In this article, we will look at a biblical view of abortion. There are so many different views and understanding in our world today, even in the church. Many Christians don’t know why they support or don’t support abortion. Many don’t address the subject with a Biblical understanding but only a political or humanistic viewpoint.
I want to share concepts from scripture which we need to consider when we look at the pro-life vs pro-choice argument.
I want to look at more than just what it says in Exodus 20:13 or Deuteronomy 5:17 - You shall not murder.
INTRODUCTION
Let's begin by reading a passage from Proverbs. Proverbs 6:16-19 - These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness who speaks lies, and he who sows discord among brethren.
Our Focus verse is 17 in which we that - The Lord hates and considers an abomination … hands that shed innocent blood
The first example of this is found in the story of Cain and Abel. In Genesis, because of jealousy, Cain kills Abel. Abel had done nothing wrong to Cain and was innocent in the situation. Let's read what God said to Cain after the murder.
Genesis 4:10-11 - And then He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed from the ground which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
God does not take killing an innocent life lightly, and Cain had to live with the consequences of his actions.
With these thoughts in mind, what does the Bible say about abortion? Are there principles of scripture that give us a clear understanding of what we should think on this subject? Let's look at some arguments presented and the Biblical answer.
What Does The Bible Say About Abortion
THE BABY (FETUS) IS NOT A HUMAN BEING IN THE WOMB.
The argument today is that the baby (fetus) is not alive until it is born. Or they do not know when the blob of flesh transforms and becomes alive during the pregnancy.
When does life start according to God? We get some strong hints from scripture.
Leviticus 17:11 - For the life of the flesh is in the blood… VS 14 - For the life of every creature is its blood; in its blood is its life.
Some people and even Christians are in favour of early abortions. But God says the life of the flesh is in the blood.
As per medical science, blood flow begins around day 20, it is possible to detect a heartbeat around the 5th week of pregnancy. What is the heart there to do? Move the blood around to pump the life of the flesh in the forming fetus.
If that fetus has blood, scripture says that it has the life of the flesh, regardless of how tiny or undeveloped that baby must be considered alive.
THE BABY (FETUS) IS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
Both male and female humans are the only living creatures on earth that God created in His image and likeness.
Genesis 1:26-27 - Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Every human being is conceived, born, and designed to reflect the image of God. God used Himself as the pattern for our creation. Animals were not created in God’s image; in no part of scripture is an animal referenced as bearing His image.
In Genesis 9, God instructs Noah - Verse 6 - Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in His own image.
One very significant reason it is wrong to kill another human is that that person is carrying the image of God, and destroying (murder) a human is to defile that image. This is why God says in the previous verse, verse 5, that God will demand an account (capital punishment on both man and beast) as payment and judgement for the life taken.
Just a thought. Be careful if you wish hope death upon someone.
The point is that fetus, upon conception as a human being, whether fully formed or not, is created and designed in the image of God. It is not simply a lump or blob of cells.
WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT ABORTION
Psalm 139:13-16 - You brought my inner parts into being; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder; marvelous are Your works, and You know me completely. 15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me unformed, yet in Your book all my days were written, before any of them came into being.
Isaiah 44:24 - Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb: I am the Lord who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself,
Jeremiah 1:4-5 - Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; and before you were born I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
In Psalms and Jeremiah, we see that God had knowledge of every human being before they were born. That tells me that it is with God’s intention and purpose that each one of us is created. God knew each one of us before our existence. Our days, our purpose and His plan for us were written or determined before we were conceived.
At what point does any one of us have the right to terminate a life that God has intended?
Some ask about those babies conceived through adverse circumstances such as rape. God doesn’t need unfavourable circumstances to bring someone into the world; evil exists, freedom of will exists, and sin exists, which brings about some of the results we see. One is that people are born because of less than ideal happenings. Here is the mastery of God; God can take a tragic situation and turn it into good.
Romans 8:28 - We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR SHEDDING INNOCENT BLOOD?
Psalm 106:36-38 - they served their idols, which were a snare to them. 37 Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, 38 and poured out innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.
It should be noted in this passage that the killing and sacrificing of their children was classified as pouring out innocent blood. It even says that the land became polluted with blood. That reminds me of what God said to Cain.
Here is the resulting judgement from Verse 40-41 - Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people,and He abhorred His own inheritance. He gave them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.
Isreal shed the innocent blood of their children, and they were brought into a place of bondage and ruled over by nations that hated them.
Think about this next verse. Deuteronomy 27:25 - “Cursed is he who receives pay to slay an innocent person.” And all the people shall say, “Amen.” That should pause anyone involved in the abortion industry, especially those calling themselves Christian.
WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT OF MY BODY MY CHOICE?
Many Christians fall into this wrong thinking. Christian women who support abortion say that no man will tell them what to do. Have we thought this through? Does God have a right to tell you what to do?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God, and that you are not your own? You were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
We often forget You and I are not our own. God has purchased us with the very blood and life of His own Son and now has ownership of each of us. No Christian can ever say that it is their body, their choice. We can never make this claim if we hold all of the previous thoughts from scripture as truth. God owns us and has the right to direct and tell us what to do and how to live, even regarding pregnancy. This goes for every area of our life.
1 Corinthians 7:23 - You were bought at a price. Do not be the servants of men.
We are not to be submitted to, servants of, the activities or thinking of people in the world or humanity. We are to be submitted to God and serve Him.
THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF SIN
James 1:14-15 - But each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then, when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and when sin is finished, it brings forth death.
This verse speaks to the progressive and destructive nature of sin. To say sin is just small or minor is deceptive. Sin often starts as something seemingly small and grows into something that brings death.
People, even Christians, do not realize how killing babies has become acceptable. How abortions are not used only in extreme circumstances, but that abortions, especially in Canada, can be performed at any stage of pregnancy. There are even live-birth abortions in which babies who survived an abortion attempt emerge alive and are abandoned to die and discarded.
Now, in Canada, we have medically assisted death (suicide), in which a doctor can help you die if you choose. This is a very slippery slope, and who decides life is worth living should be asked. Who gets to determine if a life should be terminated?
CONCLUSION
I can't close without saying that the church needs to play a more significant role in this. The church needs to walk in compassion and love.
We need compassion for women who have become pregnant through less than ideal circumstances. It is tragic to think that some Christian women have abortions because of the judgement they feel in the church. People make mistakes; yes, sin is sin, but when someone makes a mistake, let's love them.
We need to love the women who have had painful experiences that brought about the pregnancy. To be violated is a traumatic experience; these women need to experience compassion, help and be given options in their situations.
We even need to love and care for those who have decided to terminate their pregnancy. Yelling at them or calling these women murderers will not help the situation. We need to share Jesus and His love with them.
We must remember that God also says in 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
So if you or anyone you know needs forgiveness in this area, this is a tremendous promise. Go to the Lord, confess to Him what you have done, and He will forgive and cleanse you.
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