Should anyone consider aborting what God has created and called, good? by Bruce W. Robida Revised 8/29/2013

 

Is abortion an acceptable practice, even when the fertilized egg consists of just two cells? (the egg just after fertilization) What does the Bible say concerning these zygotes which soon become embryo’s after the cells divide sufficiently? Do these zygotes and embryo’s have a soul?  When do they become people, worthy of protection under the law?  Is it ever acceptable to sacrifice these tiny humans for the sake of science and research?  All of these questions can be answered adequately for the Christian once he understands what God says about us. 

First, we must understand that we were created by God.  We did not evolve as some would like us to believe.  Those Christians who think that God created us through evolution, either do not know what the Bible says about the creation, or they don’t believe the Bible is God's Word. 

...the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. GE 2:7

So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. GE 2:21-22

There is no way that this process can be confused with evolution. Let the Scriptures speak for themselves.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. GE 1:27

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day. GE 1:31

...When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them "man. "  GE 5:1-2

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. PS 148:5

It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.   ISA 45:12

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. EPH 2:10

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. PS 119:73

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. PS 139:13

This is what the LORD says-- he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. ISA 44:2

"This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:...ISA 44:24

We were created by God, in His image and He said that all that He had made was very good.  But there are those who would argue that zygotes, embryo’s, and even fetuses are not yet people and have no soul.  Let’s take a look at what God thinks about those who have not yet been born.

Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD. PS 102:18

"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." JER 1:5

Before we were conceived in the natural way, we were conceived in the mind of God.  He knew us before we were conceived in the womb, before we were born.  Some people try to justify aborting their child because others have convinced them that his future will be marred with difficulties. Maybe he’ll be handicapped, or the parents just don’t think they’ll have enough money to take care of him.  Do we have the right to reject that which God has created because we want what we think is best for us and our child?  The Bible says that everything God created is good. It is not for us to determine another person’s future, but it is God alone who has authority to make that decision.

The zygote, embryo, or fetus, has only the protection of the womb.  He is not guilty of anything, even his very existence.  The parents are guilty of conceiving him, but he is not guilty of anything.  He had no choice in the matter, yet there are those who wish they could reverse their actions which conceived him and end his existence. His conception cannot be reversed so the alternative is to destroy him.  Others think that he is a commodity to be exploited by science in the name of compassion; to help save lives that might benefit from experimenting on them.  Some people want to clone these children specifically for that purpose, ending their lives to try to save others.  But this is detestable to God.

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. PR 6:16-19

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. PS 106:38

Look at what God did to His people in the past.  Should He be any different today?

Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance. He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power. Many times he delivered them but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. PS 106:40-43

Since we know that we are a product of God’s creation, would it please Him to know that we would be willing to destroy His most precious creation? We did not evolve, but we were created in His image.  We were created in Christ to do good works and to praise Him.  He conceived us and He knew us in His mind, long before He formed us in the womb. We may not like the color of our skin or the handicap that we were born with, but we cannot question His reasons for doing such things. We cannot presume that He will not punish those who commit such sins since He did not fail to punish His people in the past.  What makes us think that we are immune from His anger? 

We cannot ever condone abortion of any kind, for any reason, including Embryonic Stem Cell Research.  We have a responsibility to; Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless...PS 82:3; Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked PS 82:4.  But we must do it with love and without violence. We must use all of the legal resources at our disposal, and we must be diligent to oppose legislation that hurts the cause of the weak and helpless.  We must never fail to vote for the people who will work hard to end these tragic events. 

I realize that some of you have already aborted your children.  Since then, you have been born again; forgiven because of your confession and by the blood of Christ.  But the pain and the scars remain. There is good news for you. Be encouraged that your child went into God’s care immediately upon his death (2 Cor 5:8).  That scar will not last forever.  In heaven, God will wipe away every tear; there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Rev.7: 17, 21:4). I believe that if Christ will not remember our sins (Heb 8:12, 10:17), we will not remember them either.  It is only then that our scars will disappear.  Until then, they are there to remind us of what we once were so that we do not consider going back there, but especially that we are in desperate need of a Savior (Eph. 2:13).

If you have scars, take comfort and know that Christ can forgive you if He hasn’t already and that child that God tried to give you, rests with Him.  You may never know who he or she is.  Maybe God will reveal that child to you in heaven and allow you to have an even better relationship with him or her than you could ever have imagined.  We have a God who gives us abundant grace and mercy.  I don’t see why He would not allow such a reunion (see also, The Art of Human Sacrifice and the god of convenience).

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