There was a time among believers when the fact that abortion was a moral evil was rarely questioned. However, some Christians are now holding and promoting a far different perspective: that Scripture really says nothing about abortion and that, therefore, it cannot really be wrong after all. I was just beginning my life with Jesus Christ when Melody Green led the "March for Life" on Washington, D.C. Oh, how things do change! But should they?

THE LESSONS OF HISTORY

History can teach us much if we are insightful enough to let it do so. There are still a few "cliches" which bear repeating. One of these is the old adage, "Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it." Consider carefully the following:

When America was colonized, the Native Americans were treated like “savages,” butchered, their home taken away, and the small numbers remaining were segregated to areas of land called “reservations.” The Native Americans never had a chance, and what was done to them was of course wicked. We look back and wonder HOW? Yet, everyone involved thought that it was “ok” at the time. The assumption: such “savages” were "less than human." That is how their mistreatment was justified. It was all a matter of convenience.

As the colonies grew, the African slave trade began in America. Native Africans were purchased in Africa and forcibly brought to America to provide forced labor. The conditions under which the African slaves were transported were horrible, and many (perhaps most) died on the way. Those that did make it to America were traded and herded like cattle, stripped of education, culture, and human dignity. We look back and we wonder HOW? How could any human being justify such a practice? It seems unthinkable, doesn’t it? Yet it was done very easily. Everyone involved thought that it was “ok” at the time. The assumption: the Africans were “inferior savages” and "less than human." That is how their mistreatment was justified. It was all a matter of convenience.

In Germany, during World War II, Hitler led his Nazi party to exterminate more than six-million Jewish men, women, and children as the world watched in horror. Americans, British, and others were in disbelief. They all wondered, as we do now, HOW? Today we call this nightmare "the Holocaust." Once again, everyone involved thought that it was “ok” at the time. The assumption: the Jews were somehow “inferior ” and "less than human." That is how their mistreatment was justified. It was all a matter of convenience.

Today, we often look back on these and other such evils, and we are shocked that anyone could have ever justified such crimes against humanity. We are comforted knowing that nothing like this could happen today in our "enlightened" society. And when we think like this as a people, we are so blind and so deceived it is pathetic. Why?

Because it is happening again.

Only this time it is happening to a group of human beings who cannot even speak for themselves. It is a group so weak and innocent that they don’t stand a chance of reversing things themselves. We “civilized Americans” - on the verge of the 21st century - slaughter unborn babies ... by the millions. Like our ancestors in the above situations, I ask HOW? This reality is unbelievable to me! It is not surprising that when I search for the reason, I find that history repeats itself again: everyone involved thinks that it is “ok.” The assumption: unborn children are “inferior ” and "less than human" - a “fetus.” That is how their murder is justified. It is all a matter of convenience.

THE TEACHING OF SCRIPTURE

Christians must submit their mind, heart, and will to what is clearly revealed in Scripture. If not, we all might as well burn our Bibles and adopt a “c'est la vie” (french = ‘whatever’) philosophy. So, all personal feelings aside, what does Scripture teach?

(1) The Scriptures undeniably teach that God Himself Personally creates every child in the womb of the mother (Deut. 32:18; Job 31:15; Psalm 94:9; 139:14-16; Ecc. 11:5; Isaiah 44:2,24; 49:5), and knows them intimately before they are even born (Judges 13:5,7; 16:17; Psalm 22:10; 139:13-18; Isaiah 49:1,5; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15; Romans 9:11; Galatians 1:15). (NOTE: I’m willing to bet that God knows full well what He is doing when He creates a child in the womb.)

(2) Furthermore, God is the One Who “opens and closes the womb” -- He decides when children are conceived (Genesis 3:16; 20:18; 29:31; 30:2,22; 41:52; 48:4; 49:25; Deut. 28:11,18; 1 Sam. 1:5-6; 2:5; Ruth 4:13; Psalm 22:9; 71:6; 113:9; 115:14; 127:3; Ecc. 3:2; Isaiah 46:3; 66:9; Hosea 9:11-16; Heb. 11:11). (NOTE: Yet so many today feel that they know better than God whether or not they should have a child. Why?)

(3) Children in the womb are alive, not simply a “fetus” (Jeremiah 20:17; Hosea 12:3; Luke 1:41,44; Romans 9:11). Pregnant women are “with child” (Genesis 16:11; 1 Sam. 4:19; 2 Sam. 11:5; 2 Kings 15:16; Ecc. 11:5; Isaiah 26:17-18; Jeremiah 31:8; Hosea 13:16; Amos 1:13; Matthew 1:18,23; 24:19; Mark 13:17; Luke 2:5; 21:23; 1 Thes. 5:3; Rev. 12:2), not simply “with fetus.” (1) Clearly, God also cares about infants (Isaiah 49:15; Luke 18:15-16).

(4) It is also clear that God desires the birth of children (Genesis 1:28; 8:17; 9:1,7; 35:11; Psalm 127:3-5; 1 Tim. 5:14); all children, regardless of the circumstances, are a blessing - His gifts (Genesis 4:1; 17:20; 28:3; 33:5; Deut. 7:13; 28:11; 30:9; 33:24; Neh. 9:23; Psalm 113:9; 127:3-5; 128:3-4). When God chastised King David for his adulterous affair and subsequent murder of Bathsheba's husband, He took the life of the baby through illness. Many today would actually be pleased to have such an "out"! Yet David, despite his sin of adultery, fasted seven days before God in the hope that his infant would live! David knew that the infant, though conceived in adultery, was a gift from God. (NOTE: How different from modern attitudes, huh?)

(5) God alone claims absolute sovereignty and right over life and death (Deut. 32:9; Numbers 16:22; 27:16; 1 Sam. 2:6; 2 Sam.12:14-19; 2 Kings 2:3,5; 2 Chronicles 13:20; Job 6:8-9; 7:1; 10:9-13; 12:10;14:5-6,14; 34:13-15; Psalm 31:15; 36:6; 42:8; 66:9; 104:29; Isaiah 42:5; Daniel 5:23; Acts 17:25,28; Heb. 9:27; James 4:12).

To take the life of the unborn is therefore a violation of Exodus 20:13 -- it is murder. In fact, the case laws in Exodus address abortion in a way. Exodus 21:22-23 reads (my notes in parenthesis):

“If men strive (= fight), and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her (= she gives birth prematurely), and yet no mischief follow (= the baby is fine): he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine (= a fine). And if any mischief follow (= the baby dies), then you shall give life for life ...”

So then, there is a fight and a pregnant woman is injured so that she gives birth prematurely. The guilty one is punished either way it goes, but if the baby dies he faces the penalty for murder. This seems clear to me: God considers the unborn infant to be “life” and to kill it murder.

THE EARLY CHURCH & ABORTION

In addition to the witness of Scripture, there is also a very important witness to the fact that the early Church just after the Apostles had already "ruled" specifically on the practice of abortion. The reference is to be found in a document called the Didache, and reads:

"Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not corrupt boys, thou shalt not commit fornication, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not deal in magic, thou shalt do no sorcery, thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill them when born ... " (The Didache 2:2; Lightfoot translation).

The material in The Didache, at the least, goes back to the mid-second century. Some scholars have dated it as early as the first century. It claims to be "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles to the Gentiles," and certainly seems to be an accurate record of early Christian teaching. It was held in very high regard by the Church Fathers, and was even considered to be inspired Scripture by some of them.

In addition, another non-canonical work entitled The Apocalypse of Peter reads, according to the early witness of Theodotus, "[14] that abortive infants shall share the better fate; [15] that these are committed to a guardian angel, so that, on receiving knowledge, they may obtain the better abode, having had the same experiences which they would have had had they been in the body. But the others shall obtain salvation merely, as being injured and pitied, and remain without punishment, receiving this reward."

The early Church, then, held abortion to be an act of murder, and in fact held aborted infants (by tradition) to receive a very special blessed state in the hereafter.

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Are there practical considerations? Certainly. But they must surely be considered secondary to a human life.

Many ask, “How can I afford a child right now?” First, I personally know no one who does not have expenses that can be altered. Second, adoption is certainly preferable to abortion. Third, are we really so disbelieving that we fail to realize that the same God Who creates the child and determines its time of conception is also the very One who blesses us and provides our needs (1 Sam. 2:7-8; Matthew 6:8; Luke 12:30; Phil’p. 4:19)?

I suggest that we actually spit in His face everytime an unborn child, God’s Own creation, is thrown away like a piece of garbage -- a child that was a gift from our Father in Heaven. Is it actually possible that God would rather us kill our unborn children instead of trusting Him to provide their needs for us? I doubt that very seriously.

I might also ask, what if we couldn’t afford an aging relative? Or even a child already born? Do we just kill them? While this may seem silly, think about it -- what’s the difference? There is no difference at all -- this is the same false logic used to justify abortion! If our 85 year old grandmother is not expendable, then neither is an unborn child.

Others say, "I'm too young to be a mother. I've got my whole life ahead of me." This has to be the epitomy of pure human selfishness. It is certainly no reason to murder an innocent child! It is also a grossly irresponsible attitude. We seem to often forget that "unwanted pregnancies" are most often the result of sex that was "wanted." Our society wants to disobey God's laws, and then whine about how inconvenient the consequences are when its over. There is always, again, the alternative of adoption.

How about this one: "I can't bring a child into this world - it would be cruel." This one would actually be funny if it were not so sad. People, the world has never been a truly great place since the fall of Adam (Gen. 3). What precisely would it take for such people to want to "bring a child into this world"? Think about it. The answer is that there is nothing that would bring the world into such a state, because the quip is simply an excuse. This is the worst one of all, as it seeks to hide a selfish murder of convenience behind the mask of a "benevolent" purpose. Furthermore, this excuse seeks to rob God of His right of power over life and death (see above).

One has written, "An abortion is a human sacrifice to the god of Self -- 'A baby is not convenient for me' 'I don't want it' 'I'm too young' 'I can't afford it' 'It's a girl, I wanted a boy'." (2) This is the tragic truth about our excuses for murder.

CONCLUSION

This, then, is our culture’s major problem: we’ve exchanged God’s perspective for our own (in other words, we’ve exchanged His truth for a lie - Romans 1:25). We justify mass-murder with some of the strangest excuses, all of them coming back to our own selfish convenience. If we would believe the Scriptures, then there is no “choice” -- abortion is murder and a violation of God’s Law given through Moses. Like the midwives of Egypt, we should rather fear God and save the lives of infants marked for murder (Exodus 1:17-21).

I have no doubt that millions of unborn children will stand in the Final Judgment on that Day and condemn a generation that justified their slaughter in rebellion to their Creator. I believe that even now, their blood screams to God from the ground on which it has been spilled: “Avenge us!” (cf. Genesis 4:10; Revelation 6:9-11).

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, but I will not forget you.” -- ISAIAH 49:15

(1) See my comments in ThinkMail #2, under BITS & PIECES, item 2. ^

(2) From the internet article, "Satan: That Ol' Dragon" ^