One of my recent tasks as editorial assistant was to excerpt Crown & Covenant Publications’ new book, Political Danger, by James R. Willson, for this issue of the Witness (see “Political Danger: Excerpts”). The articles in this volume were written about the political controversies of early 19th Century America. At first glance, the book looks intimidatingly dry. I prepared myself for some tedious material intended for theologians and scholars, not for everyday Christians like me.

To my surprise I found instead the thoughts of a man deeply concerned with the same issues that plague our nation today. In the broader context of the mediatorial Kingship of Jesus Christ, the book addresses issues on cultural tolerance, power-hungry governments and the treatment of veterans. It also includes a thoroughly surprising section on the abolishment of prayer in the New York House of Representatives written in 1835. (Yes, they were arguing about the constitutionality of state prayer 175 years ago.) As Gordon Keddie, editor of this collection, said, “In all of these papers there are passages that could have been written yesterday.”

But the sections that most interested me most were those on slavery. For many, including me, this is a dead topic. Slavery was abolished long ago, and few of us would question its immorality or willingly countenance its existence. Nevertheless, in speaking to 19th Century slavery, Willson still speaks to a different, yet still burning issue of our modern society—abortion. The similarities between the two controversies are striking. In Willson’s day, slaves were considered subhuman conveniences (or inconveniences). Treated like property, they were deprived of the freedom of choice so selfishly prized by their masters. Effectively they were told, “it is best for all if we decide how, and if, you live.”

Those in favor of immediate emancipation, like Willson, were informed that slaveholding was a constitutional right, that to act or speak against it demonstrated religious fanaticism. Pro-slavery groups attempted to muzzle the press and “make it criminal to utter doctrines adverse to Negro slavery.” President Andrew Jackson himself gave a speech in which he condemned the abolitionists as inflammatory and misguided, and accused them of seeking to foment a civil war. Circulation of “incendiary” (that is, anti-slavery) material in the Southern states was prohibited, under severe penalties. Sound familiar?

As we now know, the Emancipation movement was finally successful, as (Lord willing) the pro-life movement may yet be. In the future we may look back at abortion as an unnatural, evil blot on our nation’s history, just like slavery. Perhaps our children will be shocked that our government and society allowed it to continue for so long! I believe that Willson’s book may provide impetus to, and perspective on, our struggle for the rights of the unborn.

Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” In Political Danger, Willson gives us a glimpse into the everlasting truth of those words.

—Shelley Davis