Christ Over Culture (3)
Notes
Transcript
The Gospel and Abortion
The Gospel and Abortion
This can be a sensitive topic. Please know right away that the intent of this is to give information that aligns with the Bible. - Not to put anyone on the hot seat or ridicule anyone who may have had or knows someone who has had an abortion.
According to statistics, roughly 1 out of 3 women in the US will have an abortion at some point in their life. If you are one of the many, or know one of the many, please understand that God’s grace is more than enough to cover the sin.
God provides grace, but does not change His stance. Abortion is still sin and always will be. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
ABORTION - what is your response? How do you view abortion? What are your beliefs?
Do you respond loud and firmly, or “appallingly passive” as David Platt describes?
Do you view abortion as a political issue only?
Either no need to be personally concerned or invested?
- OR -
That abortion is a biblical issue in which Christians have a need to be concerned and involved?
Before we dive into those questions, let’s go over some statistics.
Statistics.
Statistics.
On average, in the world there are ______ abortions…
Per second ~ 1.3
Per minute ~ 80
Per hour ~ 4,792
Per day ~ 115,000
Per month ~ 3,565,000
Per year ~ 42,780,000
Per 4 year college degree ~ 171,120,000
The holocaust ~ 6,000,000
The reality is that about everyone in the world would claim that the Jewish holocaust was horrible and a tragedy But people are fighting for the rights to continue this murder of innocent babies.
Imagine any kid that you know, imagine putting them to bed tonight. Now just this day, there are approx 115,000 children that will never be able to go to bed.
It is about time Christians take a stand.
We do NOT all need to go and picket abortion clinics or invade college campuses and argue with people, but when presented the opportunity we can no longer remain silent on this issue.
(That is what culture wants - we must go against culture and stand with Christ.)
But before we can stand against culture, we must know what the Bible says because nothing can stand against God.
What the Bible Says…
What the Bible Says…
As you read the Bible, how many times is the word abortion used? - 0
If God does not use the word ABORTION, how do we know that it is a sin?
The Bible still speaks clearly about it.
God is the giver of life.
“The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind?
God is the taker of life.
He said,
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
‘See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
We see here, that abortion (murder) and suicide is a sin because we take the place of God.
God has a special relationship with the unborn child.
Scripture proves it.
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
The way God forms and creates humans is worthy of praise - NOT murder.
The amazing thing here is that the Psalmist came to this conclusion without science.
Unfortunately, science tends to explain a sole creator away when it should point people to a sloe creator.
The Psalmist likely had no clue of everything that God did when He allowed an egg and a sperm to join.
After just a few weeks, before the woman likely knows she is even pregnant, there is a heartbeat with the babies own blood supply.
After a few more weeks, fingers and toes are formed, brain waves are detectable
Not long after this, the organs, ‘inward parts’ are moving.
By the 12th week, all the organs are formed, moving and functioning. The baby can also cry.
God created all of it - science cannot explain this.
Now, imagine taking an instrument or a pill and destroying what God is currently building and forming.
Example - think about your trips to the beach. Build a sandcastle and a random stranger kicks it over when you are almost done.
What is your reaction?
That is what we are doing to God, just not with a sandcastle, but a human.
Do you know when the ‘optimal’ time for an abortion is and when most abortions happen?
between 10-14 weeks.
We are destroying babies that God created, not just a clump of tissue.
Abortion is full assault on God’s creation and it is encouraged in culture.
The Key Question That Must Be Answered…
The Key Question That Must Be Answered…
This question drives the entire stance each person has on abortion.
What is in the womb?
Is it a human? - OR - a clump of tissue?
Every question and argument about abortion always comes back to this question.
Gregory Koukl has this quote…
If the unborn is not a human person, no justification for abortion is necessary. (some people take and defend this stance) But, if the unborn is a human person, than no justification for abortion is adequate!”
People take both sides, claiming, “it is a complex issue.”
With the view that scripture is 100% truth (hopefully all of us)
The inborn is a human no matter the stage of development…
Let’s look at the 2 primary arguments for abortion…
Women have a right to privacy with their doctors.
Women have a right to privacy with their doctors.
For sure, 100% true, within reason.
Everyone should be covered and have privacy with their Dr when it comes to medical issues and procedures.
However, according to US law, “18 US Code 1111 - (a)Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought. Every murder perpetrated by poison, lying in wait, or any other kind of willful, deliberate, malicious, and premeditated killing; or committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, any arson, escape, murder, kidnapping, treason, espionage, sabotage, aggravated sexual abuse or sexual abuse, child abuse, burglary, or robbery; or perpetrated as part of a pattern or practice of assault or torture against a child or children; or perpetrated from a premeditated design unlawfully and maliciously to effect the death of any human being other than him who is killed, is murder in the first degree.
Any other murder is murder in the second degree.
No person has a right to make plans to kill anyone - this includes doctors who take an oath to preserve life.
According to US law - Both people are able to be convicted of the crime (yet we make it legal for what reason?).
Women Should Have The Right To Choose.
Women Should Have The Right To Choose.
Their body - their choice!
Absolutely, Women should have the coice over certian issues. But when it includes children like this, no one should.
It all boils down to this… What is in the womb?
If you have a child, and you decide they cost too much, you DO NOT have the right to take them out back and murder them.
If it is a clump of tissue with no life… No justification is needed.
If it is in fact a human inside the womb…No justification is adequate.
Gregory Koukl gives an excerpt about the identity of the unborn.
“Rachel is now 2 months old, but she is still six weeks away from being a full term baby. She was born prematurely at 24 weeks, in the middle of her mothers second trimester On the day of her birth Rachel weighted one pond, nine ounces, but dropped to just under one pound soon after. She was so small she could rest in the palm of her Daddy’s hand. She was a tiny, living, human person. Heroic measures were taken to save this child’s life. Why? Because we have an obligation to protect, nurture, and care for other humans who would die without our help - especially little children. Rachel was a vulnerable and valuable human being. But get this…if a doctor came into the hospital room and, instead of caring for Rachel, took the life of this little girl as she lay quietly nursing at her mother’s breast, it would be homicide. However, if this same little girl - the very same Rachel - was inches away resting inside her mother’s womb, she could be legally killed by abortion.”
It all comes down to what is in the womb.
Scripture is clear - it is a human.
Anything other than that designation is to go against scripture.
Culture pushes against this.
Christians must realize this and we must put Christ over Culture and no longer sit by without a voice.
But, please hear this,
Whether it is you, a relative, or a friend who either in the past, currently or in the future, we are not the ones who are to judge.
(That is God alone)
Remeber, God judges sin, but He is also the Savior of sinners.
Here is a message Christian’s need to know and share with the world…
“To anyone and everyone who ever aborted a child, supported abortion, encouraged abortion, performed an abortion, permitted abortion or simply did nothing about abortion, please understand this…
God forgives entirely…
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,
And I will not remember your sins.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God heals deeply…
Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”
Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
God restores completely…
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Next steps - To put Christ Over Culture
Pray.
Ask God to end abortions throughout the world.
Ask God to forgive us for whatever part we have played. (Even if it is silence!).
Ask God to convict those in positions of power to use their influence to end abortions.
Get involved.
Learn about and volunteer at crisis pregnancy center around us.
(Agape women’s center. Hope house. Pathways pregnancy resource center…local churches such as GPF)
Scripture
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
If you are slack in the day of distress,
Your strength is limited.
Deliver those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.
If you say, “See, we did not know this,”
Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?
And does He not know it who keeps your soul?
And will He not render to man according to his work?
But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
