ABORTION

Abortion is one of the most hotly discussed and emotionally charged issues upon the mind of man. Within our own country, untold numbers have personally agonized at its “fork of the road.” Multitudes follow through, while multitudes of others openly and intensely oppose. Political candidates have run, won or lost upon this issue. Clinics have been burned and doctors shot. And, perhaps most damaging of all (a factor which has added fuel to the conflict and the practice), some religious teachers (regarding this issue), have taught erroneously.
What is abortion? Abortion is “induced termination of pregnancy before the fetus is capable of survival as an individual” (American Heritage Dictionary). In better words, it is the killing of the human being before he/she is born.
Of course, it is the latter definition which receives the deafening objection: “It is not a living human being!” To which two questions will suffice: (1) If it is not living, why kill it? (2) If it is not human, why worry?
Does the Bible teach regarding this matter? Indeed it does, and it does so by the answering of two crucial questions. First, at what precise point does life begin for the human being? Second, at what precise point does the spirit (the immortal nature of man) enter the human being? If human life and the entrance of the spirit does not occur until birth, then abortion would not be the killing of a human being. On the other hand, if human life and the entrance of the spirit does occur before birth, and that moment can be determined, then an abortion after that moment is an action of murdering a human being.
What then, does the Bible teach?
Luke 1:36 answers the first question: “And behold, Elizabeth thy kinswoman, she hath also conceived a son…” What did Elizabeth have? A son. Is a son a human being? Yes, because that very same word is also used in reference to sons (human beings) after their birth (Luke 5:10; 9:41; Gal. 4:30). Now then, when did that son become a son? As the verse says: at conception. Thus, human life begins at conception. [See also: Psa. 51:5].
The second question is answered by James 2:26, “So as the body apart from the spirit is dead….” Thus, if the spirit is not in the physical body of a human being, then the physical body is dead. Yet, the conceptus is alive! Thus, the conceptus has a spirit.
Very clearly, the Bible teaches that human life and the entrance of the spirit occur at conception. Thus, as previously defined, abortion is the killing of the human being before he/she is born – – an action which is sinful (Ex. 20:13; Gal. 5:21; Rev. 21:8).
May our saddened God help us hear their cries and oppose this insidious, ungodly course of degenerate man in every right way.
Gary Henson