Biblical Support for CWA Core Issues

Concerned Women for America through its Board of Trustees has established six core issues on which we focus our efforts. Because the culture war that has engulfed our society makes claims on every area of life, we must set priorities thoughtfully to determine how best to fulfill our calling.

We provide below a few very basic verses that describe the Biblical support CWA finds for each of its six core issues. We are careful to note that experts down through the ages have done far more exhaustive analyses than this. We offer this summary as the barest hint of the breadth and depth of the Judeo-Christian worldview based on the Bible.

This Judeo-Christian worldview once served as the bedrock of Western Civilization. In recent times, Western Civilization has willingly chosen to exchange the faith and logic of a Biblical worldview for an irrational secularism based on an unthinking and cruel relativism. This foolish exchange is at the root of the glaring injustices of modern American public policy.

CWA affirms the Bible's unmistakable standard that there is right and wrong; that God is the Authority who established right and wrong by creation and by revelation in His Word, the Bible; that He has sent a Savior, Jesus Christ, to free us from our sin (wrong) by simple repentance and to enable us through the Holy Spirit to do what is right. CWA offers the simple summary below in the same gentle spirit in which the Bible itself offers us all this warning: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8, NIV)

We use the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible for the verses below.

Sanctity of Life
Humans reflect the image of God.

"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27)
The punishment of death was applied to those who take another's life because God values human life.

"Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man." (Genesis 9:6)
God gives life before birth and cares for the unborn.

"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them." (Psalm 139:13-16)
God has a purpose and calling for individuals even before we are born.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)

"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb." (Luke 1:15)

Religious Liberty
Example of Paul: Paul went to the synagogue (the political forum of that time) to reason with both Jews and Greeks. He used the religious climate at that time to introduce the Gospel of Christ into their culture. (Acts 17:16-24, Paul's sermon in Athens; Acts 18:4, his preaching in the synagogue.)

God calls us to be subject to the governing authorities. Apostle's example: Obey God rather than man. These two should be able to co-exist. They should not be in opposition to one another.

"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same." (Romans 13:3)
Sometimes the authority is in opposition to God and in those cases, we must obey God.

"But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men.'" (Acts 5:29)
Example of Daniel: King Darius took away religious freedom, but Daniel chose to exercise his God-given freedom to worship. He was punished, but gained freedom for the rest of the nation because of his obedience in worshipping God. (Daniel 6:8-27)

Family
God made marriage between a man and a woman.

"And He answered and said to them, 'Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning "made them male and female," and said, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.'" (Matthew 19:4-6)
Earthly example of Christ's relationship with the church. God recognizes marriage as a covenant representative of his covenant with the church.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church." (Ephesians 5:25-29)
Populating the earth is a mandate from God, not a threat to humanity.

"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:27-28)
God requires us all to honor their parents; the only commandment with promise.

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12)
God holds parents accountable for raising their children.

"And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)

Pornography
Pornography has proven to be destructive to those involved in its creation and consumption, and also to innocent bystanders who are harmed by others who use pornography. There is Biblical support for protecting those who do not choose to engage in the production or use of pornography, but are caught in the crossfire.

"Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked." (Psalm 82:3-4)
Pornography is particularly harmful to children. Child pornography has become prominent and is a gateway to harming children.

"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea." (Mark 9:42)
Pornography is reasonably considered a kind of idolatry which reveals what is meant to be kept holy.

"I will set nothing wicked before my eyes..." (Psalm 101:3)

"Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4)

Education
Parents exercise authority over children and are to teach them right from wrong.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
Children are instructed to look to their parents for guidance.

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise." (Ephesians 6:1-2)
Parents are told to train their children and instruct them in the faith.

"And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)

"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

"For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments." (Psalm 78:5-7)

National Sovereignty
The leaders of any nation have a responsibility to defend life and punish those who take the life and liberty of others.

"For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." (Romans 13:4)
God sets the times and places of the nations and calls them to obedience.

"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being..." (Acts 17:26-28a)

"...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Concerned Women for America
1015 Fifteenth St. N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (202) 488-7000
Fax: (202) 488-0806
E-mail: mail@cwfa.org

	Sanctity of Life Humans reflect the image of God. "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27) The punishment of death was applied to those who take another's life because God values human life. "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man." (Genesis 9:6) God gives life before birth and cares for the unborn. "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them." (Psalm 139:13-16) God has a purpose and calling for individuals even before we are born. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5) "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb." (Luke 1:15)
	Religious Liberty Example of Paul: Paul went to the synagogue (the political forum of that time) to reason with both Jews and Greeks. He used the religious climate at that time to introduce the Gospel of Christ into their culture. (Acts 17:16-24, Paul's sermon in Athens; Acts 18:4, his preaching in the synagogue.) God calls us to be subject to the governing authorities. Apostle's example: Obey God rather than man. These two should be able to co-exist. They should not be in opposition to one another. "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same." (Romans 13:3) Sometimes the authority is in opposition to God and in those cases, we must obey God. "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men.'" (Acts 5:29) Example of Daniel: King Darius took away religious freedom, but Daniel chose to exercise his God-given freedom to worship. He was punished, but gained freedom for the rest of the nation because of his obedience in worshipping God. (Daniel 6:8-27)
	Family God made marriage between a man and a woman. "And He answered and said to them, 'Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning "made them male and female," and said, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.'" (Matthew 19:4-6) Earthly example of Christ's relationship with the church. God recognizes marriage as a covenant representative of his covenant with the church. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church." (Ephesians 5:25-29) Populating the earth is a mandate from God, not a threat to humanity. "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:27-28) God requires us all to honor their parents; the only commandment with promise. "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12) God holds parents accountable for raising their children. "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)
	Pornography Pornography has proven to be destructive to those involved in its creation and consumption, and also to innocent bystanders who are harmed by others who use pornography. There is Biblical support for protecting those who do not choose to engage in the production or use of pornography, but are caught in the crossfire. "Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked." (Psalm 82:3-4) Pornography is particularly harmful to children. Child pornography has become prominent and is a gateway to harming children. "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea." (Mark 9:42) Pornography is reasonably considered a kind of idolatry which reveals what is meant to be kept holy. "I will set nothing wicked before my eyes..." (Psalm 101:3) "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4)
	Education Parents exercise authority over children and are to teach them right from wrong. "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) Children are instructed to look to their parents for guidance. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise." (Ephesians 6:1-2) Parents are told to train their children and instruct them in the faith. "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4) "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:6-9) "For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments." (Psalm 78:5-7)
	National Sovereignty The leaders of any nation have a responsibility to defend life and punish those who take the life and liberty of others. "For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." (Romans 13:4) God sets the times and places of the nations and calls them to obedience. "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being..." (Acts 17:26-28a) "...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)