Declaring God Unreal, Civilly

Law student Sandra Fluke has become a national media figure (for the moment, at least), and an apologist for the unreality of God’s law and rule. She has not accomplished this with vituperative rants, but with “civil discourse” that “reflects reality.” On camera, Sandra Fluke’s even demeanor and business casual appearance hardly appear to make her a champion of evil.

Parents, this type of “reasoned” calm argumentation is all the more dangerous because of its subtlety. These are the attacks on Christianity for which you must prepare your children. While they are young, while they are still at home, they must learn how to deal with such challenges.  Just what are the comments that Ms. Fluke has made? What has caused the current uproar? Her most basic argument is saying that American women (married or not) are going to engage in sexual activity, that they should have full access to the wide range of contraceptive products, and that women should not have to pay for contraception. According to her, receiving contraception is a right for every American woman who wants to engage in “healthy” sexual activity.

The president of Georgetown University, where Fluke attends, was quoted by CNN in this excerpt from his remarks about Fluke’s situation and comments:

“(Fluke) provided a model of civil discourse. This expression of conscience was in the tradition of the deepest values we share as a people. One need not agree with her substantive position to support her right to respectful free expression.”

Sandra Fluke’s “respectful free expression” advocated that women be granted access to free contraception provided by health insurance. She maintained that since she and other American women are going to engage in healthy sexual behavior, they should have access to contraceptive materials, to be provided at no charge in health insurance coverage. Because she is civil, she is said to share “deepest values” with others. That may be, but her values are not the values of God—and it does matter whether or not one agrees with God, no matter how “civilly” that disagreement is expressed.

The fact that Fluke is unmarried, in her opinion, should have no bearing with regard to whether the state or health insurance companies should provide contraception for her. Here is a statement from Ms. Flukes, quoted by CNN:

“We’re talking about national legislation. Legislation has to reflect reality, not ideology and I don’t think that we can actually expect that American women are going to stop engaging in healthy sexual behaviors,” Fluke said.

Note her assertions. She argues that:

  1. National legislation must reflect reality,
  2. Not ideology, and
  3. We must expect American women to engage in health sexual behaviors.

By her definition, ideology is not consistent with reality. For a biblical apologist this statement provides a “target-rich environment” that can be easily challenged. But I will leave that needed task to the apologists. What Ms. Fluke fails to realize is that her statement is, itself, an ideological statement. She is merely substituting her own ideology for God’s. She is inferring that her ideology reflects reality and God’s does not!

It is at this point that Christians must realize that her argument has failed; Ms. Fluke is saying that her beliefs are true and God’s laws are false. It is clear that the Bible, God’s Word, says sexual behavior belongs in the confines of marriage. Fluke says this is not true. It does not matter if she is loud or calm, civil or not. She is defiantly wrong.  Attempting to engage her arguments without acknowledging this key point is like Eve debating with Satan about what God said about eating the fruit. The discussion will not end well for anyone opposing God.

Here is how the Apostle Paul categorizes the type of arguments that Sandra Fluke is making:

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:21-25

Fluke claims to be wise, but she is not. Sexual impurity is an offense to God, whether Sandra Fluke acknowledges this or not. Sex outside of marriage is never healthy. Fluke is sadly exchanging the truth of God for a lie. Sandra has chosen to openly disregard the law of God regarding sexual conduct. This is the point that you want to make with your children regarding any human behavior. In order for Sandra’s beliefs to stand, she must defy God. That is the real issue here.

Clear, right thinking begins with a mind that has been radically transformed by the power of the gospel! Those who have not been transformation in this way will be deceived by their own fine-sounding arguments—arguments that do not reflect reality, because they don’t acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord of Creation. We need to pray for Sandra Fluke and for all of the others in this world who have exchanged the truth of God for a lie.

Shepherd Press