Abortion Series

Clarity or Confusion?

2. The Sanctity of Human Life

Don Jaques

Jan 31/Feb 1, 2004

MAIN IDEA: Since God is the creator of life we must champion the unborn’s right to life.

INTRO:

Last week I began what will be a 5 part series, “Clarity or Confusion” in which we will be discussing some of the major moral issues of our day, comparing what the world teaches with what the Bible teaches.

Congrats to friends for birth of Sophia last Monday! I had the pleasure of holding beautiful little Sophia on Wednesday and saw her look into my eyes. It was a beautiful moment – but because all week I’ve been focusing on the issue of the sanctity of human life I realized again that the little one who was staring at me could have been aborted and had her little life ended before it had a chance to begin.

What does the Bible say about abortion?

Nothing. Honestly – we have to say the word, and the topic, are not mentioned directly in scripture. But this does not mean we cannot determine God’s heart on the issue. God’s word clearly tells us that human life is sacred and worthy of protection.

Why is all human life sacred and worthy of protection?

1. All human life is created by God in the image of God.

Gen. 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Men and women – both in the image of God.

Psa. 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

2. We have no right to destroy what God creates.

Is. 64:8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Ex. 20:13 “You shall not murder.

ILLUS: Kids destroying each other’s creations. This causes BAD FEELINGS.

TRANS: But most here probably already agree with the point I’ve been making. Human life is sacred. And the advances of modern medicine give us more and more clarity about the fact that a “fetus” is not simply a fetus but is in fact a human. But still – so many in our society get nearly violent when you suggest that abortion should be outlawed as a barbaric practice. These same people will most likely NOT listen to arguments that come from the Bible. How can we respond to some of the most common arguments given for a “pro-choice” position?

Responses to Pro-Choice Arguments

• Abortion is a personal choice between a woman and her doctor.

The question is not whether abortion is right or wrong, but, Who decides? The individual woman, or the government? If you’re opposed to abortion, don’t have one, but don’t try to impose your morality on others.

I was recently reading a speech by a political leader which, I think, summarizes quite well the essence of the pro-choice position. While of course many others have expressed similar thoughts, I think he stated very well the basic principle that distinguishes pro-choice people from anti-choice people. He said:

The great principle is the right of everyone to judge and decide for himself, whether a thing is right or wrong, whether it would be good or evil for them to adopt it; and the right of free action, the right of free thought, the right of free judgement upon the question is dearer to every true American than any other under a free government. ... It is no answer to this argument to say that [it] is an evil and hence should not be tolerated. You must allow the people to decide for themselves.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this quote is that if I asked you to guess who said it, you would almost certainly guess wrong. No, it was not said by Bill Clinton or a representative of Planned Parenthood.

For interestingly enough, the speaker was not even talking about abortion. This quote is from Stephen Douglas, and he said it in 1858. He was running for re-election to the Senate, and he was debating Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln said that slavery was evil and should be abolished. Douglas replied with the quote above. To Douglas, the important question was not whether slavery was right or wrong, but, Who decides? The government, or the individual plantation owner? He denounced Lincoln for attempting to impose the morality of the anti-slavery fanatics on everyone else.

Those who defend abortion say “The question is not whether abortion is right or wrong, but, Who decides? The individual woman, or the government? If you’re opposed to abortion, don’t have one, but don’t try to impose your morality on others.