"THE ABORTION ISSUE"
Hopefully you can now better understand why it is that I linked the abortion issue to both of these pages. ;)
Is abortion murder ? Murder is defined in the Webster's Dictionary as: "to kill". Kill is defined in the same dictionary as: "to deprive of life; to slay; to destroy; to render inactive." But, the questions remains, just when does life begin? Since this is a Christian website, it will be shown that the Scriptures teach us that God regards life's beginning to be inside the mother's womb -- from the time of conception. But let us begin with some scientific information first, shall we?
There are six important life processes that distinguish human beings from non-living things. These processes are as follows: metabolism, responsiveness, movement, growth, differentiation and reproduction.
Differentiation is the process by which a fertilized egg develops into an embryo -- and from an embryo into a fetus -- then into a infant, and on to a youngster, and then into an adult. Notice, differentiation BEGINS as a fertilized egg. So, in short, life is distinguished by "processes", and one of these is differentiation which begins as a fertilized egg within the mother!
The female egg is the largest cell in the body, and to this day it, as well as all the other cells of the body, has yet to be synthesized in a laboratory from nothing. Yes, cells have been replicated, but not one has been synthesized.
All living things are made up of cells -- even single-celled organisms are still cells! But man has not discovered a way to create such a cell, that is -- to make life. So, if man cannot accomplish this, on what authority would he think to destroy precious life which cannot be replaced -- even though that "precious life" is located within the womb of its mother?
Much more could be said regarding the fact of when life begins, from the perspective of science, but this is to be a short essay. So, let us now read what the Scriptures have to say.
In Job 3:3, Job speaks of his conception and then in verses 11-16 he equates the pre-born child with kings, counselors and princes. In a previous book, Exodus 21:22-25 it reads that harming an unborn child causes life for a life and tooth for a tooth.
The fetus is the same as a child, in the eye's of God, and the following verses shows that He relates to the unborn in a personal manner, as He created us all:
Job 10:8-11: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together. . . thou have clothed me with skin and flesh, and have fenced me with bones and sinews."Job 31:15: "Did not He who made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
Psalm 78:6 reveals God's concern over "...the children which should be born..."
Psalm 139:16 the psalmist says concerning God: "Thine eyes did see my substance...as yet there was none of them."
The next few verses declares that God does indeed call certain men into his service from the womb:
Judges 13:3,5: "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou are barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. ...for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: ..."Isaiah 49:1,5: "Listen, O Isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb, from the bowles of my mother he made mention of my name. ... And now, saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be His servant... "
Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
Galatians 1:15-16: "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen..."
"God is love", and yes, a loving God -- murder in His eyes is wrong! All souls belong to him: "The earth is the lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." [Ps. 24:1]
In closing please do heed these two important Scriptures and keep them in mind. Remember, nothing is hidden from God and we will be held accountable for our actions. If you have sins to confess do so. Confess and repent; for in not doing so you prayers may not be heard.
Hebrews 4:13: "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."Isaiah 1:15: "And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood."
We all belong to God, for He created us in His own image. [Gen. 1:26] Our very lives and all that we have belong to Him and are dependent on Him; therefore, we have no authority to extinguish any human life residing within our own bodies whether "wanted" or "unwanted"!
