Great questions, 74.
With the quote of Reagan I did not intend to represent him in his totality as doing or saying nothing but Christian things. We all know that would not be true. The quote was an observation of the mentality of those that oppose life occurring at conception. The active Christians that actually read the Bible regularly and order their lives to live the life will still make huge errors in judgment at times. It is during those times that we should recognize the mistake, confess it and turn from it; or we call into question our beliefs. A Christian may have aborted or led a another person to abort a child without even realizing the implication. Once the person realizes the error, it is at that point there must be reconciliation with God for there to be forgiveness and restoration of the relationship. FWIW, I had a dearly loved, close family member die of dementia after a 10+ year battle that my wife and I cared for almost daily during the later years. So we understand the medical/ethical quagmire that exists relating to research on the issue.
Many of us believe the Bible to be inerrant and inspired by God. There are many scriptures that lead to the conclusion that life begins at conception. Jeremiah (1:5) writes of God saying "before I formed thee, I had destined thee for the prophetic office before thou wert born..." Others that have accepted Christ do not comprehend the scriptures that way. Some see the book as historical with the acceptance of Christ as the Messiah as the common denominator of all Christians. I am in the former camp because of the choices and events of my life, but do not judge others that are in the later group. I simply trust the Lord and his promises for all. Which includes unborn children in the womb in my view. As a practical matter, the child has done nothing to deserve the fate of death regardless of the events that led to conception. Most that see the child as matter and not a living being with a soul and personhood, see life from a naturalist viewpoint. I do not. I see life as purposed from the Creator.
I have not formed a final opinion on the Presidential candidate I support at this point. I listen closely to their comments and use the authority of the scripture as my guide to the decision. I believe a Christian candidate is capable of also being competent in matters of government, finance, international affairs, war, etc. By this selection process I have a better understanding of how he/she will make decisions and govern. The choice is ours. I am neither a pure capitalist or have socialist leanings. I understand the role of government. I just see that role as more limited to oversight and protection oriented than activist on social issues and such.
My personal experience was being raised in church, falling away in the teenage years as my family disintegrated as a functional unit due to the excesses of my parents; then returning as I left college with a denomination that was more cerebral in their approach. But I still hungered for a relationship with God because the emotions, logic and knowledge were not satisfying my soul as I attempted to cope with the world and life. At around 40 years old, I underwent great emotional, family and career crises that drove me to my knees and were as a result of my bad choices. It was either curse God, go the route of the world, and die; or confess and repent with total sell out to him. I chose the later. It made all the difference. I know him personally as my Lord and Savior now and seek to walk his path. I make many mistakes, but I am now reconciled with a peace that will lead me to his arms when I pass from this world. I am now the servant leader of my family and home. I have recently left the denomination due to their direction on social issues and view of the Bible and am now a member of a church that believes as I believe. My career flourished as I made decisions based on his will instead of the world - until the employers chose otherwise, at which time I would leave as he prepared me for another challenge. I am now retired and giving back. He chose to restore my life to more than I could imagine. However, I had to be willing to "be raised up or brought low" for him. That agreement will continue forever.
Sorry for the length of this post. I knew no other way to respond.
