Liberal. Conservative. Pro-life. Pro-choice. Democrat. Republican. It doesn’t matter where you’re classified on the political spectrum, we’re all aware of the abortion debate. We’ve seen the social ramifications of it. We’ve heard the pro-life and pro-choice arguments. We’ve read the statistics that say “24% of all pregnancies end in abortion.”1 We know that pro-choice advocates maintain that abortion is about women’s health, but pro-life arguments say less than 1 percent of abortions are performed to save lives.2We’ve heard both sides argue about whether life begins at birth or conception. But the discussion about abortion is not really a social issue—it’s a moral one.
Abortion is not about healthcare, the freedom of choice, or women’s rights. It’s not about religion, nor is it centered on who will win the pro-life/pro-choice debate. Ultimately, abortion is about the sanctity of life (which scientists define as a “living organism…as specifically distinguished by the capacity to grow, metabolize, respond (to stimuli), adapt, and reproduce”3).
Many people, even Christians, believe the Bible to be silent about this issue. And though you won’t find the word “abortion” in the Bible, God’s Word actually has a lot to say about the sanctity of life. In Exodus 20-21, God gave us His standard of morality and value on life (even the life of the unborn). He says,
You must not murder [deliberate, premeditated killing].
Exodus 20:13 (New Living Translation, brackets mine)
If people are fighting and 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. [23] But if there is serious injury [i.e., the death of the baby or mother], you are to take life for life.
Exodus 21:22-23 (New International Version, brackets mine)
Do these scriptures mean those who participate in or condone abortion should be killed? Of course not. Jesus took the penalty of sin—all sin—at the cross (Rom. 3:24), but that doesn’t change the value God places on life. The biblical view of abortion doesn’t focus on death; it focuses on life. A lady who had undergone an abortion, said this about the matter:
“I knew God had forgiven me for the abortions, as I had. But there was nagging regret. What would their lives have been like? Then God showed me to focus on the lives they’ve actually had—no guilt, shame, sickness, pain. Imagine crawling into Jesus’ lap anytime and asking Him anything! My children were taught of the Lord, and great is the peace of my children (Isa. 54:13).”
God is intimately involved in the process of life. At the moment of our conception, God made a plan for us and began shaping us into His image (Ps. 139:14-16). We are unique and valuable to Him—from conception. Even science agrees that at conception, all forty-six human chromosomes (little DNA packages that are the building blocks of life) are found in a unique configuration that has never before existed!4
Life is precious and children are a gift from the Lord (Ps. 127:3) that we are called to defend (Isa. 1:17 and Ps. 82:3). We cannot stand idly by, merely listening to pro-life and pro-choice arguments, while millions of children are sacrificed to the idols of convenience and fear. “God is calling us together to stand and start making an impact. None of us can do everything we need to by ourselves; we have to stand as one body,” Andrew Wommack said at his annual Ministers’ Conference. “And I believe He has called me to marshal His people together…[through this] God-inspired idea, the Declaration of Dependence upon God and His Holy Bible.”
Years ago, in the face of similar social evils, German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil…. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” The time has come for the body of Christ to stand and speak up about the sanctity of life. Together our voices will be heard! Sign the Declaration today!
1 http://womensissues.about.com/od/reproductiverights/tp/Ten-Abortion-Facts.htm
2 http://www.abortionfacts.com/
3 http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Life
4http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/genetics/vgec/highereducation/topics/dnageneschromosomes
