October 13, 2024
Dave Stephens
Today we’re gonna look at ABORTION through the lens of scripture.
We’re gonna share truth from scripture…but we are also called to be full of Grace…and you don’t know what the person around you has experienced.
We aren’t talking about this today because it’s political for us.
- The Kingdom of God will always
Kingdoms and cultures change, but the Word of God doesn’t. If you are a serious Christ-follower, you must shape your beliefs and morals around the scriptures…not your political party.
More than 63 Million abortions have happened in the United States since the mid 70’s.
The scriptures teach that Life is a gift from God and begins at conception:
Psalm 139: 13-16 13
- “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
When God was setting up the way his children should live he set these rules into motion through Moses:
Exodus 21:22–23
- “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”
Listen to the words of the apostle Paul: (Galatians 1:15)
- “But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace…”
- The implication: Paul was called into service of God in utero (while in the uterus)
In Judges chapter 6 we see the story of Gideon…who actually faced the same culture war we see today…there are two names in the story that if you don’t research you don’t understand…the names of Baal and Asherah. Both of them were pagan Gods. Gods who stood in direct opposition to Yahweh. The God of Christ-followers.
Psalms 106:37-38
- “They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.”
- God’s heart is broken over this while Satan laughs.
The question always arises, “What about rape, incest, or the life of the mother? Should a woman be forced to carry the baby to term, give birth, and raise him? Wouldn’t that only serve as a reminder of that horrible event, adding to the already unimaginable trauma?”
There is an answer.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, which is the research arm of planned parenthood…rape, incest, and the life of the mother constitute less than 2% of all abortions. 98% of all other abortions are a matter of convenience. This argument is used continually as to why abortion should be legal.
Three Important Acknowledgments
Let’s talk about this:
First, rape and incest are a horrible crimes. The pain and anguish it causes. I think we can all agree that rape is evil. And to think of the victim of rape becoming pregnant due to the actions of another is heartbreaking.
Secondly, the woman is a victim. She did not willingly engage in the activity that resulted in her getting pregnant…pregnancy was forced upon her. She is a victim and deserves our compassion and support.
2 people very close to me have been raped…I know personally the trauma it causes.
Thirdly, the woman doesn’t have to raise the child. There is adoption and a productive life ahead for that child. Remember: God has a plan for every person conceived, and he knows them before you do.
Four Points to Answer the Challenge
However…
Firstly: Abortion isn’t
Being the victim of a brutal crime, the mother deserves our compassion. But so does the unborn child.
The means of conception doesn’t justify the taking of a life.
The compassionate thing to do would be to help the unborn baby flourish, not kill him. It’s often simply assumed the compassionate thing to do is have an abortion. This is not true, which leads to the next point.
Second: Abortion creates another
There’s more than one human being involved here. Yes, the mother is a victim. But her having an abortion would only create another victim. Instead of inflicting harm on another innocent person, the compassionate thing would be to protect that innocent life.
Proverbs 6:16,17
- “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood…”
Third: Abortion doesn’t
Having an abortion won’t undo that horrifying experience already endured by the mother. In fact, contrary to what many believe, having an abortion may only intensify the trauma experienced by the woman. When a woman decides to allow her child to continue living (despite what has happened to her), she can experience a great sense of love, joy, and happiness.
Survey of 192 rape victims: Of the women who had their babies, not a single one regretted her choice to give birth. None of them wished they had aborted their babies. Of 192 women, over 80% said they were happy with their child and their situation. 94% said abortion was NOT a good answer for women who conceived through rape. Only four women said abortion “might” be an excellent solution to a rape-conceived pregnancy. This leads to the next point…
Fourth: Abortion
This view places extrinsic requirements on value. In other words, it says you must earn your value.
Human beings are valuable because they are made in the image of God. That image gives everyone intrinsic, transcendent value and worth.
This value also exists in the unborn, which is why abortion is also a moral wrong. Regardless of how the child is conceived, he/she is made in the image of God and is, therefore, valuable and worthy of life.
Story of Job…God knew Job would be faithful to him even if every earthly treasure was taken. And at the end of his days…there’s a statement that Job makes. After all earthly things were taken from him, Job says:
- “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21
- In all events of our lives God is sovereign.
CLOSING:
If you’ve had an abortion…we love you, and God loves you. You can take that to God; He will bring healing to your soul… and we want to walk that journey with you.
- -America’s only solution to this disobedience to God is to repent!
-Maybe you need to repent?
-Maybe you need the ability to love someone else who has gone through an abortion
References:
Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Table 3
https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/tables/370305/3711005t3.pdf
Rape Victims Speak Out:
https://www.liveaction.org/news/mother-conceived-rape-look-child-grateful/
Life begins at conception:
Moore, Keith, Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology, Saunders, 2008, p. 2;
Sadler, T., Langman’s Medical Embryology, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 10th ed., 2006, p.11;
Krieger, Morris, The Human Reproductive System, Sterling Pub., 1969, p.88
Scan the QR code on the seatback in front of you…you can get to the same information.