A CHRISTIAN VIEW OF ABORTION

SUNDAY BULLETIN INSERT, 4/29/07 Back to Articles

BIBLICAL PASSAGES

RELATING TO ABORTION

PRE-COMMANDMENT PASSAGES

Genesis 1:28... to ADAM:

............................ be fruitful & multiply

Genesis 9:6-7. to NOAH:

............................ do not kill, be fruitful & multiply

Genesis 38:24. act of JUDAH:

............................ pregnant woman to be burned

COMMANDMENT PASSAGES

Exodus 20:13............... do not kill

Deuteronomy 5:17........ do not kill

Exodus 21:22.......... .... a miscarriage; pay the woman’s husband

Exodus 23:7................. do not kill the innocent

Leviticus 27:1-8............ assessed value of humans by silver:

Age 20-60: .............. Male = 50 shekels ... Female = 30 shekels

Age 5-20: ............... Male = 20 shekels ... Female = 10 shekels

1 month – 5 years: ... Male = 5 shekels ..... Female = 3 shekels

Age 60+: ................. Male = 15 shekels ... Female = 10 shekels

Numbers 3:14-15..... census of Levites – only males more than a month old

Numbers 31:17............. kill women who might be pregnant

Leviticus 20:10............. kill woman who might be pregnant

Deuteronomy 22:22-24. kill woman who might be pregnant

John 8:4-5.................... kill woman who might be pregnant

SET APART IN THE WOMB (or before)

Psalm 139:13-16..... speaks of humans formed in the womb

Job 10:8-12............. You formed me

Jeremiah 1:5........... in the womb I knew you

Isaiah 44:1-2........... in the womb I knew you

Isaiah 49:1,5........... in the womb I knew you

Psalm 22:9-10......... in the womb I knew you

Galatians 1:15-16... set apart from birth

OTHER PASSAGES

ON THE VALUE OF THE PREBORN

Psalm 127:3... children are a gift from the Lord

Isaiah 49:15... can a mother forget her child

Luke 1:36,41.. John the Baptist leaped in the womb

2 Kings 8:12.. Syrians will attack pregnant women

2 Kings 15:16 King Menahem attacked pregnant women

Amos 1:15...... Ammonites attacked pregnant women of Gilead

Hosea 13:16... Samaria’s pregnant women will be attacked

Psalm 106:38. poured out innocent blood of sons and daughters

Psalm 78:5-6. children yet unborn

Ecclesiastes 6:3 better a miscarriage/stillborn

MATTHEW 5:17-48

17-19.... Law is not abolished with Jesus, but fulfilled

20 ......... Your righteousness must exceed

.................. the scribes and Pharisees

21-26.... “Do not kill” –

.................. but anger puts one in danger

.... 23..... someone has something against you…

27-30.... “Do not commit adultery” –

............. but lust puts one in danger

.... 30..... better to lose part of you than all in Hell

31-32.... “Let him divorce” –

.................. but divorce/remarriage is adultery

.... 32..... causes her to become an adulteress

33-37.... “Do not swear falsely” –

.................. but any vow puts one in danger

38-42.... “An eye for an eye” –

.................. but do not resist an evildoer

43-47.... “Love your neighbor” –

.................. but love also your enemy

48 ......... Be perfect (mature)

.................. as your heavenly Father is perfect

UPDATES AFTER THE SUNDAY WORSHIP

Additional Announcements.

Avondale has been asked (along with other churches) to agree to a Community Marriage Policy, the sheet included on page 3 was read to the congregation…

The Trustees will be dealing with at least two issues in addition to their regular business: dealing with some recent graffiti, and considering a possible change in electrical service.

SUNDAY MESSAGE.

Before speaking for the first time here directly on the subject of abortion, I had in mind a couple of matters that have been a special concern for me lately:

1. I am finding an alarming number of women who have abortions not strictly of their own choice, but under pressure from husbands, boyfriends, and parents. This makes the idea of “choice” somewhat of an irony. It also may explain some why abortion is not an issue in this neighborhood; most of the young women either choose to get pregnant to have a child in the first place, or in any case do not have a male figure or parent who will pressure them to have the abortion.

2. My experience has included many conversations with people who tell me they are opposed to abortions, but don’t want to be classified with “pro-life” persons. Conversations that I have with people on different sides suggest to me that a very high number of people do not believe abortion should happen, except in the most extreme circumstances (if those circumstances even really exist). The real differences have some to do with methods (how we best reduce the number of abortions), but probably even more to do with an unwillingness to talk across the lines and find common ground. In the meantime, thousands are lost to abortion in the process. This is an appalling place for Christians to be, who don’t deserve the freedoms of this country if we are not going to take the lead in love – including the unborn and those who seem to be our “enemies.”

While I mentioned these, and I had both points in mind in discussing politics and sexuality the last couple weeks, I spent the most time talking about Matthew 5:17-48. I also mentioned the Biblical passages in the insert (but only briefly). These include almost all of the passages you will find on “Pro-Life” material, and the grayed versions include other passages that are often used to argue against that position (which, unfortunately, are usually just ignored in “Pro-Life” materials).

Taking into account how unreasonable is most of what Jesus says in Matthew 5:17-48, I now believe that if you read that long passage and feel like, “how can I possibly be good or righteous if this is the standard?” then you are right where He wants you. Our righteousness can’t do it. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply – it does. You will feel the weight of human sinfulness and realize that the way of the Teachers of the Law – that they can have it all under control, and they can always do the right thing – doesn’t work. We will always need God’s forgiveness, because we will sin even when we are trying to do what is best.

So I have no trouble telling persons that abortion is killing, that murder is killing, that killing in self-defense is killing, that pulling the plug on your parent is killing, that killing the enemy in war is killing, that killing to protect your family is killing (and yes, probably killing animals too), and that killing is wrong. If you disagree, just ask someone who has. We may make what appears to be the best decision for the time, but we still have to deal with the way human beings are wired to know that we did wrong and need forgiveness…

FURTHER SERVICES.

As before, I appreciate your prayers – these talks on general topics are difficult for me, and dangerous – because it is too easy to speak words that sound right but stray from the authority of the Scriptures. For the upcoming topic I have a great deal of experience in talking about it, but I prefer a six-week class – so I will be greatly challenged to make sense of a rather complex subject within about 20 minutes…

MAY 6 – homosexuality

Yours in Christ,

MARRIAGE IS AT-RISK!

Places of worship marry 86% of Americans, yet 70% of newly marrieds report having had NO premarital preparation aside from planning a wedding!

Barna estimates that 39% of Protestants have divorced – higher than the 38% divorce rate of atheists and agnostics. And 35% of born-again Americans have divorced. In fact 23% of those born-again have divorced twice! Among Pentecostals, the figure is 42% (but only 25% among Catholics).

People are getting married later in life. Median age for males is 27; for females it is 25.

In a given year nearly half of all marriages are remarriages for one or both partners.

Marriage rate (annual number of marriages per 1,000 unmarried adult women) continues to decline. It has dropped 50% (to 45.6) in fifty years. The marriage rate for African Americans is considerably lower than for any other U.S. population group.

The % of never married persons aged 25—35 increased by 20% in the past thirty years, suggesting more lifelong singlehood.

The projected rate of divorce is still around 50% -- this represents the percentage of marriages (first and remarriage) entered into during a particular year that are projected to end in divorce/separation before one spouse dies.

About one-third of adults who have ever been married and are still living have experienced a divorce. This percentage rises to 46% for the baby boom generation.

Chances of divorce are diminished by such factors as: older age, higher income, more education, having a religious affiliation, no divorce in family of origin, and having a child after marriage.

More than 80% of couples seeking to be married in the Catholic Church participate in a marriage prep. program.

The highest percentage of divorces occurs within the first three years of marriage.

Cohabitation (sexual partners sharing a household) has increased 1100% in forty years. Over 50% of first marriages are preceded by cohabitation. Cohabitants have a 50% HIGHER chance of divorce than those who don’t live together. Of 100 couples who cohabitate before marriage, 40 will not marry at all; 60 will marry, and of those 45 will divorce, leaving only 15 intact marriages!! - the Natl. Survey of Households & Families.

Almost 40% of cohabiting households have children in them.

Community Marriage* Policy

We the undersigned Faith-Based Leaders of Central Ohio agree and pledge to serve our community and congregations by strengthening marriages through: preparing couples for a lifelong marriage, enriching existing marriages, and saving troubled marriages. We are committed to do everything we can to stem the tide of marital breakdowns and promote healthy marriages. As a community association, we have adopted the following framework for preparing couples for marriage and supporting marriage in our community:

Goal 1: We agree to require ample time for preparation prior to the wedding date. We shall also require 8-12 hours of premarital counseling sessions, using appropriate tools, inventories and mentoring to prepare couples for the covenant of marriage. Skills of communication, conflict resolution, and faith-based principles for successful marriages will be taught.

Goal 2: We agree to provide marriage enrichment opportunities and resources. Collectively, we will provide an annual renewal opportunity for married couples in our community.

Goal 3: We agree to provide support and reconciliation mechanisms for couples in troubled

marriages and spouses who are separated.

Goal 4: We agree to require a waiting period and a remarriage preparation process including

skills training for couples considering remarriage after a divorce.

Goal 5: We agree to provide support, resources, and enrichment opportunities for young families and stepfamilies.

Goal 6: We shall provide educational opportunities for our youth on the foundation and

significance of marriage and the values of our community.

*The Ohio Constitution defines marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman as husband and wife.

I personally commit to the pursuit of these goals. I will pursue their further endorsement and

incorporation by my congregation or parish and our larger administrative organization - for the furtherance of my faith, the sake of the family, and the good of our whole community. I/We will strive to identify a ‘marriage champion’ individual or couple in our church/ministry to help us pursue growth toward these goals.

Representative’s Name/Date __________________________________________

Faith-Based Organization’s Name __________________________________________