Christian Lifestyle Part 4
Abortion
God is a God of life. He created life. He is the source of life.
The church has always affirmed that a human life begins at conception. In other words, at the moment when a sperm cell fuses with an ovum then a new life has begun. It is more than a clump of cells or a fetus. It is a living human being.
Christians are not free to kill human beings contrary to the law. The Old Testament prohibits murder but allowed the Israelites to kill their enemies from other nations. Followers of the Lord are not free to kill other people of their own volition.
To kill another human being, regardless of size or location is murder.
Although the Bible does not explicitly talk about abortion, Exodus 21:22-23 gives an example of how we might consider it:
“Now suppose two men are fighting, and in the process they accidentally strike a pregnant woman so she gives birth prematurely. If no further injury results, the man who struck the woman must pay the amount of compensation the woman’s husband demands and the judges approve. But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, “
In this case which relates to an accidental miscarriage of a baby, the man who struck the woman must pay compensation for the death of the child, but if the woman suffers additional injury then the standard of life for life, tooth for tooth etc applies. In other words there is a consequence for the premature death of an unborn infant.
Contrary to the demands for what is euphemistically called “reproductive healthcare” (Abortion is against reproduction and the health of at least one of the patients), christians must affirm that the termination of the pregnancy is always a sin, unless it is genuinely necessary to preserve the life of the mother.
This applies to both surgical and drug abortions. Any process that is undertaken with the aim of killing the unborn child is wrong.
The Bible affirms that God knits us together in our mother’s womb and designs us for a purpose. This is beautifully expressed in Psalm 139, and in other places such as Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’
To those who feel guilty about having undertaken an abortion or abortions in the past, you are not condemned. There is forgiveness available through Christ. Receive His grace today.