On the night of October 25, 1994 two young defenseless boy's lives were aborted (i.e. prematurely terminated) by an act of their mother, Susan Smith. The brothers, secured by seat belts, were drowned when the driverless car, abandoned by the mother, plunged into John D. Long Lake in Union, North Carolina.

"How could she do it?" was the headline cry of "Time Magazine's" cover story of November 14. Susan Smith seems to be the small town "All-American" girl. She was an honor student in her high school. She was voted the "friendliest female" in her class. She was well known and well liked. People in the community of Union said she was from "good people of good stock."

Susan Smith's world was falling apart. Her marriage had failed. She was in financial trouble. She was involved in a love affair with a man who did not want to marry her and take responsibility for her children. She claimed her desire was to end it all, not only for her sons, but for herself as well. When the moment came, she lost her nerve, choosing to save her life and take the lives of her sons.

Some say it was done with "cold calculation." You could say that Susan Smith was pro-choice. She saved her life but chose to terminate the lives of her two defenseless children.

Public reaction was swift. People shouted, "Baby murderer," as she left the courthouse after her arraignment. One said, "She is slime, just slime." A woman was reported to have said that they ought to "string her up right in the middle of the courthouse."

According to an Associated Press release that appeared in the January 17, 1995 edition of "The Virginian-Pilot" spectators at her courthouse hearing were shocked when the prosecutor said he would seek the death penalty for Susan Smith if she was convicted of the double murder. The Solicitor Tommy Pope was quoted as saying, "As heinous as this crime was, if this case doesn't deserve the death penalty, what does?"

Yes, the death of children at the hands of anyone is a heinous crime. In 1992, 662 children under the age of 5 were murdered in this country, two-thirds of this number killed by one or both parents. As gruesome as these figures may be, these are but a "drop in the bucket" compared to the statistics for the aborted unborn children!

It has been argued by those who favor legal abortions, that abortion is not the taking of human life. Dr. Bert Thompson rightly argues in his book, "The Christian and Medical Ethics," that what is growing in the mother's womb is the result of the union of the human mail sperm and the human female egg. This, Thompson says, guarantees its "humanness." It is "alive." If undisturbed, in nine months it will result in the birth of a living human child (p. 29).

"The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia has reported the number of infants slain by abortion to be about 2 million each year — more than all the American lives lost in the almost 200 years of wars since our country's inception. In fact, in the unpopular 11- year Vietnam War over 58,000 Americans lost their lives, yet this country's medical profession, via abortion, kills more than that in any given 11 days!" (Thompson, p.28)

Abortion worldwide was rare before it became first legalized in 1917 in Russia under Communism. Today the United Nations estimates that some 55 million abortions are performed annually throughout the world. Millions have died right here in the "Land of the Free" since the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 voted to legalize abortion.

How can any mother justify having an abortion (or in many cases more than one) and at the same time call Susan Smith a "Baby Murderer?" There are countless American women who are pro-choice, and just like Susan Smith are "well-known and well-liked," who are "good people from good stock," who have been convinced that having an abortion is not murdering a living human being. If Susan Smith is to die, then I say, let her that is without sin cast the first stone.

If the deaths of Michael and Alex Smith is "a heinous crime," how much more, simply by the magnitude, are the deaths of 2 million aborted children! We live in a crazy society which rejects God's Word as having authority over their lives and considers that which is legal to be that which is right. The Supreme Court by making abortion legal cannot change God's Word. "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man." (Gen. 9:6) Capital punishment was instituted by God following the flood. Under the Mosaic Law God prescribed death for those who took the life of an unborn child (see Exo. 21:22) through folly. "Legal" abortion was never considered an option.

The practice of legalized abortion should come to an end in this country. According to the national statistical abstract, approximately 80 percent of all aborters are reported as being unmarried ("Reardon" p.5). The sexual revolution of the 60's has created a promiscuous society. Free sex had led to unwanted pregnancies and unwanted pregnancies to legalized abortion. The sanctity of human life should be restored by establishing the death penalty for murder in every state. Murder of the human unborn should be treated the same as murder of the human born. Christians need to speak up for truth. We need to stand for that which is right!

Some would justify "stringing up the aborter in the middle of the courthouse." No matter how evil abortion is, no Christian in defense of right can justify taking vengeance on those responsible. Both the Baptist preacher who took the life of the abortion doctor and John Salvi, who gunned down those in the Boston clinic, were guilty of violating the law of God. Capital punishment for capital crime has to be administered according to God's law (Rom. 12:17-21; 13:1-4).

The Christian is the salt of the earth. Salt is used both as a seasoning and as a means of preventing decay. We must always use our influence to stop the decay of morals in this world and to season life with that which is good. Lives of men are turned by the gospel, one at a time, from sin to righteousness. Only righteousness exalts a nation.

Before the stones begin to fly, we need to consider that Susan Smith is not the only one who has a problem. It is not just those women who have abortions, nor the doctors who perform them, nor the judges who justify it. It's all a part of a sin-sick world of violence without respect for God, the giver of life. And consider that those who have the greatest responsibility to show the world what holiness is have really failed to do so. Wherefore, "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." (II Cor. 6:17)

Now, here's the GOOD NEWS! The Christian is the salt of the earth — not can be, or should be, but IS. The time has come to stop playing Christian and become truly righteous individuals. We will never conquer spiritual enemies through hypocrisy, but we can win the spiritual battle by becoming genuinely righteous people. Again, Jesus said that Christians are the light of the world. When the lamp is put on the lamp stand, it will give light to all who are in the house! "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt. 5:16) Your light will shine as you become enlightened by constant study of God's Word. "Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."