The Bible and Abortion

we will return to Acts, but since this will be in the headlines for a while, we need to review

touchy subject, a lot of talking so you can use the chat to ask questions, also you can text me with questions, if you don’t want to ask it in front of everyone.

How should Christians respond to any question/controversy?

Christians is key word

2 Corinthians 5:20 NASB95

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

we must remember that we don’t speak for ourselves, we speak for God

We represent God, God makes an appeal through us

ambassadors always stick with the official policy whether you understand the “why” or not

don’t lean to your own understanding

we always go to the official written policy of our king - The Bible (in context)

not our thoughts, not our personal experiences, nor our personal conclusions

note: we are responsible for telling the truth in love

questions for tonight . . .

Is having an abortion a sin?

Should I tell a woman what to do with her body?

What about extenuating circumstances?

What about the safety of women wanting abortions?

Is having an abortion a sin?

is it morally wrong?

First, we must look to the Bible to answer the question, “when does a person’s life start?”

When am I a human being?

at conception? after so many days in the womb? after birth?

if you are not killing a human being, it is not wrong

if you are killing a human being, it is. . . that makes it murder

Isaiah 49:1 NLT

1 Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.

Isaiah said that God called him before he was born, and named him while still in the body of his mother

God himself considered Isaiah a person/human being in the womb

Jeremiah 1:5 NLT

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

we see the same thing that we saw in Isaiah

even before conception God identified Jeremiah as a person

after conception/while in the womb, God chose him and appointed him as a prophet

Luke 1:15 NLT

15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.

John the Baptist would be filled with the Holy Spirit while in the womb

only people are filled with the holy spirit

Luke 1:44 NLT

44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.

in the womb, the baby had joy just like a person

Matthew 1:18 NASB95

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

she was found to be with child, Bible calls the unborn Jesus a child

a child is a person/human being

Exodus 21:22–23 NASB95

22 “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. 23 “But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life,

a fine was the price to pay for harming a child in the womb

death penalty for killing child in the womb

Summary

even before conception, definitely at conception, when we are in the womb . . . . God sees us as a person, a child, a baby, human being

The Bible is so clear on this, that Christians don’t really disagree on this point. There is usually some disagreement on our next question.

so, according to the Bible, we are people whether in the womb or out of it

yes, “fetuses” are treated like people, they are called, chosen, named, appointed, filled, protected by law in the Bible . . .

note: fetus is an attempt to dehumanize the child, it is easier on the conscience if you aborted a fetus than say, “I killed my 60 day year old son or daughter”

when a woman has a miscarrage, we say, she lost a baby/child . . . but when it is abortion, she got rid of it . . . . we call the baby an “it” or fetus (conscience)

or we use the term embryo

common saying, “you came from an embryo”

no . . . we should say, “you were once an embryo” . . you were once a baby, child, pre-teen, teenager, young adult, adult, elderly . . .

all different stages of life, and no matter what stage you are killed in, it is still murder

and murdering a person is a sin

murdering your own child is a sin

having an abortion, is committing the sin of murder

if a man kills a pregnant woman, and the baby she is carrying in the womb, it is considered a double homicide in 38 states

because deep down, society knows that the person in the womb is a baby/a child/little girl/little boy

ok, I get that, but . . .

Should I tell a woman what to do with her body?

it’s a sin, but it’s not my job to stop people from sinning!

people have a right to choose right or wrong, correct?

it depends upon the act

First we must acknowledge that we do have laws that tell us what to do with our bodies

you can’t get drunk and drive (DUI)

or drunk and walk around the neighborhood (public intoxication)

can’t go running naked down the street (indecency)

you can’t speed in your car (speeding)

shoot me because you are mad (murder)

can’t take illegal drugs (starting to change)

can’t take prescription drugs without a prescription

you can do these things, but there are consequences if you get caught

Most of our laws that tell us what to do with our bodies, are there because we draw the line when you do something with your body that will directly hurt/affect somebody else’s life

“make your own choices, until your choices start affecting me”

drunk driving - hurt, kill

public intoxication - do something crazy

indecency - don’t want to see it, don’t want my kids seeing it

murder - can’t use your body to kill my body

same concept in the Bible - Ten commandments (laws for the nation)

first commandments deal with relationship with God

rest of commandments deal with doing things that will affect others

murder - actual life, their family

adultery - marriage, children, family

steal - my livelihood, financial well being

false witness - my freedom, reputation, financial well being

laws that tell us what to do with our bodies is a part of the Bible and every society

So, The better question is, should anti-abortion laws be one of them?

Is abortion affecting the body of another human being? . . . it directly affects the child to the extreme, it’s killing the body of the child

once you understand that abortion is murder of a human being

pro-choice means - I should be able to choose to murder my child or not murder my child

So the question to society, should I let you murder your child with no consequences?

it’s their child, so it’s none of my business

Do i let you murder your two-year old? . . . NO, I call the police

But this is a different situation, because the a two-year-old is not inside of a mother

so location makes a difference?

Does every human being has an equal right to life, or only people in certain locations?

once you start putting qualifications, then the door gets wider and wider for acceptable killings

race - you can kill, if from an inferior race (slavery, lynchings, genocide)

gender - you can kill, if they are weaker

financial status - you can kill, if they are poor

old age - you can kill, if too old to contribute

If it’s wrong to hurt people because of skin color, gender, age, financial status . . . why is it okay to say, “it’s your choice to kill them, since they are in a different location?”

it’s your choice, since they are so young

let me change the words, “this is a different type of murder, because the baby is within me”

true, it is a different type of murder, but it’s still murder

sad that the womb is not the safest place anymore

Does society tell us what to do with our children?

we tell you to educate your kids (truancy laws)

we tell you to put your kids in a car seat

we tell you don’t abuse your children - CPS says, “we have to protect your child from you”

we tell you don’t kill your children outside the womb

it is not a stretch to say, “don’t kill your children in the womb

What about extenuating circumstances?

rape

thirteen year old raped and about to have a baby - that is a horrible situation on so many levels, physically, emotionally, financially, socially

How should we respond to horrible situations, unfair situations, tragic situations . . .

with more unfairness (to the baby), more emotional baggage (mother) . . . respond with murder?

kid gets picked on school . . . it’s unfair and sad . . . we feel for him

so do we tell him, “go get a gun and shoot those people or shoot up the school”

is him killing people responsible the right answer

is him killing people not responsible the right answer

does that make it right, better? is it justified

no we try to punish the guilty, help the kid (extra care, counseling, care, love)

rape is a horrible crime, but you should not compound it, and add murder because of it

girl/woman is abused and is mistreated, and we say become a murderer of your own child if you want . . . does that make it right, better?

we don’t say, go find the guy and murder him

but we will say, you should consider murdering the little one who is not responsible

we should try to punish the guilty, and help the person and her baby

that’s why we condemn people who used to respond with bombing abortion centers

kill people who killed people . . . does that make it right, better?

Romans 12:21 NASB95

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

health of mother

mother dies or baby dies - this is only place where I see a decision needs to be made by the mother . . .because you lose a life either way

terrible, impossible decision . . . .

What would a mother/parent do with a 1 year old daughter if they were given a choice?

What about the safety of women wanting abortions?

Forcing women to get dangerous abortions

if it becomes against the law, some women are still going continue to get them. Do we want them going to unsafe places, back alleys?

one method I use to look at sins, is to substitute in another sin, using the same language

if robbing becomes against the law, some people will continue to rob. Do we want robbers running and hiding in unsafe places, back alleys?

they might get jacked themselves

it could be dangerous getting illegal weapons, crime partners

sounds crazy doesn’t it

if it becomes illegal, no one is making them get an abortion, they have decided to break the law, and put themselves into a dangerous situation

it is not society’s job to make killing your child safer

Thoughts to consider

adoption could be the answer for some moms

reasons for abortion (do these reasons still fit for killing a 1 year old baby?)

Not financially prepared - - but the baby is here, must deal with it

Bad timing, not ready, or unplanned - but the baby is here, must deal with it

Partner-related reasons New or bad relationship - - but the baby is here, must deal with it

Need to focus on other children - I will kill your sister, so I will have more time for you

Interferes with educational or job plans - not the baby’s fault

Not emotionally or mentally prepared - - but the baby is here, must deal with it, adoption

Health-related reasons - decision have to be made if it is life or death

Influence from family or friends - could they talk you into killing your 1 year old

Doesn’t want baby nor put it up for adoption - you have to get over what you want

never want to see or hear about different killing procedures used during abortions

Everyone has unique burdens to bear based on gender, race, age, social status.

Pregnancy is and gift and burden that women must bear

I feel for a woman with an unwanted pregnancy but the Bible makes the decision is clear

but for some it will take a lot of strength to follow through . . . and we should be understanding

so I would tell daughter, relative, member, friend to keep the baby, because of what the Bible says . . . .but with the understanding that it is a hard thing, and they need to know that I love and care and support them

if a woman has had an abortion, that’s one of the sins Jesus died for

God will for give, but you must confess it to god

1 John 1:9 NASB95

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Announcements

going to Waxahachie this Sunday!

Mother Alston surgery