To Everyone

I have thought about writing on abortion for quite some time. In fact, I’ve written articles a couple of times and ended up scratching them — trashing them for various reasons. It’s not that I changed my position on what I was writing, or I was afraid of hurting anyone (while I don’t wish to unnecessarily hurt anyone) but I believe it’s because my thoughts were simply incomplete. So, I think it’s about time, especially with the passing of a bill in New York, that I try and complete my thoughts and put them on paper.

Abortion is wrong. I won’t dance around the thought. In all cases, abortion is morally corrupt and a product of a fallen humanity just like sexual immorality, lying, stealing, and slander.

To Everyone – Specifically My Family in Christ

Before reading the rest of this article, know I want to plead with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I will not be addressing the unbeliever, while it is still beneficial for you, if you are an unbeliever, to read on (at the very least, to see where I am coming from as a Christian).

There aren’t many individuals in the world who would believe murder is just. It is certainly unquestionable if Scripture is used as your source of authority (Romans 13:9; Matt. 5:21-22). Murder is the taking of someone’s life, a life of which you don’t own. (I add this last statement, although it sounds weird, because God does not murder. Life is His to give and His to take away — as the Creator of all things.) So, the question must be asked, is abortion the taking of life? While I believe science does show life starts at conception, I want to avoid it and simply use Scripture, as it is sufficient for all answers (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3).

Scriptural Examples of Life in the Womb

First, let’s look at three of the major prophets found in Scripture — Isaiah, Jeremiah, and David. All three speak of God knowing them while in the womb of their mother (Isa. 44:2; Psa. 139:13). He not only knew them but called them and cared for them (Psalm 22:9-10; Isa. 49:1; Gal 1:15; Jer. 1:4-5). The Scripture is abundant.

Let’s look at an aspect of the Mosaic Law which also points to this. Before getting into this, I want to explain how the Mosaic Law can be applied to us today. Like all Scripture, we are to observe, interpret, pull out principles, and apply. As we look at the Mosaic Law, it is important to note it is in the Old Testament (specifically the Mosaic economy). Paul makes it abundantly clear that we are no longer under the Law of Moses but under the Law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9; Galatians). However, what we can do is look at the Law of Moses and identify characteristics, desires, personality, etc. of God, the one who created the Covenant.

Exodus 21:22-23 tells us that for Israel, under the Mosaic Covenant and Law, if someone were to harm a pregnant woman which caused her to give birth and the baby was not harmed, the judge would decide the price of the crime. However, if this were to happen, and the baby (which unborn at this time) were to die, the person who committed the crime was also to die, for the cost was “life for life.” According to God, we can see that preborn children do in fact have life. Killing this preborn child is the definition of murder and the price, during the Mosaic economy, was the life of the murderer.

Lastly, let’s look at John the Baptist while he was in his mother’s womb. It’s an interesting passage in Luke 1:39-45. Whenever Mary, who was carrying Jesus in her womb, walks into the room, John the Baptist, who was a preborn child in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, jumped for joy. John recognized who was in the room and leaped in his mother’s womb. Now, come on. That’s incredible. John the Baptist recognized that Life was in the room and leaped because of the joy it brought him.

So, Why Does It Matter?

So, why is this so important? It’s really quite simple and I think we try to make it more complicated than we should – life is valuable to God. In Genesis 1:27 (before the fall of man), we see that Adam is made in the image of God. Then, in Genesis 5, Seth is born in the likeness of Adam, showing that something was added to this image (of God). However, Moses makes sure to include the fact that man is still in the image of God (Gen. 5:1). Then, in Genesis 9, whenever capital punishment (and the role of government) is created, the reason for capital punishment is announced – namely, mankind is made in the image of God! This image gives mankind great value – such value that limits who can take such life. To disregard life is to disregard the work of an almighty Creator, a sovereign Creator, the perfect God who declared His creation as “very good” (Gen. 1:31). Life is precious because God holds life as precious and made man in His image. Note the differences between how God made man and the rest of creation. 

The Reproductive Health Act

Now, let’s turn to this bill that just passed. What is it? In summary, the bill has stated that women have the “fundamental right” to abort their preborn baby. There are no restrictions on this. The baby is unprotected until it is born. The implications behind this are enormous. Justice for accidental preborn death is no more. Baby’s who would be able to see, cry, breath, move, blink, etc. are all able to be aborted. It is, in all meaning of the words, wicked, sinful, and repulsive. It is wrong, on all moral levels. Let this be clear.

Some Aspects of a Proper Response

Should we be angry? Absolutely. The anger that should naturally arise at the thought of a country who would condone, encourage, and celebrate the taking of life. That is a proper anger that should lead to action. Let us inform mankind, defend preborn children, and strive to reform the country to one which would once again hold life is special, precious and not our own.

Should you be surprised? Not really. I am not surprised that a lost humanity would do such a thing. In fact, we see throughout Judges where God’s people even sacrificed their children. The pagan nations throughout Canaan made it a common occurrence. If someone doesn’t believe in God, the creator of morality, why should I be surprised whenever they don’t follow that moral code? Why should I be surprised if a person who doesn’t believe we were created hold to the sanctity of life? Does this make it right? Of course not. But I am not surprised whenever I see it. I am grieved, saddened, and angry, but not surprised.

A Challenge to My Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Now, I want to address those who are like me — pro-life and absolutely committed to standing up for preborn children. Often times, we have a tendency to not only condemn the sin but the people who are committing them as well. I want to challenge you. Yes, pro-choice individuals are wrong. The act of abortion is wrong and needs to be called out. The pro-choice individuals are also loved, cared for, and ultimately judged by God. They should also be loved and cared for by God’s people. I have a mission to make disciples of all nations. I am called to evangelize – share the gospel with everyone. I am called to teach all that God has commanded. I am called to view man, all man, as made in the image of God; making them all valuable. James 3:9-10 speaks plainly of such things:

With it [our tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Let us then call out the sin, judge our brothers and sisters in Christ, but love always. Everyone is made in the image of our God and Father. Let us grieve the tragic passing of such an awful bill in the state of New York. Let us strive to reverse it by using our government. Let us pray, pleading for God to intervene, bringing glory to His name. Above all, let us stay faithful to God and His word, even in times like these. God is good. God is in control. God is deserving of our faithfulness. God loves His creation.