A Legislator’s Greatest Responsibility

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Reprinted with permission from L.E.A.R.N. Inc.

by Representative Sharon Weston, State of Louisiana

The challenges we face in our community are many–poverty, immorality, drugs, crime, divorce, bigotry–and, yes–abortion.

Human life is too frequently devalued in our society. For too long in the African American community the issue of abortion has been void from our agenda, as the number of abortions increase among us. The issue then becomes genocide.

Dr. Francis Schaeffer once stated that “the Lordship of Christ is to permeate the whole spectrum of life.” I believe my role as a Louisiana State Representative “for such a time as this” is to shape public policy as it relates to the challenges we face in or society, including the issue of a abortion. For “when there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily, but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.” (Proverbs 28:2)

Many people are surprised when they find out that I am a Democrat who is also pro-life. My pro-life perspective is an outreach of my commitment to Jesus Christ. However, from a political perspective, I find it ironic that the party who has worked so hard to be the voice of the powerless and the voiceless would not champion the cause for innocent defenseless unborn human life. It’s interesting that a party that was at the nucleus of the Civil Rights Movement would support less protection for the unborn child than almost any civilized country in the world.

In Dr. Martin Luther King’s book, Strength to Love, he states:

“Your highest loyalty is to God, and not the mores or the folkways, the state or the nation, or any man-made institution. If any earthly institution or custom conflicts with God’s will, it is your Christian duty to oppose it. You must never allow the transitory, evanescent demands of man-made institutions to take precedence over the eternal demands of the Almighty God.”

Today, more than ever before, elected officials who first embrace the title “Christian” must advance Biblical values in our sphere of influence.

It is my responsibility as an elected official to support legislation that opposes abortion. It is also important to me to heighten the awareness of the impact of abortions in the African-American community. Lastly, sensitivity should be exercised towards crisis pregnancies; working to “eliminate the crisis instead of eliminate the child.” Furthermore, it is important to assist mothers with opportunities and resources to help them carry their infants to term.

Too many Christians view their role in their community as spectators. For many Christians “ministry” is a term only connected to their church activity. However, true Christianity is acted out daily, in words and deeds. True spirituality touches all aspects of LIFE.

Notes

Sharon Weston is the first African-American female elected to the Louisiana State Legislature from East and West Baton Rouge Parishes. A former Baton Rouge City Council member, Rep. Weston received her M.A. degree in Communications from Regent University. She serves on the Advisory Board of Life Education and Resource Network.