Abortion: A Biblical Perspective (2)
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).
Some practices are so repulsive that they cannot be comfortably described and discussed in real terms. Terminology must be altered and softened in order for people to accept these practices. Abortion is such a practice. It is one of the cruelest, most unnatural and inhumane acts ever performed by humans, but it is glossed over as the mere “removal of an embryo from the uterus!” The heinousness of the act is minimalized by the use of technical medical terms. The “removal” of an embryo is actually the killing of that embryo! The “embryo” is an unborn human being. The “uterus” is the womb. Abortion is actually the killing of an unborn human being, but people aren’t comfortable using such language. Changing the terms helps some people to accept a practice that they might not otherwise accept. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with using technical terms in order to differentiate between the different stages of “fetal” development (embryo, fetus). However, let us not use such terms as a means of watering down the practice of sin.
The Bible says “children” struggled together in Rebekah’s womb (Gen. 25:22). I recently read a medical study about twins. The article described the back-and-forth interaction (sometimes strenuous interplay) that takes place between twin babies while they are in the womb. As personalities develop, such babies vie for dominance and control. It reminded me of what the Bible said about Rebekah’s unborn babies. It is interesting to note that this “struggle” between Jacob and Esau in the womb was indicative of the struggle that would continue between them outside of their mother’s womb. They were the same people in the womb that they were out of the womb.
The Bible tells us that upon hearing the greeting of Mary, Elizabeth’s “baby leaped in her womb” (Luke 1:41). Technically speaking, the “fetus” leaped in her womb, but the Bible emphasizes the existence of a PERSON (John, the baptizer) in its expression. Jesus and John were more than a mere “mass of tissue.” I should point out that the same word for “baby” that is here used of the baby in the womb, is also used for the “baby in the manger” (Luke 2:12). The Bible recognizes no difference in value of life between the two.
Look for our next article in next week’s paper. View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please visit us at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com.
