This weeks claim...
The Bible doesn’t address the abortion issue. Why should I?
What they say.
“The word abortion isn’t even in the Bible.”
“Christians have differing opinions on abortion because it’s not specifically addressed in the Bible.”
“The Bible is silent on the issue so we should be too.”
Maybe you’ve heard these words… maybe you’re wondering the same thing... did God say anything about abortion in the Bible?
Let’s Fact Check that by taking a look. Here are some passages to start us off.
Let's Take a Look:
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them,” says Genesis 1:27.
Psalm 8:4-6 says, “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.”
Think of it-- as humans, we are all created in the image of God (Imago Dei). We are all eternal and infinitely valuable people who bear God's very image. You have been created for God’s purpose and plan. You have a destiny to fulfil! As CS Lewis put it, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.”
“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,” says God to the prophet Jeremiah.
While it’s true that the word abortion is never used in scripture, Gods’ Word repeatedly confirms that He forms us in His image in the womb. Every human life from the moment of conception is someone God has uniquely created. There are no accidents. Science echoes that at the moment of conception a new, unique, nonrepeatable life is created. All of the information that makes you tick was knitted into your DNA and locked in at the moment sperm met egg. Nothing has changed and nothing was left out. Who are we to end a life that God has begun?
What does Brephos mean?
The word Brephos is used 8 times in the Greek translation of the New Testament.* Interestingly, the same word is used to refer to a young child, a baby, an infant, and an unborn child in the womb. There seems to be no distinction other than age. All have equal standing and value to God.
For centuries there has been an ongoing war against the unborn and the newly born. And these acts are condemned throughout scripture. In Acts 7:18 we are reminded that the Egyptian king attempted to kill all the Hebrew babies (Moses was rescued from that campaign to kill babies). The Nativity narrative in Matthew 2:16–18 tells the story of the Massacre of the Innocents, in which King Herod the Great of Judea seeks to remove the promised Messiah and orders the execution of all male children under two years old near Bethlehem. "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children, who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men." Clearly God is consistently championing the unborn, the newly born, and the mothers who bear them. The Incarnation itself is a powerful reminder. Jesus, our pioneer and perfecter, took on flesh at the moment of conception. John the Baptist leaped with joy as he recognized our Lord while both were tiny unborn people! (Luke 1:41)
Our pro-life ethic is not then a mere political stand or current "issue" to settle. It emerges from our reverence for our creator God. The Imago Dei foundation informs every human struggle from hunger to homelessness, from trafficking to racism, from gender confusion to genocide. If we honor and value life in the womb, we honor it at every stage. When we diminish the value of the unborn, we diminish its value at every stage of life. Each time an unborn life is taken, our creator God is mocked.
No wonder Satan’s forces are working overtime to retain “abortion rights.” When we allow abortion to flourish unanswered, we mar His very Image. And when you stand up to rescue young women from abortion and defend unborn lives, you are boldly defending the Imago Dei—the image of God! If you are a church leader, prayerfully commit to provide your congregation with a firm foundation that is informed by God’s Word and rooted in compassion and clarity. Consider setting aside a class or series to invest in unpacking the Imago Dei and all of its implications. Remember to be kind to those who’ve suffered a past abortion. Point to resources for help and healing.
But what about...
It’s certain that you’ll encounter those who will not agree. The abortion debate has never been more public or more confusing. The daily political decisions and pundit arguments are divisive, emotional, and sometimes completely irrational. You'll hear the arguments that start with "But what about...?" Over the years, many people have asked me for “talking points” addressing every debate and objection--the life of the mother, rape and incest, unwanted children, back-alley abortions, “it’s a woman’s body”, and all the rest. That’s why we’ve provided the Fact Check Friday emails. But remember, as Christians we are not called to win an argument; we’re called to make disciples. Before we chase after the data, talking points, and catchy “gotcha” scripture passages, we must first provide a foundation. When the foundation of Truth is poured and set, it will be easy to build upon with the facts and evidence.
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