolition of slavery and serfdom – from Ancient times 600 BC, Medieval times, Early Modern, Late Modern, to the present
• Slavery abolished in America with adoption of 13th amendment – ensuring that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
• Abolitionism – The worldwide struggle to end slavery and set slaves free

This battle became so intense, that the United States fought a civil war between brothers and families largely due to this issue. When it was over, slaves were set free, but the battle against racial oppression had just begun. Through the years, America has become a shining light of opportunity that is still attracting immigrants and refugees from around the world.  Sadly, this fight is not over because there are still human trafficking slave traders today and involuntary servitude is still practiced (even in America).

Women’s Rights

This has been another very long worldwide struggle against humanity’s inhumanity to humanity. Women have been treated unfairly in many nations throughout history. In some countries, women are still subjected to unbelievable atrocities such as mutilation, forced sterilization and so-called “honor” killings.

• Women’s Rights – to be free from sexual violence, to vote, to hold public office, to enter into legal contracts, to have equal rights in family law, to work, to fair wages or equal pay, to have reproductive rights, to own property, and to education.
• Women’s Suffrage – the right to vote as established by the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920
• Equal Rights Amendment – Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex

This battle never became so intense that it caused a civil war, but the proponents and activists were cruelly mocked and ridiculed for many years. Even after the Nineteenth Amendment was passed, the battle against sexual prejudice had just begun. Through the years, women have been treated more and more equally. Sadly, this fight is still not over because women are still fighting entrenched sexual oppression and glass ceilings.

Unborn Children’s Rights

During these ongoing struggles for human rights, we are also in the midst of another great civil rights movement in America. What are unborn children’s rights? This is the same question that used to be asked about slavery and women’s rights.

• Fetal rights – the moral rights or legal rights of the human fetus under natural and civil law
• Abortion debate – the ongoing controversy surrounding the moral, legal, and religious status of induced abortion

In my opinion, some of the language used by abortionists is appallingly similar to the language of the slave traders. They talk about the unborn child being less than human, just a collection of cells, and abortion as a form of birth control. They say it is better to kill the baby before it is born than to have it raised in an unwanted abusive environment. In my opinion, we should be trying to fix the problems that lead to unwanted abusive environments rather than denying the unborn children’s rights by killing them.

But, the Bible says that humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and God knows them while they are being formed in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16) and even knows the number of their hairs (Matthew 10:30).

Therefore, we are in a cold civil war between human opinion and God’s word. The winner will decide the future of America and the world. If we decide unborn children’s rights don’t exist and that killing unborn babies (and now late-term abortion and after-birth abortion) is a valid solution to any problem, then we are sliding down the slippery slope where eventually all the other civil rights will be lost, and the “cancel culture” will become the “kill culture.”

• Ancient Biblical Formula Predicts the Future – There is a formula for everything: stock market, global warming, and lifespan. Here is a Biblical formula that predicts the future

For deeper study on unborn children’s rights:

• A Modern-Day Parable of Romans 14 (How to avoid conflicts in the church)
• 101 Verses that prove Jesus Christ is the Creator

Here are some of the verses that cause me to support unborn children’s rights

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.  A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.  (Psalm 68:4-5 KJV)

 “‘Your hands have framed me and fashioned me altogether,  yet you destroy me.  Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again?  Haven’t you poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese?  You have clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.  You have granted me life and loving kindness. Your visitation has preserved my spirit. (Job 10:8-12 WEB)

 Your hands have made me and fashioned me;  give me understanding to learn Your commandments. (Psalm 119:73)

 For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful.  My soul knows that very well. My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.  How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you. (Psalm 139:13-18 WEB)

 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.  (Ecclesiastes 11:5)

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it;  he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:  I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. (Isaiah 42:5-9 KJV)

 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb,  which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. (Isaiah 44:2 KJV)

 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb:  “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth, (Isaiah 44:24)

Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.  I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.  I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 45:11-13 KJV)

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.  (Jeremiah 1:4-5 KJV)

But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink.  He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.  He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:13-17 WEB)

Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  She called out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” (Luke 1:39-45 WEB)

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.  (Matthew 10:26-31; Luke 12:4-7)