The latest rage-producing issue to dominate the social scene is abortion. Abortion is the premature ending of the developmental process of an unborn human being. The social upheaval being broadcasted on the evening news revolves around one central issue–at what stage of development does one become a human being? Opinions range from the instant the male sperm penetrates the female egg to several hours after natural birth. One woman stated that a mother should have the legal right to kill her child two days after normal birth has occurred. Another woman opined that two years should be the cut-off point.
One would think that women who are in favor of abortion would be non-christians. Not so. In the church world those called “Evangelicals” are the self-professed upper-echelon, ultra-conservative, Bible purists within professing Christendom. A recent poll found that, when asked about abortion, 46% of Evangelicals stated that women should have a legal right to an abortion. According to most of America’s unchurched population and approximately one-half of her churched population, abortion is the right of every woman. I have noticed that since the repeal of Roe v Wade, many churches are openly coming out in favor of a woman’s right to legally murder here unborn baby.
If Mary and Elizabeth were living in today’s world, the mothers of Jesus and John would be advised by Planned Parenthood to abort their babies. They would be told that abortion is good for the economy in that the body parts would be sold and the profits taxed which would add to the state coffers. Mary, unwed and living in a society in which females in her situation became public outcasts, had a perfectly good reason to abort her baby. And aged Elizabeth was simply too old to have a baby. Abortion would have been highly recommended for these two women. We are told that abortion is a matter of personal choice. Is it? To answer that question let us address the foundational consideration relative to abortion.
In that all civilized societies have laws against the murder of innocent human beings, the ultimate question relative to abortion involves WHEN HUMAN LIFE BEGINS. If a being is declared human, it cannot be killed without due legal process. At what point in the developmental process does a “glob of cells” become a human being whose killing is illegal and can result in the killing of the killer? As earlier stated, opinions range from the instant of conception to several days following full-term birth. Individuals in the God-rejecting world contend that human life begins when they say it begins. We who believe that the Bible is the Word/Truth/Will of God in written form allow its Author to answer the question. Let us turn to that Book and get the answer straight from mankind’s Creator.
The Bible tells us that Jesus of Nazareth was a man like all other men. Being a normal man, He was tempted, tested and tried like any other man. He ate, drank, slept, walked, talked, sweated, got tired and dirty like any other man. He had the same inner drives, needs and desires as those around Him (Heb. 4:15). As He grew up the people around Him saw no difference between him and His peers. As an adult He was a stone-mason. Therefore, He became a human being at the same point in His development as all other human beings.
God Himself tells us when that took place in Psalms 2:7/ Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 2:5; 5:5 where we find Him saying to the One who would come to be known as Jesus of Nazareth: “You ARE MY Son, THIS DAY I have begotten YOU.” Notice that God gave the fertilized egg (YOU) the same status that He gave Himself (I, MY). Throughout the Bible the Word “SON” (Greek–huios/ Hebrew–ben) means the child of, descendant of, offspring of, fathered by, begotten by. In Matthew 1 we find a list of men who fathered/begat other men. In every case the word “begat” has the same meaning as when God used it relative to Jesus in Psalms 2:7/ Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 2:5; 5:5. In English the word “begat” is rendered “CONCEIVE.” Therefore, “begettal” becomes “conception.”
God declared Jesus His Son on the day of His conception/begettal when He said: “YOU ARE (NOT WILL BE) MY SON; THIS DAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.” Twenty-nine years later we find Him saying about Jesus: “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.” God the Father used the exact same Word (SON) to describe Jesus on the day of His conception that He used on the day of his baptism 29 years later. God did not call a glob of cells His SON. He called His SON his SON. JESUS WAS THE SAME SON ON THE DAY OF HIS CONCEPTION AS HE WAS ON THE DAY OF HIS BAPTISM.
The day Jesus was conceived (begotten) He was, in the eyes of God, as much a human being as He was on the day He died. For those who claim God as their spiritual Father, this should end the abortion controversy. But it will not. Mankind’s desire for convenience and expediency will always win out over God’s Word when the two conflict, as they always do. Therefore, the slaughter of innocent children created in the image of God will continue. Human beings, including those who claim to be Christians, will always find a way to do what they want to do. And Satan will always show them how to make it okay.
CNN has voiced the fear that a fetus (first 16 weeks) might be given “FETAL PERSONHOOD” in which case abortion of a fetus or during a later period would legally be considered MURDER. The left has stumbled onto the truth and is terrified of it. L.J.
Leave a Reply