Today we conclude our series of bulletin articles on abortion. My articles initially focused on the Biblical evidence against abortion. Then we saw that God’s people have usually understood abortion to be a sin, including first century Jews, the early church fathers and the Reformers. Last week we saw that two of the common reasons for abortion are not valid arguments. This week I want to finish by encouraging you to speak out against the sin of abortion.
Speaking against abortion in our Australian culture is not easy. From my experience, most people are either for abortion or try to remain neutral by not taking a side (or at least not verbalising their position). Meanwhile our government is obviously for abortion through their legalisation of it.
But if abortion is clearly condemned by God, then Christians need to be courageous and affirm that it is wrong for a few reasons. Firstly, Christians need to affirm that abortion is wrong to non-Christians in an effort to get them to recognise their sinfulness. Then the good news may be shared that if they believe in Jesus’ death for their sin they will be saved.
Secondly, Christians need to affirm that abortion is wrong to other Christians in order to encourage obedience to God’s law – not to be saved, but because they are saved. If someone contradicts the plain teaching of the word of God by their practice by aborting children, they show that their faith may be dead.
Thirdly, Christians need to affirm that abortion is wrong so that it may go well for people in this life. God made us. And as our creator he knows how we should live in order to experience happy and fulfilling lives. Thus, God’s laws are a blessing to know. When we sin, we set ourselves up, and others around us, for serious pain. When it comes to the sin of abortion, this pain may be seen in the women who have deeply regretted aborting their child and the pain experienced by the infant itself as its life is destroyed.
Fourthly, God’s people have always been called to protect those who are defenceless, such as widows and orphans. Proverbs 31:8 encourages us to ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves’. This protection must extend to very small children in the womb who cannot defend themselves against the surgeon’s knife.
Will you speak up against the sin of abortion?
Joel Radford
Showing posts with label abortion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abortion. Show all posts
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Abortion due to rape and incest is still a sin
Today we continue our series of bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. My articles initially focused on the Biblical evidence against abortion. Then we saw that God’s people have usually understood abortion to be a sin, including first century Jews, early church fathers and Reformers. This week I want to begin to draw the series to a close by answering common reasons people give for why abortion is right.
Two of the most common reasons given for allowing abortion concern those children conceived through rape and incest. In such instances, it is seen to be compassionate to the mother to permit the abortion of the child. However such an argument implies that a child may live or die based on the circumstances by which it was conceived. In which case it would be right for a mother to order the death of any child in those circumstances, for example a child aged seven. Yet no one would kill a seven year old simply because of the fact that they were conceived through rape or incest. But this is what is being advocated. The only difference is that the child is much smaller, inside a womb, less developed and more dependent.
What I’m trying to make clear is that abortion for rape and incest is not a valid argument. The argument has not dealt with the question of when life begins, rather it has side-stepped the question and begun to seek an emotional response from the horror of the sins of rape and incest.
This is not to suggest that bringing a child to full term after such a conception wouldn’t involve considerable mental anguish for the mother. But mental anguish is not a reason to kill another person. In these circumstances the mother should be given all the compassionate care that may be offered, beginning with the teaching of the gospel, the sovereignty of God (such as Roman 8:28) and that children are always a precious gift from the Lord.
Therefore rape and incest are no reason to abort a child, such an abortion is still a sin. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise abortion for rape and incest is still sinful?
Joel Radford.
Two of the most common reasons given for allowing abortion concern those children conceived through rape and incest. In such instances, it is seen to be compassionate to the mother to permit the abortion of the child. However such an argument implies that a child may live or die based on the circumstances by which it was conceived. In which case it would be right for a mother to order the death of any child in those circumstances, for example a child aged seven. Yet no one would kill a seven year old simply because of the fact that they were conceived through rape or incest. But this is what is being advocated. The only difference is that the child is much smaller, inside a womb, less developed and more dependent.
What I’m trying to make clear is that abortion for rape and incest is not a valid argument. The argument has not dealt with the question of when life begins, rather it has side-stepped the question and begun to seek an emotional response from the horror of the sins of rape and incest.
This is not to suggest that bringing a child to full term after such a conception wouldn’t involve considerable mental anguish for the mother. But mental anguish is not a reason to kill another person. In these circumstances the mother should be given all the compassionate care that may be offered, beginning with the teaching of the gospel, the sovereignty of God (such as Roman 8:28) and that children are always a precious gift from the Lord.
Therefore rape and incest are no reason to abort a child, such an abortion is still a sin. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise abortion for rape and incest is still sinful?
Joel Radford.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The Reformers considered abortion a sin
Today we continue our series of bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. My articles initially focused on the Biblical evidence against abortion. But over the last few weeks we’ve seen that God’s people have usually understood abortion to be a sin. Firstly we saw this in Jewish writings from the first century, then from early Christian writings. This week I want to look at the position that the Reformers took on the issue of abortion.
Protestant Christianity emerged as people protested against the Roman Catholic church’s understanding on core Christian doctrines, such as salvation by grace alone and the Bible as the only supreme authority. The Reformation was basically sparked by a Roman Catholic monk named Martin Luther. And it is therefore interesting to see the founder of the Reformation was against abortion. Luther wrote: ‘How great, therefore, the wickedness of human nature is! How many girls there are who prevent conception and kill and expel tender fetuses, although procreation is the work of God. Indeed, some spouses who marry and live together in a respectable manner have various ends in mind, but rarely children.’
After Luther came the Puritan Reformers who drew up the great statements of faith known as the Westminster Confession (which the Presbyterian church is built on), the Savoy Declaration (which the Congregational churches started with) and the Baptist 1689 Confession of Faith (which was formulated by Reformed Baptists). And from the Puritans we read strong statements against abortion. For example Thomas Manton writes: ‘…it is murder to stifle an infant in the womb’. Also Samuel Bolton says: ‘Many are like harlots who will murder the child in the womb, to avoid the trouble of child-bearing’. And Richard Sibbes asks: ‘If it be sin to kill infants in the womb, what is it to kill the breed of the blessed Spirit in our hearts!’
Therefore God’s people have a long tradition of condemning abortion as sinful. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise abortion is wrong like God’s people have always done?
Joel Radford.
Protestant Christianity emerged as people protested against the Roman Catholic church’s understanding on core Christian doctrines, such as salvation by grace alone and the Bible as the only supreme authority. The Reformation was basically sparked by a Roman Catholic monk named Martin Luther. And it is therefore interesting to see the founder of the Reformation was against abortion. Luther wrote: ‘How great, therefore, the wickedness of human nature is! How many girls there are who prevent conception and kill and expel tender fetuses, although procreation is the work of God. Indeed, some spouses who marry and live together in a respectable manner have various ends in mind, but rarely children.’
After Luther came the Puritan Reformers who drew up the great statements of faith known as the Westminster Confession (which the Presbyterian church is built on), the Savoy Declaration (which the Congregational churches started with) and the Baptist 1689 Confession of Faith (which was formulated by Reformed Baptists). And from the Puritans we read strong statements against abortion. For example Thomas Manton writes: ‘…it is murder to stifle an infant in the womb’. Also Samuel Bolton says: ‘Many are like harlots who will murder the child in the womb, to avoid the trouble of child-bearing’. And Richard Sibbes asks: ‘If it be sin to kill infants in the womb, what is it to kill the breed of the blessed Spirit in our hearts!’
Therefore God’s people have a long tradition of condemning abortion as sinful. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise abortion is wrong like God’s people have always done?
Joel Radford.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The early Christians considered abortion a sin
Today we continue our series of bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. My articles initially focused on the Biblical evidence against abortion. But last week we also saw that God’s people have usually understood abortion to be a sin, beginning with first century Jews. This week I want to show that the early Christians also considered abortion a sin.
The early Christian church had the writings of the Old Testament and the New Testament as their authoritative Scriptures. But also circulating at the time were other writings by Christians. These were not considered to be the word of God, but are nevertheless helpful in understanding what early Christians believed.
One such writing is called the Didache. It was probably written between 85-110 AD and provides insight into what the teachings of the early church were. It clearly renounces abortion and infanticide: ‘thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill them when born’.
Another early Christian writing is the Epistle of Barnabas. It was written about 130AD and also condemns abortion: ‘Thou shalt not murder a child by abortion, nor again shalt thou kill it when it is born.’
And a final example comes from Tertullian, an early church theologian (160-220AD). Tertullian wrote: ‘In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the fœtus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth. That is a man which is going to be one; you have the fruit already in its seed.’ For Tertullian, life begins at conception – anything that is going to be human is human.
Therefore God’s people have a long tradition of condemning abortion as sinful. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise abortion is wrong like God’s people have always done?
Joel Radford.
The early Christian church had the writings of the Old Testament and the New Testament as their authoritative Scriptures. But also circulating at the time were other writings by Christians. These were not considered to be the word of God, but are nevertheless helpful in understanding what early Christians believed.
One such writing is called the Didache. It was probably written between 85-110 AD and provides insight into what the teachings of the early church were. It clearly renounces abortion and infanticide: ‘thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill them when born’.
Another early Christian writing is the Epistle of Barnabas. It was written about 130AD and also condemns abortion: ‘Thou shalt not murder a child by abortion, nor again shalt thou kill it when it is born.’
And a final example comes from Tertullian, an early church theologian (160-220AD). Tertullian wrote: ‘In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the fœtus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth. That is a man which is going to be one; you have the fruit already in its seed.’ For Tertullian, life begins at conception – anything that is going to be human is human.
Therefore God’s people have a long tradition of condemning abortion as sinful. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise abortion is wrong like God’s people have always done?
Joel Radford.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Jews in the first century considered abortion a sin
Today we continue our series of bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. My articles so far have focused on the Biblical evidence against abortion. I now want to show that abortion has a long history of being forbidden by God’s people.
Although the Jews had their Bible, there were other writings to help Jews understand what God required. Just like we have Christian books that are not God’s word, but help us understand God’s word. And it is in these writings that we can see that the Jews in the first century clearly believed abortion was sinful. In the ESV Study Bible, Grudem and his colleagues write: ‘…the Sentences of Pseudo-Phocylides 184–186 (c. 50 b.c.–a.d. 50) says that “a woman should not destroy the unborn in her belly, nor after its birth throw it before the dogs and vultures as a prey.” Included among those who do evil in the apocalyptic Sibylline Oracles were women who “aborted what they carried in the womb” (2.281–282). Similarly, the apocryphal book 1 Enoch (2nd or 1st century b.c.) declares that an evil angel taught humans how to “smash the embryo in the womb” (69.12). Finally, the first-century Jewish historian Josephus wrote that “the law orders all the offspring to be brought up, and forbids women either to cause abortion or to make away with the fetus” (Against Apion 2.202).’
And it’s not as though abortion was unacceptable across all cultures and so the Jews were just upholding the norm. Roman writings condone abortion/infanticide: ‘Cicero (106–43 b.c.) records that according to the Twelve Tables of Roman Law, “deformed infants shall be killed” (De Legibus 3.8). Plutarch (c. a.d. 46–120) spoke of those who he said “offered up their own children, and those who had no children would buy little ones from poor people and cut their throats as if they were so many lambs or young birds; meanwhile the mother stood by without a tear or moan” (Moralia 2.171D).’ (From the ESV Study Bible).
Therefore God’s people have a long tradition of condemning abortion. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise abortion is wrong like God’s people have always done so?
Joel Radford.
Although the Jews had their Bible, there were other writings to help Jews understand what God required. Just like we have Christian books that are not God’s word, but help us understand God’s word. And it is in these writings that we can see that the Jews in the first century clearly believed abortion was sinful. In the ESV Study Bible, Grudem and his colleagues write: ‘…the Sentences of Pseudo-Phocylides 184–186 (c. 50 b.c.–a.d. 50) says that “a woman should not destroy the unborn in her belly, nor after its birth throw it before the dogs and vultures as a prey.” Included among those who do evil in the apocalyptic Sibylline Oracles were women who “aborted what they carried in the womb” (2.281–282). Similarly, the apocryphal book 1 Enoch (2nd or 1st century b.c.) declares that an evil angel taught humans how to “smash the embryo in the womb” (69.12). Finally, the first-century Jewish historian Josephus wrote that “the law orders all the offspring to be brought up, and forbids women either to cause abortion or to make away with the fetus” (Against Apion 2.202).’
And it’s not as though abortion was unacceptable across all cultures and so the Jews were just upholding the norm. Roman writings condone abortion/infanticide: ‘Cicero (106–43 b.c.) records that according to the Twelve Tables of Roman Law, “deformed infants shall be killed” (De Legibus 3.8). Plutarch (c. a.d. 46–120) spoke of those who he said “offered up their own children, and those who had no children would buy little ones from poor people and cut their throats as if they were so many lambs or young birds; meanwhile the mother stood by without a tear or moan” (Moralia 2.171D).’ (From the ESV Study Bible).
Therefore God’s people have a long tradition of condemning abortion. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise abortion is wrong like God’s people have always done so?
Joel Radford.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Abortion is a sin because John the Baptist leapt for joy in the womb
Today we continue our series of bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. So far, most of my articles have focused on verses in the Old Testament that condemn the practice. This week I want to show that abortion is wrong because the New Testament also understands that those in the womb are people too.
When Mary the mother of Jesus became pregnant, she went and visited Elizabeth: ‘At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"’ (Luke 1:39-45).
John the Baptist’s ministry has already begun – in the womb! His job was to point people to Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He said later: ‘You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less’ (John 3:27-30). John was the friend to the bridegroom, Jesus, and as his friend delighted in the sound of his voice. And we see this happen even as a baby in the womb. John leaps in the womb thereby telling Elizabeth that someone very special has just entered the house – albeit inside Mary. Although in an odd location, John is very much a person.
Therefore to abort an embryo like John is to kill a person. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because John the Baptist was leaping for joy in the womb?
Joel Radford.
When Mary the mother of Jesus became pregnant, she went and visited Elizabeth: ‘At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"’ (Luke 1:39-45).
John the Baptist’s ministry has already begun – in the womb! His job was to point people to Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He said later: ‘You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less’ (John 3:27-30). John was the friend to the bridegroom, Jesus, and as his friend delighted in the sound of his voice. And we see this happen even as a baby in the womb. John leaps in the womb thereby telling Elizabeth that someone very special has just entered the house – albeit inside Mary. Although in an odd location, John is very much a person.
Therefore to abort an embryo like John is to kill a person. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because John the Baptist was leaping for joy in the womb?
Joel Radford.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Abortion is a sin because embryos in the womb are persons
Today we continue our series of bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. This week I want to show that abortion is wrong because the Bible understands an embryo is a person.
In a number of places in the Old Testament, the Biblical authors describe the formation of the body in the womb. And each time they do so, they refer to it not as a mass of tissue without personhood, but they assert that it is a person that is inside the womb: For example, David describes what is going on in the womb in Psalm 139: ‘For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb…My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body (Psalm 139:13-16)’. Clearly David does not understand that he came into existence at a point after birth. No. He is there inside the womb.
Job also sees himself and his servants as people in the womb: ‘If I have denied justice to my menservants and maidservants when they had a grievance against me, what will I do when God confronts me?…Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?’ (Job 31:13-15).
Moreover, God speaks of Jeremiah as a person in the womb: ‘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’ (Jeremiah 1:5). When did Jeremiah become a prophet? As an embryo in the womb.
Finally, David again speaks of himself as a person from conception: ‘Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me’ (Psalm 51:5). If what is the womb at conception is not a person, how is it sinful? A rock can’t be sinful. But an embryo can because it is a person.
Therefore to abort an embryo is to kill a person. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because the Bible speaks of embryos as people?
Joel Radford
In a number of places in the Old Testament, the Biblical authors describe the formation of the body in the womb. And each time they do so, they refer to it not as a mass of tissue without personhood, but they assert that it is a person that is inside the womb: For example, David describes what is going on in the womb in Psalm 139: ‘For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb…My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body (Psalm 139:13-16)’. Clearly David does not understand that he came into existence at a point after birth. No. He is there inside the womb.
Job also sees himself and his servants as people in the womb: ‘If I have denied justice to my menservants and maidservants when they had a grievance against me, what will I do when God confronts me?…Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?’ (Job 31:13-15).
Moreover, God speaks of Jeremiah as a person in the womb: ‘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’ (Jeremiah 1:5). When did Jeremiah become a prophet? As an embryo in the womb.
Finally, David again speaks of himself as a person from conception: ‘Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me’ (Psalm 51:5). If what is the womb at conception is not a person, how is it sinful? A rock can’t be sinful. But an embryo can because it is a person.
Therefore to abort an embryo is to kill a person. But is the abortion of a person an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because the Bible speaks of embryos as people?
Joel Radford
Monday, May 9, 2011
Abortion is a sin because it is condemned by the prophets
Today we continue our series of bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. Last week we saw that the prophet Moses condemned abortion, this week we see that other prophets also condemned abortion.
In 2 Kings we read about the prophet Elisha meeting the future king of Syria (Aram), Hazael. During the conversation Elisha begins to cry at the thought of Hazael killing Israelites, including the unborn: ‘Then the man of God began to weep. "Why is my lord weeping?" asked Hazael. "Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites," he answered. "You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women" (2 Kings 8:11-12). Hazael will murder many including the unborn and Elisha considers this a horrible thing to even consider, let alone witness.
And Elisha is not alone. The Ammonites were also long term enemies of the Israelites and were regularly involved in conflict with them. So Amos pronounces judgement upon them: ‘This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders, I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day. Her king will go into exile, he and his officials together," says the LORD’ (Amos 1:13-15). God considers Ammon’s behaviour atrocious. They killed the unborn so that they could prosper financially. Thus God punishes them.
And there is no reason to suggest God has changed his mind. Those who kill the unborn are not committing a decent act, or even a neutral act. God considers what they are doing as indecent and will ultimately punish them.
But is the abortion of an infant an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because it is condemned by the prophets and thus condemned by God?
Joel Radford.
In 2 Kings we read about the prophet Elisha meeting the future king of Syria (Aram), Hazael. During the conversation Elisha begins to cry at the thought of Hazael killing Israelites, including the unborn: ‘Then the man of God began to weep. "Why is my lord weeping?" asked Hazael. "Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites," he answered. "You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women" (2 Kings 8:11-12). Hazael will murder many including the unborn and Elisha considers this a horrible thing to even consider, let alone witness.
And Elisha is not alone. The Ammonites were also long term enemies of the Israelites and were regularly involved in conflict with them. So Amos pronounces judgement upon them: ‘This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders, I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day. Her king will go into exile, he and his officials together," says the LORD’ (Amos 1:13-15). God considers Ammon’s behaviour atrocious. They killed the unborn so that they could prosper financially. Thus God punishes them.
And there is no reason to suggest God has changed his mind. Those who kill the unborn are not committing a decent act, or even a neutral act. God considers what they are doing as indecent and will ultimately punish them.
But is the abortion of an infant an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because it is condemned by the prophets and thus condemned by God?
Joel Radford.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Abortion is a sin because it is condemned by Moses
Today we continue our series of bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. This week I want to show that Moses condemns abortions.
Moses wrote the book of Exodus and in it we read one of God’s laws that specifically condemns abortion: ‘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, bruise for bruise’ (Exodus 21:22-25).
Now some say that this text does not condemn abortion. They interpret the text as talking about a miscarriage of the baby which then results in only a fine. Thus, they claim, it appears that the text is saying that an aborted infant doesn’t have the same value as another human because the normal penalty for killing another human is capital punishment.
However the text doesn’t necessarily imply that the baby is born dead, i.e. miscarried. The Hebrew word translated as ‘gives birth prematurely’ by the New International Version is usually used in reference to normal live births. To imply that the text is only referring to instances when the baby born is dead is not an accurate translation.
So what is the right meaning of the text? If two men are fighting and one hits a pregnant woman and she goes into labour, when the baby is born, the child should be assessed for injuries. The law then provides punishment in kind to the violent offender – just as in other instances of violence toward another human being. If the baby is bruised, the man is to be bruised. If the baby is dead, the man is to be put to death. So instead of the text devaluing infants, as some imply, the better understanding of the text shows a value for infants that matches the value placed on all other humans.
So is the abortion of an infant an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because it is condemned by Moses and thus condemned by God?
Joel Radford.
Moses wrote the book of Exodus and in it we read one of God’s laws that specifically condemns abortion: ‘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, bruise for bruise’ (Exodus 21:22-25).
Now some say that this text does not condemn abortion. They interpret the text as talking about a miscarriage of the baby which then results in only a fine. Thus, they claim, it appears that the text is saying that an aborted infant doesn’t have the same value as another human because the normal penalty for killing another human is capital punishment.
However the text doesn’t necessarily imply that the baby is born dead, i.e. miscarried. The Hebrew word translated as ‘gives birth prematurely’ by the New International Version is usually used in reference to normal live births. To imply that the text is only referring to instances when the baby born is dead is not an accurate translation.
So what is the right meaning of the text? If two men are fighting and one hits a pregnant woman and she goes into labour, when the baby is born, the child should be assessed for injuries. The law then provides punishment in kind to the violent offender – just as in other instances of violence toward another human being. If the baby is bruised, the man is to be bruised. If the baby is dead, the man is to be put to death. So instead of the text devaluing infants, as some imply, the better understanding of the text shows a value for infants that matches the value placed on all other humans.
So is the abortion of an infant an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because it is condemned by Moses and thus condemned by God?
Joel Radford.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Abortion is a sin because the pagan killing of infants is condemned by God
Today we continue our series of bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. This week I want to show it is sinful because killing of infants was condemned by God in the Old Testament.
There are a number of reasons why parents today want to kill their unborn child. And the desire to kill one’s own child is not a new situation. Since mankind fell into sin, murder of infants has been practiced again and again. In the Old Testament parents murdered children to serve false gods and obtain blessing: ‘When the king of Moab saw that the battle had gone against him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed. Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall.’ (2 Kings 3:26-1).’ Even the Israelites practised such despicable worship, led by kings like Ahaz who ‘sacrificed his sons in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites’ (2 Chronicles 28:3).
But God never condoned such activity. In the law of Moses God said: ‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD’ (Leviticus 18:21). And if that wasn’t enough, God sends his prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel to condemn such false worship: ‘And you took your sons and daughters whom you bore to me and sacrificed them as food to the idols. Was your prostitution not enough? You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols’ (Ezekiel 16:20-21).
And, sadly, this still happens today. No, children may not be aborted to serve pagan gods. But the reasoning for aborting an infant is always performed for sinful motivations that are connected with human pride and a desire for pleasure at the expense of obeying God’s law.
So is the abortion of an infant to satisfy one’s own desires an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because it is performed through sinful desires to serve someone or something other than God?
Joel Radford.
There are a number of reasons why parents today want to kill their unborn child. And the desire to kill one’s own child is not a new situation. Since mankind fell into sin, murder of infants has been practiced again and again. In the Old Testament parents murdered children to serve false gods and obtain blessing: ‘When the king of Moab saw that the battle had gone against him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed. Then he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him as a sacrifice on the city wall.’ (2 Kings 3:26-1).’ Even the Israelites practised such despicable worship, led by kings like Ahaz who ‘sacrificed his sons in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites’ (2 Chronicles 28:3).
But God never condoned such activity. In the law of Moses God said: ‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD’ (Leviticus 18:21). And if that wasn’t enough, God sends his prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel to condemn such false worship: ‘And you took your sons and daughters whom you bore to me and sacrificed them as food to the idols. Was your prostitution not enough? You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols’ (Ezekiel 16:20-21).
And, sadly, this still happens today. No, children may not be aborted to serve pagan gods. But the reasoning for aborting an infant is always performed for sinful motivations that are connected with human pride and a desire for pleasure at the expense of obeying God’s law.
So is the abortion of an infant to satisfy one’s own desires an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because it is performed through sinful desires to serve someone or something other than God?
Joel Radford.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Abortion is a sin because Jesus was once an embryo
Today we continue our series of bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. This week I want to show it is sinful because Jesus was an embryo.
Jesus is fully God. Jesus has always existed just as the Father and Holy Spirit have always existed. John speaks about this in his gospel where Jesus is called the Word: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning’ (John 1:1-2).
But Jesus is also fully human. John also speaks about Jesus as being human: ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14).’ Thus we see in the gospels Jesus experiencing bodily experiences – hunger, thirst, weariness and pain.
How did Jesus get this human body? Admittedly Jesus did have an unusual conception. Joseph, Jesus’ step father, is told by an angel: ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’ (Mat 1:20). But other than that, Jesus developed and was born just like any other person. We read of nothing extraordinary about his birth from Mary: ‘…the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn’ (Luke 2:6-7). Jesus is swaddled and placed in a makeshift cot like any other infant.
How does Jesus’ humanity relate to abortion? When Jesus took on flesh, he did not appear as a fully developed man as though infancy was below him. Rather God himself becoming an embryo and developing into a little boy shows respect for every stage of human development. The status of an embryo is as sacred to God as a born baby. In other words, embryos are dignified enough for Jesus to become one. They should not be destroyed.
So is the abortion of an infant, who shares the same status Jesus once shared, an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because Jesus showed respect for embryos by becoming one?
Joel Radford.
Jesus is fully God. Jesus has always existed just as the Father and Holy Spirit have always existed. John speaks about this in his gospel where Jesus is called the Word: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning’ (John 1:1-2).
But Jesus is also fully human. John also speaks about Jesus as being human: ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14).’ Thus we see in the gospels Jesus experiencing bodily experiences – hunger, thirst, weariness and pain.
How did Jesus get this human body? Admittedly Jesus did have an unusual conception. Joseph, Jesus’ step father, is told by an angel: ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’ (Mat 1:20). But other than that, Jesus developed and was born just like any other person. We read of nothing extraordinary about his birth from Mary: ‘…the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn’ (Luke 2:6-7). Jesus is swaddled and placed in a makeshift cot like any other infant.
How does Jesus’ humanity relate to abortion? When Jesus took on flesh, he did not appear as a fully developed man as though infancy was below him. Rather God himself becoming an embryo and developing into a little boy shows respect for every stage of human development. The status of an embryo is as sacred to God as a born baby. In other words, embryos are dignified enough for Jesus to become one. They should not be destroyed.
So is the abortion of an infant, who shares the same status Jesus once shared, an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because Jesus showed respect for embryos by becoming one?
Joel Radford.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Abortion is a sin because infants are made in the image of God
I’m beginning a new series in the bulletin articles looking at why abortion is wrong. This week I want to show it is sinful because infants are made in God’s image.
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. Encyclopaedia Britannica gives four general reasons for an abortion: ‘to preserve the life or physical or mental well-being of the mother; to prevent the completion of a pregnancy that has resulted from rape or incest; to prevent the birth of a child with serious deformity, mental deficiency, or genetic abnormality; or to prevent a birth for social or economic reasons.’
The Bible understands that we have to be very careful in terminating the life of another human, as to kill someone without good reason is murder. Murder is seriously wrong because God has made all humans in the image of God: ‘Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them’ (Genesis 1:26-27). To be made in the image of God is understood to mean many things but essentially means that human beings are like God and represent him on earth like no other creature. Thus murder means you destroy one of God’s representatives and such an action is condemned by God: ‘Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man’ (Genesis 9:6).
But is an embryo made in the image of God? Once conception takes place and two cells become one, a unique human life has begun. To define the beginning of human life at any other stage is very difficult. The only difference between an unborn human and a born human is their location, size, level of dependence and level of development. None of these differences suggests that an embryo does not bear the likeness of God.
Is the abortion of an infant an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because all humans are made in the image of God?
Joel Radford.
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. Encyclopaedia Britannica gives four general reasons for an abortion: ‘to preserve the life or physical or mental well-being of the mother; to prevent the completion of a pregnancy that has resulted from rape or incest; to prevent the birth of a child with serious deformity, mental deficiency, or genetic abnormality; or to prevent a birth for social or economic reasons.’
The Bible understands that we have to be very careful in terminating the life of another human, as to kill someone without good reason is murder. Murder is seriously wrong because God has made all humans in the image of God: ‘Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them’ (Genesis 1:26-27). To be made in the image of God is understood to mean many things but essentially means that human beings are like God and represent him on earth like no other creature. Thus murder means you destroy one of God’s representatives and such an action is condemned by God: ‘Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man’ (Genesis 9:6).
But is an embryo made in the image of God? Once conception takes place and two cells become one, a unique human life has begun. To define the beginning of human life at any other stage is very difficult. The only difference between an unborn human and a born human is their location, size, level of dependence and level of development. None of these differences suggests that an embryo does not bear the likeness of God.
Is the abortion of an infant an unforgivable sin? No. Through repentance of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death for your sins you can be forgiven for any sin, including the wrongful termination of another human.
Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because all humans are made in the image of God?
Joel Radford.
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