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July 2011 DevotionalChoose Life
Admittedly, many people have heard and accepted the so-called justifications for abortion. One has to wonder how honestly they have faced the facts. Besides being often untrue, they are characteristically illogical and unconvincing. But the greatest error is that they totally and predictably leave God out of the picture. In defending the pro-life position, we will consider several “voices” to which everyone should carefully listen. First, there is the voice of church history. Since most people consider themselves religious, this is certainly a voice to which all should listen. The church has existed for nearly 2000 years. Until the past few decades its voice has been consistent. First, abortion is the taking of a human life. Second, abortion is a crime against God. Consider the following historical statements:
Secondly, consider the “voice” of conscience. The Hippocratic Oath states: “To none will I give a deadly drug, nor offer counsel to such an end . . . but guiltless and hallowed will I keep my art.” In an article by Melody Green, Dr. John Szenens is quoted as saying: “You have to become a bit schizophrenic. In one room you encourage the patient that the slight irregularity of the fetal heart is not important—that she is going to have a fine, healthy baby. Then in the next room you assure another woman on whom you just did a saline abortion, that it’s good that the heart is already irregular . . . she has nothing to worry about, she is not going to have a live baby. . . Her distress by unwanted pregnancy is to me the primary consideration, ahead of any possible consideration for the fetus. We just have to face it. Somebody has to do it. And unfortunately, we are the executioners in this instance.”
“Death by deprivation is infanticide, Deeds said, and certainly much crueler than ‘an active act,’ such as choking or smothering.” In the meantime, there are hundreds of thousands of couples waiting to adopt an infant. Not only does abortion destroy a developing child, it also ravages the woman who has one. One counselor reports: “One psychological effect we see almost all the time is guilt. Others are suicidal impulses, a sense of loss, of unfulfillment . . . withdrawal, loss of confidence in decision-making capabilities. They feel that maybe they’ve made a wrong decision, maybe they can’t make another decision right in their life. Lowering of self esteem. Preoccupation with death.” There are even national repercussions. Consider the impact of Numbers 35:33—“ So ye shall not pollute the land: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.” Thirdly, there is the voice of science. The Encyclopedia Britannica’s Medical and Health Annual, 1983, contains a report written by Mitchell S. Golbus, M.D., entitled “Healing The Unborn,” which says that “prenatal medicine is now beginning to be able to intervene, before birth, to alleviate, and even cure conditions that previously would have severely compromised the fetus. This promises survival for thousands of threatened lives. . . This concept that the fetus is a patient, an individual whose disorders are a proper subject for medical therapy has been established.” It has been medically proven that “the baby’s heart starts beating from 14-28 days after conception (usually before the mother even knows she’s pregnant, and by the 30th day almost every organ has started to form! He moves his arms and legs by 6 weeks and by 43 days his brain waves can be read. By 8 weeks the baby has his very own finger prints, he can urinate, make a strong fist and he can feel pain. Science tells us that when the sperm and ovum unite, they become a complete genetic package programmed for development into a mature adult. Nothing will be added except time and nutrition. Each stage of development from fertilization to old age is merely a maturing of what is entirely there at the start. (Green)” Finally, consider the voice of God. Planned Parenthood lists nine reasons why abortions are “legal.” In perusing this article, one fact stands out loud and clear—God is completely left out of the picture. Consider the following Biblical statements: 1—God creates and fashions life in the womb (Job 31:15; Isaiah 44:2; Jeremiah 1:5). 2—Conception marks the beginning of an individual’s life (II Samuel 11:5; Luke 1:36). 3—God had a purpose for several men before their birth—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Samson, and John the Baptist. 4—The entity in the womb is considered a baby (Exodus 21:22-23). The term “with child” uses the Greek word meaning “baby, infant, or child.” So much of one’s perspective depends on his or her personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. Once we trust in Christ as our personal Savior, our minds are opened up to the need to listen to His “voice.” My friend, has there ever been a time in your life when you realized you were a lost sinner in the eyes of God? The Bible makes it clear we are all born with a sin nature. We cannot do anything to change or cancel out that sin. Because God loves us (John 3:16), He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place. When we repent of our sins and trust in Christ as our Savior, God forgives us and comes into our lives in a very personal way. He progressively enables us to understand the real issues of life and eternity. If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, and you truly want deliverance from sin and a transformed life, why not call out to God even now. We’d love to hear from you if you have questions or have made this commitment. Pastor Jim Stevens |
The very name of our organization, “Baptists for Life,” demonstrates our stand on abortion and euthanasia. It behooves us, therefore, to clearly defend our position and explain why we believe what we do. It seems we are in the minority, so our defense needs to be convincing. Is that possible? This article, while certainly not exhaustive, will seek to provide ample evidence that we should, as Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “choose life.”
The Janesville Gazette recorded an interview in 1993 with Dr. Ernest Deeds of the Riverview Clinic in Janesville, WI. “Infanticide is not a ‘possibility,’ Deeds said. ‘It is here, now, being practiced in the United States.’ He related incidents of unwanted living newborns being packed in ice and taken to experimental laboratories; others, isolated with no care, who lived more than two weeks, crying most of the time.