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RAPE, ABORTION, AND THE CHRISTIAN
HOW
DO WE AS CHRISTIANS KNOW WHEN LIFE BEGINS? CREATION
OF LIFE IN THE WOMB:
it's clear from scripture that in God's eyes, upon conception,
there is a child. Genesis
25:21,23,24 (NIV)
. . . the LORD granted his prayer [for a child], and Rebekah
his wife conceived. . . .
The LORD said to her [Rebekah],
"Two nations
[Jacob and Esau] are in your womb,
and two peoples from
within you will be separated . . . ."
When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. Job
31:15 (NIV)
Did not he who made me in
the womb make them?
Did not the same one form
us both within our mothers? 2
Samuel 11:5 (NIV)
And the woman conceived;
and she sent and told David, I am with child. 1
Chronicles 7:23
. . . and she conceived
and bore a son . . . Psalm
22:31 (NIV)
They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn . . . . Psalm
51:5 (NIV)
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my
mother conceived me." Psalm
71:6 (NIV)
From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from
my mother's womb.
I will ever praise you. Psalm
139:13-16
For you created my inmost
being;
you knit me together in my
mother's womb.
[14] I praise you because I
am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
[15] My frame was not
hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together
in the depths of the earth,
[16] your eyes saw my
unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be. Eccles.
11:5
As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed
in a mother's womb,
so you cannot understand the
work of God,
the Maker of all things. Song
of Songs 8:5 (NIV)
. . . there your mother conceived
you,
there she who was in labor gave you birth. Isaiah
7:14 (NIV)
. . . The virgin will be with
child and will give birth to a son
Isaiah
44:2 (NIV)
This is what the LORD says--
he who made you, who
formed you in the womb,
and who will help you
. . . . Isaiah
44:24 (NIV)
"This is what the LORD says--
your Redeemer, who formed
you in the womb . . . . Isaiah
49:1,5 (NIV)
. . . Before I was born
the Lord called me;
from my birth he has made mention of my name. . . .
And now the LORD says--
he who formed me in the
womb to be his servant Isaiah
66:7,9 (NIV)
"Before she goes into
labor,
she gives birth;
before the pains come upon
her,
she delivers a son.
[9] Do I bring to the moment of birth
and not give delivery?" says the LORD.
"Do I close up the womb
when I bring to delivery?" says your God.
Jeremiah
1:4,5 (NIV)
The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
"Before I formed you
in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Matthew
1:18 (NIV)
. . . she was found to be with
child . . . Luke
1:15 (regarding John the Baptist)
. . . he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even
from his mother's womb. Luke
1:30,31 (NIV)
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have
found favor with God. You
will be with child and give birth to a son." Luke
1:36
An behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son . . . Luke
1:41-44
When **
The Greek word for babe (brephos) as used in the Greek scriptures
denoted an unborn child in Luke 1:41-44, also denoted a baby in Luke
2:12-16, and infant in Luke 18:15, and a child in 2 Timothy 3:15.
In other words, no distinction was made between born and unborn
children. Galatians
1:15
But when he who had set me
apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace . . . . WHAT'S
THE BIG DEAL ABOUT A WOMAN BEING PREGNANT? BLESSINGS
OF LIFE/FERTILITY -- it's
clear from scripture that fertility is a gift from God, and every unborn
child is a gift -- a blessing -- from God. Genesis
1:27-28 (NIV)
So God created man in his
own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, "Be
fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. . .
." Genesis
25:21 (NIV)
. . . the Lord granted his
prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. Genesis
25:31 (NIV)
God saw all that he had
made, and it was very good. . .
(even when there are "birth defects") Genesis
29:31, 30:22
[29:31] When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he
opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
[30:22] Then God remembered Rachel; he
listened to her and opened her womb.
Genesis
49:25
because of your father's God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, who blesses you
with blessings of the heavens above,
blessings of the deep that lies below,
blessings of the breast
and womb. Deut.
7:13
He will love you and bless
you and increase your numbers. He
will bless the fruit of your womb . . . .
Deut.
28:4
The fruit of your womb
will be blessed . . . . Deut.
28:11
The LORD will grant you
abundant prosperity -- in the fruit of your womb . . . .
1
Samuel 1:5-6, 11, 15-16, 19-20, 27-28 (Read about God's care for Hannah)
[20] So in the course of time Hannah
conceived and gave birth to a son.
She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for
him. . . ."
[27] I prayed for this
child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.
1
Samuel 2:5
. . . . She who was
barren has borne seven
children,
but she who has had many sons pines
away. Psalm
68:5,6 (NIV)
A father to the fatherless,
a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families
. . . .
(adoption, including step-parent adoption, is a picture of God's
love. He is the first father
for every child, and He will provide a hand-picked earthly father -- a
family.) Psalm
127:3
[Children] are a heritage
from the Lord, the fruit of the
womb a reward.
(God will reward a mother who has been raped with the gift of a
child's life for the suffering she has endured.
What man meant for evil, God can use for good.) Proverbs
30:15-16 (NIV)
. . . . "There
are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, 'Enough!':
[16] the grave, the barren
womb,
land, which is never
satisfied with water,
and fire, which never says, 'Enough!' Proverbs
31:28 (NIV) (Wife of Noble
Character)
Her children arise and call her blessed Isaiah
45:9-12 (NIV)
"Does the clay say to the potter,
'What are you making?'
Does your work say,
'He has no hands?'
Woe to him who says to his father,
'What have you begotten?'
or to his mother,
'What have you brought to birth?'"
"This is what the Lord says --
the Holy One of
Concerning things to come,
do you question me about my children,
or give me orders about the work of my hands?
It is I who made the earth
and created mankind upon it." Isaiah
66:13 (NIV)
As a mother comforts her
child,
so will I comfort you; Ephesians
5:20
Always and for everything giving thanks
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Matthew
5:5
"Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth." Matthew
18:5,7,8,10,14 (NIV) (See
also Luke 9:48) [5]
"And whoever welcomes a
little child like this in my name welcomes me. . . . [7]
"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to
sin! . . . It is better for
you to enter life maimed or
crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into
eternal fire. [10]
"See that you do not
look down on one of these little ones.
For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of
my Father in heaven. [14]
"In the same way your
Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be
lost."
(we should welcome all children into this world in Jesus' name) Luke
18:16 (NIV) (See also
Matthew 19:14 and Mark 10:14)
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the
kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
(Jesus wants these children to be given a chance to be born) John
16:21 (NIV)
"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time
has come; but when her baby
is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy
that a child is born into the world." Romans
9:20 (NIV)
. . . "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like
this?'" Ephesians
1:11 (NIV)
In him we were all chosen, having been predestined according to
the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose
of his will . . . 1
Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
But women will be saved
through childbearing . . . . HOW
DOES GOD FEEL ABOUT ABORTION? PROTECTION
OF HUMAN LIFE --
scripture makes it clear as to how God views abortion -- the killing of
His innocent creation Genesis
9:5,6
". . . I will
demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.
"Whoever sheds the
blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed;
for God made man in his own image." Exodus
20:13
Thou shalt not kill. Exodus
21:22-25 (NIV)
"If men who are fighting hit a pregnant
woman and she gives birth
prematurely (OR she has a miscarriage) but there is no serious injury
[to the woman or the unborn child], the offender must be fined whatever
the woman's husband demands and the court allows.
[23] But if there is
serious injury [to the woman or the unborn child], you are to take life
for life, [24] eye for
eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
[25] burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
(this is the first place in the Bible where the law of 'an eye
for an eye' is laid down, which demonstrates the seriousness with which
God takes the injury to a pregnant woman or an unborn child) Exodus
23:2 (NIV)
Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.
. . . Exodus
23:7
Shed not innocent blood,
[OR]
do not put an innocent or honest person to death (NIV) Leviticus
20:1-5
The Lord said to Moses . . . .
Any man of the people of
(God will punish anyone who kills children) Numbers
12:12
" . . . Do
not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother's womb
with its flesh half eaten away."
(an unborn child coming from the womb dead and maimed is a
tragedy) 2
Kings 17:16-20
And they forsook all the commandments of the Lord their God . . .
. And they burned
their sons and daughters as offerings . . . .
Therefore the Lord was very angry with
(the killing of children angers the Lord)
Psalm
7:14
He who is pregnant with
evil
and conceives trouble
gives birth to
disillusionment.
He who digs a hold and
scoops it out
falls into the pit he has made.
The trouble he causes recoils on himself;
his violence comes down on his own head.
(abortion will only make matters worse) Psalm
22:9-21
[9] Yet you brought me out
of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.
[10] From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you
have been my God.
(as an unborn child, God was there for David)
[11] Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
(as an unborn child of an abortion-minded woman is vulnerable)
[14] I am poured out like
water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to
wax;
it has melted away within me.
a band of evil men has
encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.
[17] I can count all my
bones;
people stare and gloat
over me.
(as an unborn child aborted, and as Jesus was treated) Psalm
27:10 (NIV)
Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me
(the Lord loves unborn children, even when their own parents
forsake them) Psalm
41:1 (NIV)
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
(even when an unborn child has "birth defects", we
should still care for the child)
Psalm
59:1-4
Deliver me from my enemies,
O God;
protect me from those who
rise up against me.
[2] Deliver me from
evildoers
and save me from
bloodthirsty men.
[3] See how they lie in
wait for me!
Fierce men conspire
against me
for no offense or sin of mine,
O LORD.
[4] I have done no wrong,
yet they are ready to attack me.
Arise to help me; look on
my plight!
(this could be the prayer of an unborn child in danger of
abortion) Psalm
69:4 (NIV)
Those who hate me without reason
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
(unborn children have enemies without cause because of abortion
and its supporters) Proverbs
1:10-19 (NIV)
My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.
If they say, "Come along with us;
let's lie in wait for someone's blood,
let's waylay some harmless soul;
let's swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
throw in your lot with us,
and we will share a common purse" --
my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
for their feet rush into sin,
they are swift to shed blood.
How useless to spread a net
in full view of all the birds!
These men lie in wait for
their own blood;
they waylay only
themselves!
Such is the end of ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the lives of those who get it.
(Pro-abortionists entice our entire society; they encourage
abortion, offering to share the purported economic benefits of not
having these unborn children in the world) Proverbs
6:16-17
There are six things which the Lord hates . . . haughty eyes, a
lying tongue, and hands that shed
innocent blood.
(God detests killing of his innocent children) Isaiah
59:3-4, 6-7 (NIV)
For your hands are stained
with blood,
your fingers with guilt.
Your lips have spoken lies,
and your tongue mutters wicked things.
No one calls for justice;
no one pleads his case
with integrity.
They rely on empty arguments and speak lies;
they conceive trouble
and give birth to evil. . . .
. . . Their deeds are evil deeds,
and acts of violence are in their hands.
Their feet rush into sin;
they are swift to shed innocent blood.
(these verses accurately describe the Jeremiah
7:6 (NIV) (See also Jeremiah
22:3)
Do not shed innocent blood.
(abortion is wrong -- no other humans could be more innocent than
unborn children) Jeremiah
20:17
For he did not kill me in
the womb,
with my mother as my grave,
her womb enlarged forever.
(abortion is making the mother's womb into a grave) Jeremiah
32:35
They built the high places of Baal . . . to offer
up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command
them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination . . . .
(God is outraged by the killing of children, especially by their
own parents) Amos
1:13
. . . I will not revoke the punishment; because they
have ripped up women with child (pregnant women of
(God will punish abortionists, abortion supporters, and women who
chose abortion, unless they confess their sins and ask for forgiveness) Matthew
5:9
Whoever then relaxes one
of the least of these commandments and teaches
men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven . . . . Matthew
18:10
See that you do not
despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven
their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. Mark
10:9 (NIV)
"Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not
separate." John
10:10 (NIV)
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the
full."
(Satan, as the master thief is the author of abortion, which
purely kills a child and destroys a woman's soul, while God is the
author of life for the child and abundant life for the mother.) John
15:16 (NIV)
"You do not choose me, but I choose you." 2
Corinthians 12:7-9
Because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was
afraid I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a
physical condition which has been a thorn in my flesh . . . .
Three different times I begged God to make me well again.
Each time he said, "No.
But I am with you; that is all you need.
My power shows up best in
weak people." Ephesians
2:10
It is God himself who has
made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and
long ages ago he planned that we
should spend these lives in helping others. WHAT
DOES GOD EXPECT OF US AS CHRISTIANS? -- to be rescuers/heroes Psalm
25:20 (NIV)
Guard my life and rescue me
(we are called to protect and save unborn children) Proverbs
24:11-12
Rescue those who
are being taken away to death.
Hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
And if you say, "But we knew nothing of this,"
Does not He who weighs the heart perceive it,
Does not He who guards your life know it?
Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?
(we are called to action) Jeremiah
1:6-8 (NIV)
"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I
do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send yo |