The Furor Over Anti-abortion Legislation and the Scriptures

The Bible, the Battle Over Abortion, and Common Sense

by Web Minister Paul J. Bern

First, allow me to make this disclaimer: this is not an anti-abortion sermon, nor is it a treatise on women's rights. This week's commentary is simply to point out the errors on both sides. I am, if nothing else, an equal opportunity preacher, and pointing out error is part of my job description. Undoubtedly you are aware that Georgia governor Brian Kemp has just signed into law a bill that will not allow an abortion for any pregnancy more than 6 weeks old, or until a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Although I will decline to comment about that, both sides throughout the US have only themselves to blame for all the disunity that I'm seeing. They fail to realize that those in power in high places – sometimes called the “Deep State” – are playing one side off against the other for their own benefit. Stop allowing yourselves to be manipulated so easily!

To the 'pro-lifers', I'd like to say that, while I can certainly relate to your zeal and passion, if you all possessed the same zeal and passion for those already born, you could really make this world a better place in which to live. To those who are from the 'right to choose' camp, if you truly want your rights protected, join the fight for Medicare for all, which would include coverage for prescriptions. You know, like birth control pills at only nominal cost? It would be much cheaper and less time consuming than having an abortion, that's for sure.

Many people presume that a human being is created at the time of conception, but this belief is neither supported medically nor by the Bible. The fact that a living sperm penetrates a living ovum resulting in the formation of a living fetus does not mean that the fetus is a living human being, or at least not yet. According to conceiveeasy.com, “On the twelfth day, the embryo is formed and this stage continues until the sixth week of pregnancy. Many scientists say that the embryo consists of all the organs and parts that a full-grown human being consists of. This is why it should be considered as a living organism. The embryo is then called the fetus until the stage of birth. However, this is scientific proof and people are more into politics and ethics. Each has one’s own thinking. The pro-choice people, for example, say that though the prenatal form is alive biologically, it can’t be regarded as another person. They say that the fetus is not a person itself. It is actually a person in the making. They believe that the fetus becomes a baby at a certain stage of the development of the brain. They believe that the parent should decide whether the person growing inside her is living or not depending on their beliefs.” (You may read the entire article from here)

According to the Bible, a fetus is not a living person with a soul until after drawing its first breath. God formed man according to Genesis 2:7, which says, “.... the Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being”. Although the man was fully formed by God in all respects, he was not a living being until after taking his first breath. In Job 33:4, it states: “The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” We were all formed prior to our birth, but we weren't living beings until God breathed life unto us.

Again, to quote Ezekiel 37 verses 5 and 6, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: 'I will make breath to enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you, and make flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin; and put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord'”

In Exodus 21:22 it is written: “If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise”. It should be quite clear from this that the aborted fetus is not considered a living human being, since the resulting punishment for the abortion is nothing more than a fine. It is not classified by the Bible as a capital offense under these circumstances unless the baby, its mother, or both are intentionally harmed or killed.

It is further stated in 1st Corinthians chapter 3 verse 16, “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and God's Spirit lives in you?” We are alive in Christ when we die to ourselves. If an unborn fetus lives within the womb, but is not yet a human being until it draws its first breath, how can the fetus die to itself in the Spirit prior to its birth? Since the Bible is absolutely clear about this topic, that question actually becomes moot. One can not kill something that has not been born or taken a breath. This means that a stillborn would not be considered a human being either. Of course, every living sperm has the potential of becoming a human being, although not one in a million will make it; the rest are aborted. It would appear that God does not have any more regard for the loss of a fetus than he does for the loss of a placenta, or of a foreskin during circumcision, despite the fact that these were living tissue as the result of conception.

Now let's take this to the next level, which has to do with being born again. When Jesus taught Nicodemus about being born again, he said “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of the water and of the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, and spirit gives birth to Spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'you must be born again'. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3, verses 5-8) Flesh gives birth to flesh, and spirit to Spirit. Being born of the water is a reference to childbirth first and to water baptism secondly. Being born of the Spirit of Christ refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Plus, when we read our Bible, it says quite clearly in Galatians chapter two and verse 20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”. We are charged with the duty of being followers of Jesus right up to the very end as well.

One of the commandments in Exodus 20 verse 13 that was spoken by God to Moses states: “You shall not kill”. According to the Mosaic text, this should read “You must not murder”, since the Bible has commandments stating that people shall be put to death for a number of different offenses. For example, Exodus 21:17 states: “Whoever curses his father or mother shall be put to death.” There are also other capital offenses listed in Exodus 21. The popular ten commandments (in the original Old Testament text there are over 600 of them) that are enumerated in Exodus 20 were given by God to Moses on tablets of stone. Verse 13 simply says, “You shall not murder”. I think that sums it up very nicely. There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that an unborn fetus is considered to be living tissue. According to the scriptures I already quoted, it does not become a living being until after it has taken a breath. But, under no circumstances should this be interpreted as my being pro-abortion either. As I wrote in the first paragraph, I don't take sides. Period. I refuse to.

Those who say, 'If you're a Christian, you have to be against abortion, and you must also vote conservative Republican', are simply reciting talking points from false teachers, and there are a disturbing number of them who have infiltrated the Church. Many cite the scripture found in Jeremiah 1:5, "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." God is omnipotent. He has known all of us since before creation. Does this scripture pinpoint when a fetus becomes a living being? In Numbers 5, it describes "the Lord" ordering an abortion. It's clearly stated in verse 22, "May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries." Many argue that this is a misinterpretation, but I'm not so sure about that. It is better to err on the side of caution with regard to the scriptures than not. Before false teachers turned the issue of reproductive choice into a political football, views on this matter were far less extreme.

Does this mean I am pro-life or pro-choice? No and No. Sorry, but I will not allow anyone to label or compartmentalize me like that, nor will I use this faith-based blog as a political platform. But I do think that if the mother does not want the baby because she cannot care for it, then she should put the child up for adoption. But what's the underlying cause for all these unwanted pregnancies? Why are so many women getting pregnant in the first place? Part of the problem has to do with substance abuse. People do things when they are intoxicated or high that they would never do when they're sober, and that's all I'm going to say about that for now. The other reason is a lack of access to birth control. The solution is to pass Medicare for all with prescription drug coverage. That means calling and emailing your Congressional representatives and senators and demanding they pass Medicare for all. It's the only fair solution. Let's protest in the streets until we get what we want. Like free contraceptives.

In cases where abortion is necessary, such as when the baby is already dead before birth, in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother's life is in jeopardy (excluding cases of induced childbirth), in those events an abortion should be performed by qualified medical personnel or under a doctor's direct supervision. But those are the only exceptions. But women here in Georgia can still get an abortion during the first six weeks of pregnancy without incurring any liability. Whether this is too soon during the pregnancy continues to be hotly debated. In the end, if abortion was such a grievous sin Jesus would have mentioned it. He never mentioned it even once. Enough said!