Just a few short days ago a political and cultural earth shattering event took place. On September 18, one of America’s Supreme Court Justices lost her battle with cancer. Ruth Bader Ginsburg served in the Supreme Court for twenty-seven years. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Justice Ginsburg had long struggled with cancer. Many feared her death was fast approaching. Americans mourn her passing, those who agreed and disagreed with her ideologically. Even President Donald Trump acknowledged Ginsburg was an amazing woman.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death is likely to reshape the 2020 presidential campaigns for both Republicans and Democrats. But why is the death of a Supreme Court Justice such a big deal? Three reasons. First, long ago political parties have viewed the Supreme Court as an extended arm of their ideological platforms. Second, Justices are appointed by presidents who belong to a certain political party. Ginsburg, for instance was appointed to the Supreme court by president Bill Clinton in 1993. Therefore, she represented the liberal wing of the court. Third, Justices often make decisions on moral, cultural, and political issues that affect the nation.

Liberals are upset with Ginsburg’s passing. The San Francisco News titled one of its articles “Ruth Bader Ginsburg is Dead. We are all Doomed.” But are we really? Such cry only demonstrates that justice in America has turned into political talk. But Justices are not politicians, they are interpreters. Justices are tasked with applying existing laws with fairness and without bias. They are also tasked to maintain the integrity of the Constitution.

The Main Issue Surrounding RBG’s Death

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was primarily known for being a champion of women’s rights, gender discrimination, and abortion. Justices affirm the rule of law on a number of issues, but they are only noticed when ideological, moral, and cultural issues are at stake. The biggest one of them all? Abortion. Ginsburg was for the right of choice. She believed a woman should decide whether or not to give birth to her child. Here’s an excerpt from an interview to the NY Times on July 07, 2009:

Q: When you say that reproductive rights need to be straightened out, what do you mean? 

JUSTICE GINSBURG: The basic thing is that the government has no business making that choice for a woman. 

Q: Does that mean getting rid of the test the court imposed, in which it allows states to impose restrictions on abortion — like a waiting period — that are not deemed an “undue burden” to a woman’s reproductive freedom? 

JUSTICE GINSBURG: I’m not a big fan of these tests. I think the court uses them as a label that accommodates the result it wants to reach. It will be, it should be, that this is a woman’s decision … So I think the side that wants to take the choice away from women and give it to the state, they’re fighting a losing battle. Time is on the side of change.

As Christians, we stand in opposition to any kind of abortion. Christians also believe Government is God’s servant for good (Romans 13:4). Therefore, when government sanctions abortion, which is contrary to biblical moral standards, we stand against it. God is the creator of life, and all humans should have the right to life (Psalm 100:3; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 64:8; Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41).

It is reasonable to say that many Americans voted a certain way in 2016 because they understood the Supreme Court holds the power to rule for or against abortion. Liberals are mostly in support of abortion. Hence why the Los Angeles Times (a liberal outlet) titled one of their articles, just a day after Ginsburg’s death, “Ruth Bader Ginsburg Protected your Abortion Rights. Be Afraid Now That She’s Gone.”

The battle for her replacement will be fierce. RBG’s replacement is likely to be Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett is an American lawyer, judge, and academic who serves as a circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. By all accounts Barrett’s judicial background is stellar. In fact, most do not take issue with her judicial career track record. Rather, many take issue with the fact she claims to be a practicing Roman Catholic. In a senate hearing, Senator Diane Feinstein said, “The dogma lives loudly in you.”

Barrett’s Christian faith may influence her to reverse Roe vs. Wade. Which give Christians hope in the fight against abortion. We believe in the power of forgiveness, healing, and repentance, but abortion is sinful. Why? because God alone gets to decide who lives and who does not (Jeremiah 21:8; 1 Corinthians 3:22; Luke 20:38; Romans 14:8). RBG advocated for a woman’s right to determine whether or not her baby should live. But such decision, which is residual of the Edenic mistake Eve made, is our attempt to replace God, or “be like God” (Genesis 3:5).

Christian Reflections on RBG’s Death

I believe there are four things Christians must keep in mind concerning RBG’s death:

1. We must pray the next Supreme Court Justice of the United States is a righteous judge. We need to pray that whoever is appointed to fill the vacant seat at the supreme court will stand for righteousness and will stand for life. We would be wise to pray that the president applies wisdom in choosing the right Justice, like Ezra did in his days (Ezra 7:35).
2. We must not forget that our hope is Christ, and he alone. Many try to place their hope in the Supreme Court. But Jesus, the most righteous judge is our hope (Isaiah 11:3–4; John 5:22; Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:8). Ginsburg is almost being deified by many. But our hope for justice lies in the one and true deity, Jesus Christ. This hope must not be replaced. Neither must it be misplaced. There is not one single human being, except Christ, who can administer perfect justice. God alone holds the final judgement on matters of life.
3. We must remember that the highest court belongs to God. Though things seem to be out of control in our world, God is in total control. We must not fret. One day he will judge the righteous and the wicked (Ecclesiastes 3:17). The highest court of the United States is within the realm of God’s power, hence why we must pray for it.
4. We must seek to be bulwarks for justice. Our world is broken. That is why we must heed God’s desire, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17). We must be advocates for biblically based justice. Further, above religion we must seek to do justice, for that pleases God: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:24

Written by Daniel Messina

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