Let's not pretend that abortion isn't about the mass slaughter of innocents.
- Michael Aston
The injunction against shedding innocent blood is among one of the most intrinsic and well developed doctrines of Scripture. The genesis of murder is found in the Bible's first story of societal interaction, the very passage proceeding the birth of Adam and Eve's two sons documents the account of Cain slaying his brother Able.
In response to such horrific and needless violence, God warns that not only will perpetrators be held responsible but that in judgment God the Son will arise and declare whatever you did, or failed to do to the least, you did or failed to do to me.
From Genesis to Revelation the history of mankind is written in red. In a constant state of rebellion and denial, humanity individually and collectively continues to ignore scores of scriptural warnings against the shedding of innocent blood. Guilty of literally billions of acts of atrocity, mankind seems incapable or unwilling to hear either the cry of countless victims or God prohibiting such ruthless behavior:
- “Adam slept with Eve his wife. She conceived and had Cain. She said, “I’ve gotten a man, with God’s help!” Then she had another baby, Abel. Abel was a herdsman and Cain a farmer. Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn’t get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk. God spoke to Cain: “Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won’t you be accepted? And if you don’t do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it’s out to get you, you’ve got to master it.” Cain had words with his brother. They were out in the field; Cain came at Abel his brother and killed him. God said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “How should I know? Am I his babysitter?” God said, “What have you done! The voice of your brother’s blood is calling to me from the ground. From now on you’ll get nothing but curses from this ground; you’ll be driven from this ground that has opened its arms to receive the blood of your murdered brother. You’ll farm this ground, but it will no longer give you its best. You’ll be a homeless wanderer on Earth.” Cain said to God, “My punishment is too much. I can’t take it! You’ve thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I’m a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me.” God told him, “No. Anyone who kills Cain will pay for it seven times over.” God put a mark on Cain to protect him so that no one who met him would kill him.” Genesis 4:1-15 MSG
In the story of Noah the same scenario is repeated on a larger scale. Prior to commanding the building of the Ark, scripture reveals violent evil was already rampant;
- “God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart… But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah. This is the story of Noah: Noah was a good man, a man of integrity in his community. Noah walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. As far as God was concerned, the Earth had become a sewer; there was violence everywhere. God took one look and saw how bad it was, everyone corrupt and corrupting—life itself corrupt to the core. God said to Noah, “It’s all over. It’s the end of the human race. The violence is everywhere; I’m making a clean sweep.” Genesis 6:5-13 MSG
- “God blessed Noah and his sons: He said, “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill the Earth! Every living creature—birds, animals, fish—will fall under your spell and be afraid of you. You’re responsible for them. All living creatures are yours for food; just as I gave you the plants, now I give you everything else. Except for meat with its lifeblood still in it—don’t eat that. “But your own lifeblood I will avenge; I will avenge it against both animals and other humans. Whoever sheds human blood, by humans let his blood be shed, Because God made humans in his image reflecting God’s very nature. You’re here to bear fruit, reproduce, lavish life on the Earth, live bountifully!” Genesis 9:1-7 MSG
- “Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side—leaders whose decrees permit injustice? They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide. God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The Lord our God will destroy them. Psalm 90:20-23 MSG
- “Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion: eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent, a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family.” Proverbs 6:16-19 MSG
- “They sacrificed their sons and daughters at the altars of demon gods. They slit the throats of their babies, murdered their infant girls and boys. They offered their babies to Canaan’s gods; the blood of their babies stained the land. Their way of life stank to high heaven; they lived like whores. And God was furious—a wildfire anger; he couldn’t stand even to look at his people. He turned them over to the heathen so that the people who hated them ruled them.” Psalm 106:36-43 MSG
- “Look! Listen! God’s arm is not amputated—he can still save. God’s ears are not stopped up—he can still hear. There’s nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you. Your wrongheaded lives caused the split between you and God. Your sins got between you so that he doesn’t hear. Your hands are drenched in blood, your fingers dripping with guilt, Your lips smeared with lies, your tongue swollen from muttering obscenities. No one speaks up for the right, no one deals fairly. They trust in illusion, they tell lies, they get pregnant with mischief and have sin-babies. They hatch snake eggs and weave spider webs. Eat an egg and die; break an egg and get a snake! The spider webs are no good for shirts or shawls. No one can wear these weavings! They weave wickedness, they hatch violence. They compete in the race to do evil and run to be the first to murder. They plan and plot evil, think and breathe evil, and leave a trail of wrecked lives behind them. They know nothing about peace and less than nothing about justice. They make tortuously twisted roads. No peace for the wretch who walks down those roads!” Isaiah 59:1-8 MSG
- “If you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, "then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.” Jeremiah 7:6 MSG
- “This is God’s Message: Attend to matters of justice. Set things right between people. Rescue victims from their exploiters. Don’t take advantage of the homeless, the orphans, the widows. Stop the murdering!” Jeremiah 22:3 MSG
Love One Another
Not only is the Bible replete with warnings against harming others, it's full of directives and examples encouraging the exact opposite. In the Old Testament this sentiment is perhaps most embodied, in of all places, within a passage explaining God's objectives in regards to fasting. Designed as a way to demonstrate mankind's dependance and submission to God, Isaiah explains what really pleases the Creator is how His creation treats one another. The prophet begins with a complaint against religiosity and ends with establishing a relationship with God through helping others:
- "Shout! A full-throated shout! Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout! Tell my people what's wrong with their lives, face my family Jacob with their sins! They're busy, busy, busy at worship, and love studying all about me. To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people— law-abiding, God-honoring. They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?' and love having me on their side. But they also complain, 'Why do we fast and you don't look our way? Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?' "Well, here's why: "The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit. You drive your employees much too hard. You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist. The kind of fasting you do won't get your prayers off the ground. Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like?" Isaiah 58:1-5 MSG
Having explained in detail the kind of fast God's not interested in Isaiah reverses course and begins to describe the kind of fast the Lord is looking for:
- "This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'" Isaiah 58 6-9 MSG
Isaiah continues clarifying what God's chosen fast looks like and how He intends each party to benefit:
- "If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, if you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again. "If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, if you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,' making money, running here and there—Then you'll be free to enjoy God! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob." Yes! God says so!" Isaiah 58:9-14 MSG
In the New Testament the importance of how we treat others is further developed. Examples include glimpses of eternal reward and judgment based on behavior:
- “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:1-8
Upon close examination of Jesus and His apostles continual example and admonitions to love one another, the true nature and extent of God's love, mercy and faithfulness comes to fruition. Astonishingly, we find Divinity's preoccupation to the point of complete identification with the most needy among mankind. A point made crystal clear in Jesus' parable of the Sheep and Goats. Obviously not speaking of the eternal destiny of farm animals, Christ's story if far more than a metaphor. It is in fact one of scripture's most succinct treaties of the imminent judgment of every human being ever to walk the earth. This same theme is augmented in a variety of New Testament passages. These include the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the only Biblically recorded conversation between humans in the afterlife, as well as the Good Samaritan where Jesus is asked the most important of all questions, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Identifying the two greatest commandments, loving God with all our being and our neighbor as ourselves, scripture goes on to explain the process more fully throughout the New Testament. Particularly of note is Jesus's conversation with the Rich Young Ruler:
- “As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.” He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all! Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go. Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who ‘have it all’ to enter God’s kingdom?” The disciples couldn’t believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: “You can’t imagine how difficult. I’d say it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for the rich to get into God’s kingdom.” Mark 10:17-25 MSG
- “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.” Romans 13:8-10
- “Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name[c] you bear? Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.” James 2:5-9
- “If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.” 1 John 4:20-21 MSG
Awesome and Awful Truth
The most subtle yet sublime truth of scripture is that the Bible's greatest command, to love God, is perfectly and ultimately fulfilled in our genuine care for one another. How fortunate that the Creator of 50 billion trillions stars, each begun, existing and expiring as a consuming fire averaging a million degrees and earth masses, should show such concern for humanity. How remarkable that the Architect of perhaps 100's of billions of super-masive galactic black holes, averaging billions of years of age, degrees and solar masses strewn across a radius of nearly 100 billion lights years of space-time should take mankind's treatment of itself personally. How astonishing to realize that the Bible's more than 6,000 directives are summed up in the three simple words "love one another."
Tragically, the awful corollary to this glorious truth is the dismal failure of humanity to keep even this single gracious command. Of all that Omnity might ask, what could possibly be more perfectly aligned with the self interest of mankind? Yet in the 20th Century alone war claimed over 170,000,000 lives. Billions more have and continue to perish from starvation and disease arising from global poverty that could be reversed by redirecting a percentage on what we spend on alcohol, not to mention illegal drugs.
In the same way as "no snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible" no individual can end impoverishment or crimes against humanity. Nonetheless, by very definition, to the degree each of us can "respond" to injustice and inequity we are in fact "responsible." The Bible's development of this reasoning comes to fruition in Christ's story of the Good Samaritan:
- “Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?” He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?” He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.” “Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.” Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?” Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’ “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” Luke 10:25-37 MSG
In this example, no doubt chosen by Jesus to best illustrate the point, note the extraordinary personal response of the Samaritan to the situation at hand. Rather than loving the needy in mere thought or word, he inserts himself into what may have been a unsafe situation. Rendering immediate aid, he interrupts his schedule, going the extra mile to deliver the wounded stranger to an inn were he likely cared for him personally till morning. Upon leaving, he pays the robbed man's room and board, offering to reimburse any additional expenses on his way back.
We also do well to consider the original context of the story of the Good Samaritan. Christ chooses this particular series of events to illustrate what it means to "love your neighbor as yourself" which in turn Jesus explains is necessary to "get eternal life." Here again scripture makes clear that the Creator of the cosmos so identifies with those in need as to promise the greatest of all possible rewards to those who love not with "words or tongue but in actions and in truth."
Above or Below
The command to "love one another" resonates in the human heart. Primary relationships thrive on tenderness and acceptance. From newborns in the arms of their parents and children playing with their siblings, to the support of extended family and friends enjoying each other's company… everyone benefits from kindness. Clearly living and working together in harmony is so preferable to the alternatives it should be the universal norm. Sadly the past, present and future of mankind tell such a different tale as to raise the question why?
The Bible offers insight into both the history of eternity and our own. It reveals that since the Garden of Eden humanity has not been alone. Stalked and deceived by an ancient and advanced Adversary, mankind's innocence has long been a casualty of war. From the fall of Adam and Eve to the present, devilish forces have orchestrated the temptation and harassment of the human race on a global scale.
Scripture explains the primary strategy behind the manipulation of the minds of men has been to promote a "wisdom from below" diametrically opposed to the wellbeing of mankind as well as the will of God:
- “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:13-18
- “Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats. Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.” James 3:13-18 MSG
Al Pacino as Satan: "I'm here on the ground with my nose in it since the whole thing began. I've nurtured every sensation man's been inspired to have. I cared about what he wanted and I never judged him. Why? Because I never rejected him. In spite of all his imperfections, I'm a fan of man! I'm a humanist. Maybe the last humanist…
- Al Pacino as Satan: "The next thousand years is right around the corner. Eddie Barzoon... take a good look, because he's the poster child for the next millennium. These people, it's no mystery where they come from. You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can split atoms with its desire. You build egos the size of cathedrals. Fiber-optically connect the world to every eager impulse. Grease even the dullest dreams with these dollar-green gold-plated fantasies until every human becomes an aspiring emperor, becomes his own god. Where can you go from there? As we're scrambling from one deal to the next, who's got his eye on the planet? As the air thickens, the water sours, even bees' honey takes on the metallic taste of radioactivity... and it just keeps coming, faster and faster. There's no chance to think, to prepare; it's buy futures, sell futures... when there is no future. We got a runaway train, boy. We got a billion Eddie Barzoons all jogging into the future. Every one of them is getting ready to xxxx God's ex-planet, lick their fingers clean, as they reach out toward their pristine, cybernetic keyboards to tote up their xxxx billable hours. And then it hits home. You got to pay your own way, Eddie. It's a little late in the game to buy out now. Your belly's too full, your xxxx is sore, your eyes are bloodshot and you're screaming for someone to help. But guess what — there's no one there! You're all alone, Eddie. You're God's special little creature...
As one of many evidences of Divine authorship, the Bible discloses details regarding behind the scene forces at work influencing mankind both individually and collectively. Drawing back the curtain on a whodunnit play, scripture exposes an unseen hand shaping the affairs of men:
- “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17
Yet in reality, unbiased evaluation of scientific discovery provides incredible evidence in support of intelligent design. Ours is the first generation to grasp the fantastic fine tuning of the universe and galaxies, our solar system and planet earth. Add to this additional discoveries in physics and biology, human origins and intelligence and faith is more reasonable than ever. All the more so when weighed against mounting evidence that the odds against the process of natural selection alone accounting for human life are all but impossible.
Additionally there are the handful of life's ultimate questions that science conveniently side steps altogether. The quest for these vital answers, coupled with compelling reasons to believe in the authority of scripture, cast doubt on the wisdom of dismissing Biblical insights without genuine study.
Finally there's the issues of morality and our treatment of one another. The exponential growth of immorality and violence during the modern enlightenment argues against simplistic explanations. Like dark matter and energy, unseen forces would seem to be exerting influence on character and reason. While examples abound the most telling is that of abortion. Anathema for millennia, in a single generation the aborting of over a billion pre-born has become an inalienable right. Prevailing wisdom identifies the embryo and fetus, including candidates for late term abortions as clumps of cells or inviable tissue masses if the mother chooses to terminate her pregnancy and a baby in utero if she prefers to keep it to term. Such nonsensical logic is far from scientific or even rational yet has been instigated and upheld in the highest courts on the planet. This in the face of over 150 Pro-life scriptures explicitly and implicitly denouncing both such a barbaric mindset and practice. These include scores vowing judgment against any individual or nation condoning, much less promoting, these kinds of atrocities against humanity.
Consummate Neighbor
Decades after the historic U.S. Supreme Court discussions Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton abortion on demand is legal throughout all stages of pregnancy. The lives of over 50,000,000 pre-born have been terminated for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to the following:
1. Legalization: Decriminalization of abortion all but removed moral or ethical considerations.
2. Medical Technology: While tens if not hundreds of thousands of post abortive women have suffered physical and/or mental repercussions, advances in medicine have made the procedure routine.
3. Sexual Revolution: The removal of social restraint and sexual morays have led to ubiquitous immorality necessitating abortion when other forms of birth control are not used or fail.
4. Big Business: Annual abortion industry revenues top $1,000,000,000 in the U.S. alone. Fetal tissue provides an additional lucrative revenue stream.
5. Population Control: The original advocates of current abortion policy espoused eugenics, particularly targeting blacks and hispanics, as seen by various quotes from Planned Parenthood founder Margret Sanger.
There are number of secular reason why abortion on demand during all nine months of pregnancy, was unconscionable throughout history. Nevertheless, the most compelling arguments against the mistreatment of others, culminating in over a billion global abortions, are religious in nature. The many scriptural injunctions forbidding the practice are summarized neatly in the two great commands sanctioned by Jesus.
First, there is loving God as evidenced by honoring His image reflected in each of us. A concept reinforced in both Old and New Testaments:
- “God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” Genesis 1:26-28 MSG
- “This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue—it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don’t bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don’t bear apples, do they? You’re not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? James 3:7-12 MSG
The second, as previously addressed, is the injunction to "love your neighbor as yourself." In respect to abortion, many argue both commands hinge on when during pregnancy an actual human being is formed. While opinions vary, the real issue is when does God consider a person a person? Some suggest a lack of developmental viability prohibits the pre-born from the rights of personhood (unless the mother wants the child, as if it's a mother's right to choose that bequeaths human status). Yet a lack of maturation is hardly legal or ethical grounds for mistreatment or murder. Clearly newborns and infants, toddlers and young children are dependent on their families for the basics of life yet still enjoy society's protection rather than predation.
Interestingly, scripture agrees with Dr. Sues that "a person's a person no matter how small." Such an opinion argues that personhood commences at the instant of fertilization, a moment predating implantation. While a tiny yet important difference, defining conception at fertilization reveals that certain forms of birth control designed to block implantation are abortifacient in nature.
The Bible teaches that one of many ways mankind reflects the image of the Trinity is the preeminent Triunity, i.e. an eternal spirit (from creation forward) possessing a soul (personality) housed in a body:
- “Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-24 MSG
In regards to the pre born, clearly the soul or personality and the body are not fully developed, yet what of the spirit? At what point do eternal beings become so? Is it a process or event? Reason argues an event, and when it comes to unaborted pregnancy, the only two events are conception and birth. Here again logic dictates the creation of an eternal human spirit happens at the point conception for the following two reasons:
- We have the technology to view the miraculous intricacies of fetal development sparked by the event of fertilization.
- A telling passage detailing a day early in Mary's pregnancy prior to the birth of Jesus reveals that scripture considers both embryos and fetuses "babies" to be nurtured rather than "clumps of cells" to be discarded at will: Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly, "You’re so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, the babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. Luke 1:39-44 The Message
In this amazing handful of verses the Bible reinforces what's been obvious down through millennia. Pregnant women carry babies not "inviable tissue masses." Furthermore we are informed the first "person" to recognize the Messiah while Jesus was developmentally somewhere between a fertilized ovum and first trimester embryo was John the Baptist, likely a second trimester fetus!
Having identified the pre born as fully human in the sight of God, the abortion of over a billion in a single generation is revealed as the pinnacle sin of mankind to date in both quantity and quality:
1. Quantity: The abortion of five times the entire world's population in Jesus' day has turned the womb into the most dangerous place on earth.
2. Quality: The total innocence and complete dependance of an unborn child on it's mother qualifies the pre born as the consummate "neighbor" whom we are commanded to love. In fact only during pregnancy are there literally two human souls within the same body.
The shedding of all innocent blood is always reprehensible. Even more so when it comes to the mistreatment, much less murder, of babies and children:
- “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.” Matthew 18:10
- “He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me—God who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37 MSG
- “One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. So watch yourselves!” Luke 17:1-3
Tragically, aborting over a billion is just the pinnacle sin a long list of serious sins that have no doubt reached Heaven. Scripture repeatedly warns that participation in the shedding of innocent blood, either by commission or omission, has a devastating effect on God's people. Keep in mind that modern Christianity has had the power to end abortion every day, 365 days a year, for nearly half a century. Should laying down our lives or even voting prove problematic, we need only send 1% of our members to have a pro-family picnic in front of the entrance of abortion clinics. Such a simple rescue technique could hardly be thwarted by arrests given the sheer numbers involved. Certainly not for more than a day or two.
Some have asked “Why does God allow abortion?” Perhaps the more salient question is why do we? More in keeping with Revelation’s apostate church of Laodicea than Philadelphia (literally: those who love the womb), might Satan’s temptation’s have corrupted us as they did David in regards to Bathsheba and numbering Israel? If so, Churchianity’s apathy and worse may well be aborting our prayers, worship and communion and according to Jesus, even our salvation.
Spiritual Sensitivity
Christianity rises and falls on one consideration above all others. Spiritual sensitivity. Scripture is Authored by the Holy Spirit. It’s understanding and implementation, while a quantum pursuit, is greatly assisted by the same Spirit’s gift of grace. So too when it comes to the realization and repentance of sin.
This would seem to go double for recognizing and appropriately responding to the devilishness of abortion as seen in the following example:
Decades ago, on the Silver Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, while on the lookout for prayer meetings, I noticed one in the religious section of the local paper. Right to Life of Central CA would sponsor an all nighter. Out of Fresno County's population of a million, perhaps ten came and went. Of those only two, a friend and myself, were ordained. Though at the time neither of us had pastorates. That night I learned that the global death toll of clinical abortion was over a billion, 5 to 10 times the planet’s population when Jesus walked the earth. As a minister and charismatic at that, I secretly prided my responsiveness to Scripture and the Spirit, yet was totally blindsided by such a statistic.
Having arrived at 9 PM, around midnight I thought to leave. While hearing God is admittedly subjective (could be God, the Devil, ourselves, undigested pizza…) I felt impressed the Lord spoke something like the following:
“Sit down young man. You’re not going anywhere tonight. As in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, the scandal of abortion is so grievous I’ve come to see for Myself. Having had twenty five years to repent, I’m walking and marking the cities of America that fail to at least sigh and cry over such an unprecedented holocaust.”
I responded, “But Lord, if a billion have been aborted certainly this must clearly be address this in Scripture. If so, show me.”
Big mistake. From that day to this I’ve come to see the direct or at least indirect correlation in hundreds of verses. Beginning with a new twist on an old favorite.
That very night the Lord asked, “Tell me about Rachel.” I recalled the passage:
“A cry was heard in Ramah—weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.” Matthew 2:18 New Living Translation
I confessed, “Yes Sir.”
God persisted, “By the way, how many pages of the Bible did Rachel have?”
“None” I grimaced. “She was in the first Book.”
The Lord challenged, “But you, a charismatic minster have the entire Old and New Testaments, the Incarnation and Atonement, Pentecost’s fullness of the Spirit, 2,000 years of church history… I warned you to ‘whom much is given, much more will be required.’ If Rachel was sensitive to my Spirit what are you?”
Needless to say that day changed my life. In the ensuing years I would become a pro-life sidewalk counselor, eventually joining a tiny fraction of a percent of ordained ministers who have served as a director of a leading pro-life organization. With well over thirty years in strategic Christian service, including more than a decade of pastoral ministry and pro-life activism, I am privileged to belong to a select fraternity.
Word From The Lord
But before that, came another perfect example of the lack of spiritual discernment. While dressing for the church we were attending on the heals of the afore mentioned 25th Roe vs. Wade Anniversary all night pro-life prayer meeting, I asked my wife if I should relate my experience. Being among the better charismatic denominations and churches, the pastor frequently set aside a few minutes for attenders to stand and share impressions from God. She firmly answered “no” citing our past history of underserved alienation and grief. Knowing Churchianity’s preference for positive, feel-good words from the Lord, I sadly agreed.
That very Sunday, for the first and only time in years, during worship the pastor’s wife approached me from behind and whispered “You have a word from the Lord for us. Be sure to give it.” As she slipped away I looked up silently murmuring, “Ha Ha, very funny. You know they don’t want this word. Besides my wife will kill me.” At the end of that very service, also for the first and only time, the pastor called me by name out of the audience to come down to the alter for special prayer and anointing. As before I said nothing.
The following week, again for the first and only time, the pastor called explaining he’d just walked into his house and the Lord said, “Call Rob and tell him he’s a man of mercy.” At this point I suggested we have lunch, during which I carefully unpacked my pro-life prayer meeting’s experience of being blindsided by our corporate insensitivity to abortion and previous Sunday’s experience with his wife’s insistence that I had a word from the Lord.
Unsurprisingly, after listening politely, he decided that the church was not ready for such a word.
A few weeks later the pastor’s wife again approached during worship saying, “You still have that word from the Lord. You need to give it.” Giving her full marks for persistence I suggested we step outside. After inquiring if she had spoken to her husband, she explained they generally kept such things in confidence. Again I carefully shared my experience and conversation with her husband. As I did, tiny tears began welling up in her eyes as the corner of her lip quivered. But not in the way I had hoped. In anger she decried, “This word is Not for Us. It may be for You, but it’s Not for Us.” To which I sadly but directly responded, “You and your husband have asked three times. If you’re not interested, stop asking me for it.”
Reminiscent of the Old Testament’s strange account leading to the death of wicked King Ahab, sometimes we haven’t the eyes and ears, hearts and minds to discern a word from God. Even when attributing it to Him.
Non charismatic Christianity might dismiss such a story on merely doctrinal grounds. Yet innumerable efforts, often tailored to denominational proclivities, produce no better results.
For another lesson in spiritual sensitivity take a moment to examine the following passage from a well known Psalm:
“If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?” Psalms 127: 1-2 The Message
Less contemporary versions use the concepts of laboring and guarding in vain. Certainly conditions to avoid. Notice anything remotely pro-life? Sitting on a couch in a home prayer meeting the connection dawned on me. Noting the short Psalm’s remaining few verses I finished Author’s point:
“Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? The fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you; you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.” Psalms 127: 3-5 The Message
While indirect, there is a clear correlation between recognizing “children are God’s best gift” and disposing of over a billion through clinical abortion alone. But there’s more. Why should God combine a reproof against His people laboring and guarding in vain while reinforcing the fruit of the womb as His blessing? Divine coincidence, or as a deterrent to a generation that would cavalierly turn the womb into the most dangerous place on Earth?
Conscientious Christians are often involved in ministry of one type or another. As a general rule, they also tend to be at least passingly familiar, if not well acquainted with, Scripture. As such, few and far between are those willing and able to imagine they and those with whom they fellowship or even minster, might have overlooked something as significant as the case already made regarding abortion in general. Much less it’s effect on the church.
This goes double for leadership. Suggesting that after years or decades, if not entire lifetimes of study and service, members of the clergy or even lay leadership might have missed the forest for the trees seems absurd. Then again, with differing doctrines of hundreds of denominations offering various Christs and versions of Biblical truth, such an argument wears a little thin.
Furthermore, many reason that even if abortion were a cataclysmic event, it seems pointless to blame a few snowflakes for an avalanche. Even a crimson one blanketing the entire Earth in innocent blood.
In the majority of cases, this quantum contradiction reflects the systemic nature of faith and denial. To function we must choose. Choosing often equates to believe one thing while denying another. Over time, our choices become ingrained in personal and corporate belief systems. All the more so to the degree we think and/or act on our perspective faith.
So let us pray we choose well.
One final bit of unpleasantness. With the exception of Omnity, all things change. For better and worse. On the bright side, consider Scripture’s fantastic promise of mortality becoming immortality:
- “Some skeptic is sure to ask, “Show me how resurrection works. Give me a diagram; draw me a picture. What does this ‘resurrection body’ look like?” If you look at this question closely, you realize how absurd it is. There are no diagrams for this kind of thing. We do have a parallel experience in gardening. You plant a “dead” seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don’t look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different.” 1 Corinthians 15:35-38 The Message
Great news! Unfortunately quantum transformation is a two way street. As noted by C.S. Lewis’ quote regarding our future appearances as gods and goddesses, horrors and corruptions. In the same way, once a sin is introduced, there are only three possible outcomes:
Complete Repentance: The offense against God and man must be recognized and fully repented of, uprooting plant, root and all. While this option remains available, it has never happened in all of human history. Not even in regards to the least of sins.
Commensurate Judgment: Failing to respond in time to Divine waring, punishment befitting the sin is dispensed.
Growth and Mutation: Should sin fail to be fully repented of or summarily judged, it will certainly expand in both quantity and quality. The afore referenced ripe tomatoes, not to mention immense and towering redwoods, grow from tiny seemingly insignificant seeds. So too temptation and deception, entitlement and sin, can and will mutate exponentially.
Prophetic Christians appreciate distress tends to awaken God’s people to the perils about them. While true, so is the fact that extreme pain and suffering clouds and hardens angry hearts and minds in far greater numbers. Tellingly, the Bible never directs believers to pray for judgment or persecution. An unprecedented global revival, if not reformation, would be far more preferable.
With so much at stake, it's high time we believers recognize our massive physical and spiritual blessings and begin seeking God as seriously as we do wealth and pleasure. Let's strive to be thankful and stop taking God and His gifts for granted. Let’s renew our efforts to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds." Before trials force the issue, let’s redouble our attempts to approach God acceptably, loving Him as He deserves and our neighbors as they so desperately need.
An Acrostic of Change
Today there are many opportunities for individuals, churches and organizations to have an impact on people within their communities.
For some great simple pro-life ideas just click the link below: Change
For an overview of being authentically pro-life click the link below. For an in depth report on serious church and denominational objectives and strategies to enable the church to have a comprehensive pro-life, pro-family and pro-mission strategy click the link below:
Authentically Pro-Life
Objectives
UPDATE: Roe vs. Wade Overturned
To the joy of countless millions, on Friday 6/24/22 the landmark decision Hobbs vs. Jackson by the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe vs. Wade. Thus auspiciously ending 50 years of national tyranny against 60 million pre-born.
Or at lease throwing the decision to allow mothers to continue conspiring with physicians to murder the offspring within their wombs back to America's 50 individual states...
Nor does it address the more subtle yet sinful and deadly issue of contraceptive abortifacients, prevalent throughout society and modern Christianity.
While I now live in North East Texas, years ago I spent nearly 100 Saturdays at Central California clinics warning and imploring up to twenty girls a day to spare their babies. Via public parking constraints, forced to pass near I implored, “If God gives you the gift of a child don’t let anyone harm it” while handing them carefully explicit literature.
Often alone, sometimes there would be nearly a handful of us. On a good day, one or two mothers would listen and change their minds.
On many other occasions none at all.
As in Christ's end time parable of the Sheep and Goats, there I discovered Jesus in His smallest and most innocent form. Totally dependent for “food” and “drink,” “naked” and “in prison” in the very womb of His mother. There I watched as He was repeatedly carried, “Like a lamb to the slaughter,” into a medical clinic. A most solemn and sorrowful scenario with grave spiritual ramifications.
One repeated in Fresno alone over 50,000 times.
In over two years I don’t recall a single member of the clergy or even lay leader joining us. Though I understand the odds may have somewhat improved through the influence of 40 Days For Life.
Only a fraction of fraction of a percent of ordained ministers have served as a director of a leading pro-life organization. Far less still have had the honor and responsibility to act as a leading liaison to over a thousand churches in state wide pro-life political initiatives.
With well over thirty years in strategic Christian service, including more than a decade of pastoral ministry and pro-life activism, the author is privileged to belong to a select fraternity. This and other articles and books represent a culmination of this experience. Using such depth perception, this commentary is intended to introduce the true nature of the challenge presented by abortion. Particularly to modern Christianity.
During California’s 2005 Prop. 73 Parent’s Right To Know initiative I produced the pro-life political DVD entitled “Protect Me…Please” to be shown in hundreds, if not thousands of churches, prior to or on election Sunday. Groundbreaking, the 3 minute video featuring post abortive laments of teenage girls, made the front page of both the LA Times and San Francisco Chronicle. Prop. 73 failed by a narrow margin.
During the subsequent Prop. 85 initiative I achieved another milestone. For the first time, four leading Protestant state denominations, the Southern Baptists, Assemblies of God, Calvary Chapel and Foursquare, officially endorsed a political initiative. Again Parent’s Right to Know (PRK) was defeated.
Our third attempt in 2008 with Prop 4. affectionately dubbed “Sarah’s Law” failed as well. More than political, my involvement was spiritually motivated. After having spoken to thousands of Christians across denominational lines, it was clear that far less than 1% of either clergy or laity had the vaguest notion of the scale of abortion’s true threat to either the pre-born or the Church.
As a topical Biblical commentary, Quantum Christianity was designed in recognition of the need to examine and handle truth carefully and honestly. Scriptural and otherwise. The nationalized legalization of clinical abortion, and its apparent overruling, presents a perfect case in point.
A faithful handling of the Old and New Testament requires would be students and adherents to develop spiritual discernment on a variety of subjects crucial to Biblical Christianity. The lack of which has produced hundreds of differing denominations espousing various Christs and versions of the gospel. Tragically, many of the hopeful insights inherent in Christ's command to "Judge with righteous judgment" continue to go largely unrealized within modern Christianity.
Such is certainly the case when considering the American church's 50 year track record in regards to an appropriate response to abortion. Or more accurately, the lack thereof. Both clinically and contraceptively.
Bear in mind that church attending Christians could have ended abortion in a single day, 365 days a year, for 50 years, by simply sending 1% of our congregations to have family friendly picnics in front of every abortion clinic in America. With thousands peacefully blocking entrances, even should there be numerous arrests, the sheer numbers involved would shut down all abortuaries in a single day. With 99% more now authentically pro-life Christians waiting for a chance to join cause.
Yet nothing could be further from the case. Then or now.
Nor have we seriously addressed the widespread use of abortifacient contraception throughout Christendom. A topic that many, if not most, churches and even pro-life organizations know or speak little about. Most often chemical in nature, early term abortions are a result of various forms of birth control and other devices. Abortions of this kind happen before the mother is aware of her pregnancy. The exact numbers are unknown. Some estimates suggest the daily total of these types of abortions may be surprising large. In the U.S. alone perhaps between 834,000 to over 4,000,000 per year (Dr. Bobmir Kuhar, Infant Homicides Through Contraceptives Pg 27.) Lower estimates range around 100,000 to over 1,500,000 annually (Randy Alcorn: Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions? How Often Does the Pill Cause Abortions?)
Thus the compelling need to rethink Jesus' directive to “Judge with righteous judgment” should be abundantly evident.
But is it? Throughout the Hobbs vs. Jackson decision by the Supreme Court celebratory posts and podcasts, sermons and ceremonies, is there any awareness of the reality of the seriousness our situation? Or brokenhearted repentance in light of the depth of our failures?
Are any of today's joyful messages cognizant of the Bible's repeated warning that God is not mocked.
- “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. Galatians 6:7 AMP
- For they sow the wind [in evil] And they reap the whirlwind [in disaster]. Hosea 8:7 AMP
Is our revelry tempered with the sobering fact that while abortion is currently the pinnacle sin of mankind, it's only the tip of the iceberg? One floating in a Water World of immorality unleashed by the continual and increasing tsunami of the 60's sexual revolution redefining and/or eliminating traditional marriage and family.
These devilish sociopolitical engineering undoubtedly ushered in such modern woes as career felon George Floyd's sainthood and efforts to undermine criminal justice. Antifa and BLM riots and violence. CRT and orchestrated racial tensions. C19's plandemic and goal overreach. Medical interference and harmful vaccines. Woke agenda and transgenderism. Biden's malevolent war on Ukraine and America's economy. All part of the Great Reset.
And these are just the highlights. All coordinated and choreographed by the clearly visible and menacing Iron Triangle of liberal global politics, media and corporations.
Yet even now, modern Christianity, up to and including the vast majority of Prophetic Christians, refuses to discern the clearly repeated handwriting on the wall. And having done so, to enter the crucible of James 4's Prayer of Anguish in hopes of James 5's reconciliation to, and empowerment by, God.
Particularly the Person of the Holy Spirit, Whom we continue to annoy and grieve, if not profane and blaspheme.
Instead, across America, Laodicea is masquerading as Philadelphia. Lauding the Supreme Court for Hobbs vs. Jackson while the highest court in the land continues to sidestep or support all the devastating atrocities mentioned above. Many of which modern Christianity has yet to Scripturally repent of, up to and including sins of clinical and/or contraceptive abortion. In regards to commission and/or omission.
Mankind’s current pinnacle sin of abortion is spiritually quantum in a variety of ways. For example, it’s hardly just like any other sin. Even so, as with any other sin, it does require the event and process of genuine repentance. Like faith itself, honest and heartfelt repentance encompasses our entire mind, heart and will. As required by the previously mentioned passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14’s perfect formula for repentance.
Pro-Life Series Articles
- AbortionNo.org (graphic content)
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