Abortion

Abortion
In 2 Chronicles 28:3, Ahaz earned God's anger because he sacrificed his children to idols. Yet this wasn't the last time that a parent would allow his or her children to be killed.

In 1973--ancient history--abortions became legal because of a Supreme Court case: Roe v. Wade, This decision sparked protests as well as cries of victory throughout the country for decades. But in 2003, the story took a surprising turn when 'Jane Roe,' the plaintiff in the case, requested that the Supreme Court's ruling be overturned. Having discovered the harmful effects of abortion, she regretted being part of the fight to legalize abortion.

If a person (a judge, a doctor, or a legislator) or a human institution (the Supreme Court or the Senate) makes a decision in this matter, there is always the potential for another person or institution to overturn that decision later on, as 'Jane Roe' hopes. It has happened countless times. What is needed, it would seem, is a judgment or a ruling from a source higher than human opinion. That's why for many centuries Christians have turned to the Bible.

Since God gave life to all, it is a logical conclusion that no one should treat that life lightly. If we are God's 'masterpiece' (see Eph 2:10), who has the right to tamper with or destroy the life of another? Yet, tragically, that is what happens on a daily basis. Abortion is used as a means of birth control, of removing an unwanted complication. For those who take seriously the sanctity of life as an expression of God's handiwork, this can be seen only as wrong.

There are a number of related topics (being made in the image of God, sexual morality, etc.) and Scripture passages (Exod 21:22-25; Lev 24:17-22; Jer 1:4-5) that are closely related to the abortion issue. Concerned Christians should think through their stand on the rights of the unborn in relation to these other issues and in light of the whole counsel of God, not just one passage.