What Would God Say About.. Abortion Series

"What Would God Say About... Abortion?"

Insight Service - Discovery Christian Church - January 27, 2005

DEUTERONOMY 18: 9 - 13

INTRODUCTION: (Please turn to text)

Several years ago, there was a motion picture entitled, "Who’s Life Is It, Anyway?" It was a film starring Richard Dryfuss, and was about a man who was dying but faced the possibility of being kept alive by life support machines. The plot was very simple and asked the question: “Don’t I have the right to do whatever I wish with my life, with my body?” In the story, which I understand was based on a true account, the character played by Dryfuss actually went to court to ask for, and was granted, the right to die.

“Don’t I have the right to do whatever I wish with my life, with my body?” Let’s answer that question in the light of this scripture in 1 Cor. 6:19-20- “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are NOT YOUR OWN; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” You see the Christian’s question is not “Don’t I have the right to do with whatever I wish with MY life, MY body?” The blood bought believer asks: “What decisions can I make about my life and my body that honor God... because I belong to Him!”

The right to do whatever we please with our bodies is central to a lot of issues but it is at the very core of abortion. “Since I’m the one that’s pregnant,, don’t I have the right to choose to do with that pregnancy as I please? Since it’s MY body?” We’ve categorized that as “Pro-Choice.” The world adamantly says, “Yes you do. It is your right to choose!” Legally it says: “You have the right to abort a baby because it is your life to do with as you desire.” But there is an outcry, from those who think completely opposite. They say, “No. The pregnancy within you is a life that’s not your own. If you abort, you murder your child!” We catagorize that position as “Pro-Life.” And so since that infamous decision, by the Supreme Court on Jan. 22, 1973, that said abortion was legal in this country for every and any reason, a battle rages. And it is an emotionally charged, incredibly intense struggle. As Christian’s what are we to do? Are we to ignore the issue and stick our heads “ostrich-like” in the sand and pretend it doesn’t exist or do we take a stand? If so, how strong of a stand? Well, we want to tackle that question as we begin this five-part series entitled “What Would God Say About...” In the weeks to come we will ask what God would say about eternal security, being treated unjustly, fasting and church leadership. But tonight, since this is the week of that landmark and famous or infamous Supreme court decision, let’s see what God would say about abortion.

Now some people will say that the Church should stay away from political issues. But is abortion a political issue or a moral issue? If it is purely political then lets’ stay out of it. But, if it’s moral we must speak up. Jesus said, "You’re the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor it is good for nothing..” That means we care about what God cares about and have the courage to stand for God’s moral truth even if it goes against popular thought. You talk about controversial? John the Baptist spoke out so strongly against moral issues he got beheaded. Jesus was so controversial he was crucified. And the Church must be the conscience of the community or there will be no standard of morality. Now, I understand that it is possible for the Church to get involved with every minor skirmish that comes along to the extent that we get sidetracked from our main task which is to preach from the Word of God. So, we must ask, “Does God speak on this issue?” Because if He says something about abortion, then it becomes incredibly significant that we understand His position, so that as faithful followers we can stand where He stands.

So, let’s look at this issue in three ways: 1) How the World thinks about abortion. 2) How God thinks about abortion.. and... 3) How the Christian SHOULD think about abortion.

I. HOW THE WORLD THINKS: CONVENIENTLY

First let’s look at what the world thinks. The sanctity of life was an issue as far back as Moses’ time. Israel came out of Egypt to the land of Canaan and found her new neighbors to be of different races and to hold very different religious practices. Deuteronomy 18 introduces us to one of those neighbors, the Ammonites. Now the Ammonites worshiped a God called Molech. Now, according to history, Molech was a large grotesque beast with the body of a man and the head of a bull and the abdomen was hollowed out. This idol worship, as almost all idol worship, involved sexual immorality. But the worship of Molech not only contained sexual immorality but also the sacrifice of children! Under the bull a fire burned until that hollow abdomen glowed with heat. The ancient idolaters would dance and perform sexual activities with several partners in front of this false god. The revelry would intensify until an infant child of one of the orgy participants was thrown alive into the hot abdominal cavity. The child was seared to death, its shrieks of pain drowned out by the feverish beating of drums and the din of voices involved in sexual ecstasy. The next day when the orgy was over and the mass hysteria had long been quieted and the idol had cooled down the burned remains were taken out of the other side of the idol. That is why the King James translators said in verse 10, "There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire.." MSG -"Don’t you dare sacrifice your son or daughter in the fire."