[Video Question]
Calib Wu: Hi, I’m Caleb. And my question is what does the Bible really say about abortion?
Brother Bob: Thank you, Caleb, for your question about abortion. Welcome everyone to this program That’s In The Bible. Let’s begin first [by] getting the common definition of abortion and we look at the dictionary, and it says, well, it’s a deliberate termination of a human pregnancy.
[On screen text graphics – Source: OxfordDictionaries.com]
The deliberate termination of a human pregnancy; most often performed during the first 28 weeks.
Brother Bob: You know, Caleb, in so many countries, abortion is seen, well, as a mother’s choice and it’s most often legal and it’s considered to be a common method to ending the life of a growing child. But, here’s the thing. Should it really be considered as a viable method of birth control? And by the way, is it really a common practice? Before we turn to the pages of the Bible for some very important guidance as well as the laws of God about this topic, let’s first see how common this practice really is and its place that it currently holds in popular culture. Let’s take a look at this clip.
[Video – Source: Youtube.com.DanAdams]
Female News Anchor: 80% of the public is against an abortion in the 3rd trimester and almost 65% is against an abortion in the 2nd trimester. So people are divided on this.
[Video – Source: rawstory.com]
Bernie Sanders: But I would hope that other people respect the very painful and difficult choice that many women feel they have to make and don’t want the government telling them what they have to do.
Brother Bob: So here you can see not only some basic statistics, but you can also notice how truly divided the public is on this issue. There’s a lot of different viewpoints that people take regarding this topic.
[On screen graphics – Source: Self.com]
Fact: 30% of American women will have an abortion by age 45. 38% of women seeking abortions have no religious affiliation. 53% of women who got and abortion found the choice “difficult or very difficult.” 59% of women who have had abortions already have children.
Brother Bob: So, Caleb, let’s state from the outset the stand of the Iglesia Ni Cristo or Church Of Christ. We are truly against abortion as a birth control method. Why? Because it involves the taking away of human life. And God expressly prohibits us from taking another’s life or committing murder. What does the Bible actually say about the ending of another’s life? Let’s begin taking a look at the Bible’s stand regarding these topics. For example, we begin here in the Book of Genesis, chapter 9, verse 6:
If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image.
[Genesis 9:6 New Living Translation]
Brother Bob: So, Caleb, God’s answer is very clear. What was His instruction? We are not allowed to take another human’s life and was God’s instruction further reinforced or relayed by our Lord Jesus Christ to the Church? Who, by the way there’s no denying that Jesus was the most compassionate of all because that’s what the one gentleman mentioned there, right? Have compassion. Jesus was the most compassionate of all. What about the compassion they will say “What about the compassion to the mother’s situation?” Jesus, like I said, was the most compassionate of all people. Compassion being a common reason that, well, supporters of the legalization of abortion, they always reference that. Here’s the most compassionate of all, Jesus himself, answering that question. In Matthew 19:17-19:
“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question-if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandment.” “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “ ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
[Matthew 19:17-19 New Living Translation]
Brother Bob: So here, Caleb, Jesus reiterated God’s original instruction not to take the life of another human being. But, you know, some may argue that, well, a fetus is not yet a human being and, therefore, not yet under the umbrella of God’s authority and therefore the mother, well, she has the right to choose then to end the existence of that unborn fetus. They will say, “That is not a human being yet. It’s just a conglomeration of cells.” That’s why we find in society the well-accepted idea of pro-choice.
[On screen text graphics – Source: OxfordDictionaries.com]
Definition of Pro Choice: Advocating legalized abortion
Brother Bob: And there’s also, Caleb, some supporters of the pro-choice movement that are also anti –abortion claiming that, well, a woman’s access to abortion albeit is a human right in cases of rape, cases of incest, or, for example, when their own life is in jeopardy. The stance of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, however, remains the same even in these instances regardless of the medical situation or the irreverent means or crime of the adults. God’s act of creation still exists and should not be retaliated against by another crime in the eyes of God. But at what point has creation happened? That’s really the fundamental question, isn’t it? At what point is that creation begun and therefore that individuals under God’s authority and the prohibition against murder or taking the life of that human being is in effect? Isaiah the prophet writes a response to that question here. Isaiah 49:5.
And now the LORD speaks – the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The LORD has honored me, and my God has given me strength.
[Isaiah 49:5 New Living Translation]
Brother Bob: So clearly, Caleb, since the moment of formation in the womb of the mother, God has been involved. Abortion would thwart then the plan of God in creating that human being. Similarly, abortifacients, or contraceptives that cause the unborn fetus to be expelled from the womb of the mother are not considered as a Christian family planning method.
[On screen text graphic – Source: Merriam-Webster.com]
Definition of Abortifacient: An agent (such as a drug) that induces abortion
Brother Bob: Whether they’re legal or illegal, we cannot agree with such methods. Why not? Well as we just read God formed us right there in the womb of our mother. Removing such then is fighting against the plan and intent of God himself. So instead the Church Of Christ upholds birth control and family planning through artificial methods. This is in agreement with the commandment of God given in the Holy Scriptures that man subdue the earth. And what does God give as instructions or specifics about this? In Genesis chapter 1, the Bible says this:
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; …
[Genesis 1:25 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: And we all know the meaning of the word subdue. In fact if we look in a thesaurus, some synonyms would be “keep under control, moderate, repress, restrain, suppress, reduce.”
[On screen text graphics]
Synonyms of “Subdue” To keep under control; moderate, repress, restrain, suppress, reduce.
Brother Bob: So God commanded man, yes, to fill the earth through procreation and mankind has done that and, like I said, many would say the earth is already overpopulated, so in due time God gave also the command to man to subdue the population or bring it under control, thus the use of contraceptives to bring the human population under control, it’s not against the will of God. The kinds of artificial contraception, however, unless it’s proven to be an abortifacient, inducing abortion, well, as long as it’s not that, it can be agreed upon and used by couples after consulting of course with a medical expert to determine what is the applicability to their own medical condition or health. So during these times of economic crisis a large family, for example, with a relatively low income, well they’re going to find it hard to meet all their needs. Children for example could be deprived of proper food or nutrition and education, and such bad conditions would only contribute to the increase of social problems in society. Therefore family planning with the use of artificial birth control methods is part of responsible parenthood.
[On screen text graphics]
Family planning is responsible parenthood.
Brother Bob: And those who do not provide for their households because of their own carelessness, what does the Bible call them? What does the Bible have to say about them? Let’s consider in the writings of Apostle Paul, 1 Timothy 5:8, it says this:
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
[I Timothy 5:8 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Caleb, it’s therefore our faith that we and all people should adhere to the laws of God discussed here from the Holy Bible, so as to receive of His abundant grace in this life and in the life to come. Dear friends, Caleb, first of all, thank you so much for your question about abortion and we hope that the Bible’s answers will guide you in your own lives. There, dear friends, there’s no question that is too basic, no question that cannot be answered by the Bible when it comes to our lives, when it comes to our salvation. And if you’d like to know more about the basic fundamental teachings found inside the Church Of Christ, if you’d like to see a directory there for a congregation that is very nearest to your own home, you will find it on incmedia.org. There you’re going to also find a variety of programs all dedicated to answering your spiritual questions. Thank you all for joining us. We’ll see you again next time here on That’s In The Bible.
