Discovery Church Elder Statement on Amendment G

The elders of Discovery church would like to take this opportunity to formally ask the South Dakota residents in our congregation to pay special attention to this year's ballot. There are several measures and amendments that deserve your attention. Please prayerfully consider each of them. We would particularly call your attention to Amendment G and exhort you to VOTE NO on G. We urge this for at least two reasons. First, because we want to honor the Lord Jesus in the way we steward our South Dakota citizenship. We believe that this means taking our state motto seriously: Under God the people rule. We believe this is a God-honoring motto which tells us that, as citizens, we should work to make sure that all our laws should not fail to honor the God that has granted us life in this great land. 

Second, we also urge you to vote "no" on G because our primary citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). The crucified and risen Lord Jesus is our King and Savior. He has saved us from our sins according to His own mercy and so He rules our hearts. As the resurrected one, He is also the rightful ruler and judge of all heaven and earth. We look to Him and His word to guide all our decisions in matters that pertain to our life here on earth.

For these reasons we stand united against Amendment G which oppresses unborn children, threatening their lives and the physical/emotional health of their mothers. 
  • Amendment G will effectively allow abortion through all 9 months of pregnancy
  • Amendment G will deny parents the right to know if their underage daughter is undergoing an abortion procedure. 
  • Amendment G endangers women by canceling requirements for abortionists to follow basic hospital health and safety standards. Abortions will be conducted without doctors and outside safe facilities. 

You can read all ballot questions at the SD Secretary of State Website HERE. Among the most foundational reasons to oppose Amendment G is the fact that pre-born babies are fully human. God’s word says that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in his image, and each one is “knit together” in the mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-14, Genesis 1:27). Amendment G has no compassion and practices no justice for pre-born, human life. Amendment G clearly violates God's commands against murder (Exodus 20:13). 

Amendment G also violates an essential Christian belief: all human beings at all stages of development are made in God’s image and deserve the protection of a fair and just society. Amendment G would make South Dakota a place where both mothers and their children are treated unjustly and without compassion.

So, we exhort you to stand for life. James 1:27 tells us, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” This means that, as Christians, we must defend and speak for those who have no one else defending them or speaking for them. Certainly this applies to the pre-born and also their mothers who often believe the lie that there are no other options for them. 

Further, let it be known that our conviction according to the word of God is that any church which supports or endorses abortion as right and lawful has sinned against the Lord Jesus and should turn from their sin and acknowledge the clarity of God’s word. Pray for these churches. It is not too late for revival and reformation and the Savior’s arms are wide open to those who call on him in faith and turn from their error. 

Finally, we encourage you as brothers and sisters in the Lord to speak on this matter with boldness and grace. It has been said that the world ought to know where we stand not because we are attacking what's in front of us but because of how we're defending what's behind us. Pray that we take a stand like this - standing up for what we love. We love our neighbors and don't want them harmed by the violence, trauma and oppression of abortion. We love the Lord and want our lives to accord with His will. We pray that you will stand with us.

In love, in faith, and in obedience, 
The elders of Discovery Church

No Comments