First of all, let it be clear that I
myself am opposed to abortion.
However,I do see
need for birth
control in the extreme cases when
unwanted children are to be born
into suffering and premature death.
That understood, I searched for
the passages where the Bible
vehemently and absolutely
condemns
human abortion of
any kind. Where
can this condemnation
be found in
the Bible?
The sole passage hinting at any
proscription about the unborn (Gen.
38:10) tells of a man,Onan, struck
dead for spilling his semen on the
ground instead of impregnating his
childless, widowed sister-in-law
(an ancient Hebrew custom for
continuing the family line). But
eventhis scene concerned inappropriate
masturbation, not abortion as we know
it.
Otherwise, the nearest I got to
support for the pro-life
stance is
are passages encouraging birth-giving
when it is advantageous and the times
are right.
For instance the first couple were
told to be fruitful and
multiply (
Gen 1:28) for an obvious reason: No
other humans populated the earth
at
that time! And when things were
going great, the reward for obeying
God's covenant was:"No one shall
suffer miscarriage or be barren in
your land. I will fulfill the
numbers
of your years." (Exod. 23:26) Also
the Hebrews were told
to again multiply
their sons and daughters when readying
themselves to prosper after
exile.
(Jer. 29:6)
However, most all Biblical passages
directly addressing abortion itself
actually endorsed terminating human
life when conditions are unfavorable.
For instance God was claimed to
actually close all wombs inthe
palace
of Negeb when the king was with
Abraham'swife. (Gen.20:17-18)
During Job's hard times I found him
wishing he were aborted or
miscarriaged: "Why did I not
die at
birth, come forth from the
womb and expire... Or
why was it not
a hidden untimely birth
as infants
who never see the light...
Why is it
to him who is given
in misery, and
life to the bitter
soul? (Job 20:
14-18)
The prophet, Jeremiah, fared no
better: "Cursed be
the day I was born.
[And cursed be he who] did
not kill me
in my womb...that my mother may been
my grave. (Jer. 20:14-18)
And even in
the New Testament I
found:"Rejoice O
one who does not bear.
Break forth
and shout, ye who are not
in labor.
For the desolate has more children
than she who has a husband. (Gal.4:27.)
The children of Israel's enemies were
thought of even more
harshly: "Now go
attack Amaleck and.....
kill both man
and women, infant and nursing
child..."
(1 Sam 15:3)"Let them be like snails
that dissolve like slime, like untimely
births that never see the sun."
(Ps. 58:1-8) "Happy he
shall be who
takes your little children
and dashes
them against a rock" (Ps. 137:9)
"Give them a miscarrying womb
and
dried out breasts." (Hos. 9:14)
Also, a woman's life was considered
more precious than that
of her unborn
child. The writer of Exodus states
that if someone caused
a woman's
miscarriage against her will
he had
to pay a fine. But if the injury
caused the woman's death,
the
perpetrator would be put to death
as
well. (Exod. 21:22-25)
As for when the soul first enters the
embryo: "As you do
not know when the
spirit first comes into the child, so
you do not know the work of God who
makes everything." (Eccles. 11:5)
SO WHAT DOES THE BIBLE
TEACH ABOUT ABORTION ITSELF?
First of all do not abort
frivolously or selfishly(as implied
in the story of Onan). Secondly,
it is certainly good to bear and
breed children when necessary and
when conditions are favorable.
But woe unto the bearing of children
unwanted or in severe poverty and
desolation.
And what are the consequences of
breaking this rule even today?
The answer should be obvious: crack-
babies, aids-babies, fatherless
children later becoming pregnant
teens or criminals who
ruin our
cities and overpopulate our
prisons.
And what of the starving children
in
places like Africa - living cadavers
with flies crawling on their pitiful
faces?
And what of the tens of thousands of
children in developing countries sold
into slavery and prostitution by
families too poor to support them?
Even today, thousands of stray urchins
are preyed upon - even shot like
vermin in the streets- in some South
American countries...
The best defense against abortion in
all these cases would be birth control
for those who neither want nor could
care for the precious lives coming
into this world.
The Bible also states an endangered
woman's life should take precedence
over that of an unborn child. And
finally,who are they who usurp God's
wisdom by arbitrarily declaring when
the embryo's soul enters the
womb?
