WELCOME TO . . .WELCOME TO . . .““Biblical Perspectives Biblical Perspectives

on Abortion”on Abortion”Instructor: Instructor:

Dr. Arnold LastingerDr. Arnold Lastinger

THE BATTLEFIELDS THE BATTLEFIELDS OF ABORTIONOF ABORTION

The Medical ArenaThe Medical Arena The Civil Rights ArenaThe Civil Rights Arena The Economic ArenaThe Economic Arena The Judicial ArenaThe Judicial Arena The Moral ArenaThe Moral Arena

THE CHRISTIAN’S THE CHRISTIAN’S PRIMARY CONCERNPRIMARY CONCERN

Abortion is Abortion is morally morally wrong!wrong!

EXODUS 21:22,23EXODUS 21:22,23"If men who are fighting hit a pregnant "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant

woman and she gives birth woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband whatever the woman's husband

demands and the court allows. But if demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take there is serious injury, you are to take

life for life . . .” (NIV)life for life . . .” (NIV)

EXODUS 21:22,23EXODUS 21:22,23 The issue here is death to the unborn The issue here is death to the unborn

child caused indirectly; by physical child caused indirectly; by physical attack upon the mother.attack upon the mother.

The technology was not available to The technology was not available to perform abortion with any degree of perform abortion with any degree of safety for the mother.safety for the mother.

The moral climate was such that The moral climate was such that abortion would have been abortion would have been unthinkable.unthinkable.

THE REAL ISSUE: THE THE REAL ISSUE: THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFESANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE

In order for a knowledgeable In order for a knowledgeable Christian to be pro-choice he/she Christian to be pro-choice he/she has to convince herself that the has to convince herself that the unborn baby is not a real live unborn baby is not a real live human being.human being.

Otherwise, they are forced to deal Otherwise, they are forced to deal with the murder issue.with the murder issue.

Our moral convictions Our moral convictions are often shaped by our are often shaped by our

environmentenvironment and our and our economyeconomy..

Rationalization = lying to one’s selfRationalization = lying to one’s self

WHAT DOES THE WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?BIBLE SAY?

Exo. 21:14 “Exo. 21:14 “But if a man But if a man schemes and kills another man schemes and kills another man

deliberately, take him away from deliberately, take him away from my altar and my altar and put him to deathput him to death.” .”

(Prescribes identical penalties for (Prescribes identical penalties for abortion and murder)abortion and murder)

WHAT DOES THE WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?BIBLE SAY?

Luke 1:41-44 When Elizabeth heard Mary's Luke 1:41-44 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and

Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you

among women, and blessed is the child you will among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the

sound of your greeting reached my ears, sound of your greeting reached my ears, the the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (NIV) (NIV)

WHAT DOES THE WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?BIBLE SAY?

Gen 38:27 “When the time Gen 38:27 “When the time came for her (Tamar) to give came for her (Tamar) to give birth, there were twin birth, there were twin boysboys in in

her womb.” (NIV)her womb.” (NIV) (Not “fetuses” or some other (Not “fetuses” or some other

depersonalizing word)depersonalizing word)

WHAT DOES THE WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?BIBLE SAY?

Job 31:15 “Did not he Job 31:15 “Did not he who made me in the who made me in the womb make them?”womb make them?” (The womb is God’s workshop for (The womb is God’s workshop for

human life.)human life.)

WHAT DOES THE WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?BIBLE SAY?

Psa. 139:13 Psa. 139:13 “...You knit me “...You knit me together in my together in my

mother’s womb.”mother’s womb.”

WHAT DOES THE WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?BIBLE SAY?

Isa. 49:1 Isa. 49:1 “Before I was born “Before I was born

the Lord called the Lord called me.”me.”

WHAT DOES THE WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?BIBLE SAY?

Jer. 1:5 “Before I Jer. 1:5 “Before I formed you in the formed you in the

womb I knew you ... womb I knew you ... I set you apart.”I set you apart.”

WHAT DOES THE WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?BIBLE SAY?

Luke 1:15 Luke 1:15 John the Baptist was John the Baptist was

filled with the Holy Spirit filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born.before he was born.

GOD’S ATTITUDE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD MURDERTOWARD MURDER

It is forbiddenIt is forbidden

Exod 20:13Exod 20:13"You shall not "You shall not murder.”(NIV)murder.”(NIV)

GOD’S ATTITUDE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD MURDERTOWARD MURDER

It is forbiddenIt is forbidden

Matt 19:18 “...Jesus replied, Matt 19:18 “...Jesus replied, 'Do not murder, do not commit 'Do not murder, do not commit

adultery, do not steal, do not adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony” (NIV)give false testimony” (NIV)

GOD’S ATTITUDE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD MURDERTOWARD MURDER

It is forbiddenIt is forbiddenI John 3:15I John 3:15

“Anyone who hates his “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer you know that no murderer

has eternal life in him.” (NIV)has eternal life in him.” (NIV)

GOD’S ATTITUDE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD MURDERTOWARD MURDER

It is forbiddenIt is forbiddenRev 21:8 “But the cowardly, the Rev 21:8 “But the cowardly, the

unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who the sexually immoral, those who

practice magic arts, the idolaters and practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery all liars-- their place will be in the fiery

lake of burning sulfur. This is the lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (NIV)second death.” (NIV)

GOD’S ATTITUDE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD MURDERTOWARD MURDER It is to be harshly It is to be harshly

punished:punished:Gen 9:6 “Whoever sheds Gen 9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed”shall his blood be shed”

GOD’S ATTITUDE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD MURDERTOWARD MURDER It is to be harshly It is to be harshly

punished:punished:Lev 24:17 “If anyone takes Lev 24:17 “If anyone takes

the life of a human being, he the life of a human being, he must be put to death.”must be put to death.”

GOD’S ATTITUDE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD MURDERTOWARD MURDER It is to be harshly It is to be harshly

punished:punished:Prov 28:17 “A man Prov 28:17 “A man

tormented by the guilt of tormented by the guilt of murder will be a fugitive till murder will be a fugitive till

death”death”

THE CHRISTIAN’S THE CHRISTIAN’S ATTITUDE:ATTITUDE:

Despise the Despise the sin, butsin, but

Love the Love the sinner.sinner.