The Bible, Life, and Abortion
By Joseph Parker
What exactly does the Bible say about life, standing for life, and the abortion issue? Does it say anything about these issues or is it silent? Does it tell us anything about God’s perspective and thinking about life and the taking of the life of innocent children?
Actually, the Word of God has a lot to say about these issues. Do you want to know God’s will and thoughts about these matters? Just look in His book.
One definition of abortion is the deliberate murder of a child in the womb of its mother. Another definition is the taking of the life of an innocent baby.
The following are passages from the Bible that give us God’s counsel, His thoughts, and His will concerning life, abortion, and the taking of innocent life.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).
You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13).
Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (Proverbs 24:12).
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:8-9).
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech (Leviticus 20:1-5).
You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods (Deuteronomy 12:31).
And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? (Ezekiel 16:20-21)
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood (Psalm 106:37-38).
They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin (Jeremiah 32:35).
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
In Exodus 1:15–22 and in Matthew 2:16–18, God’s Word tells of two governmental leaders, two kings who for sad, cruel, and selfish reasons gave orders to slaughter innocent little boys. By their power and authority, their orders were carried out. Tragically, we still have governmental leaders who continue to approve of killing innocent babies in the womb.
This is not an exhaustive listing of the Scriptures that speak to the issue of life, standing up for life, and standing against abortion. These are just a few. But there are enough to help you see what God clearly thinks about the issues concerning life.
What should be our response to the insights God’s Word gives us of His will, His perspective, and His thoughts on these issues? A wise and correct response on the part of believers and the church is that we get passionately involved in aggressively standing for life.
What can believers do to walk out a passion and commitment to the cause of life? Here are a few ways to get involved:
– Find your local pregnancy center and volunteer your time to help in their ministry. Give financially to one or more local pregnancy centers. Pray for the ministry of Pregnancy centers. Inquire about the possibility of your church putting the local pregnancy into its church budget.
– Take the time and effort to research and learn about active pro-life ministries that are doing significant work to stand for life, save babies, or to help to end legalized abortion.
– Educate yourself about every facet of the issues surrounding life and abortion. Sadly, there is much ignorance, apathy, and misinformation about the life issue and about abortion.
Great is the need for the church to become educated, spiritually, and otherwise, about this issue and get involved. Your help is greatly needed in this battle. And every day counts.
Can God count on you?