Abortion: The Lies!
Fall 2021
One of the most powerful weapons in the devil’s armory is time. Satan promotes a lie in the areas of theology or morality in the knowledge that initially the lie will be met by horror and opposition. But over time people become more comfortable with it. They hear it so often that they begin to question their previous thoughts. Were they true, or is this “new truth” truth?
The pro-abortion movement has made great headway using the weapon of time. A new generation has arisen that doesn’t question the “new truth.” The devil’s lie has become truth. Although the debate has been often rehearsed, the church must continue to challenge the devil’s lies. Articles such as this are vital to guard the minds of the Lord’s people and, by grace, stop the madness of this modern holocaust.
To demonstrate that something is a lie requires exposing the folly in the thinking of the liar. We must obey the words of Solomon: “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit” (Proverbs 26:5).
Advocating that abortion is right tells a lie regarding the nature of humanity.
Sadly, there are doctors and scientists who defend a woman’s right to abortion. Using their own definitions, they must admit that abortion is the taking of human life. What constitutes life? What makes a human being human? The scientific world defines a living organism as an organism growing, multiplying, and using energy. The embryo is alive by any scientific definition.
How does the scientific world define human? DNA. Our DNA renders us human and not animal. By virtue of our DNA we can be classified as human and not dog or fish or whatever.
According to the secular scientist, the embryo is both living and human. “The human embryo has within it all of the internal information needed—including chiefly its genetic and epigenetic constitution—and the active disposition to develop itself to the mature stage of a human organism” (Embryonic human persons. Talking Point on morality and human embryo research. 2009. Robert P. George and Patrick Lee). There is no point between conception and birth where a human being becomes more human or more living. There are various stages of maturity and development, but not any development in the essence of what constitutes living humanity.“This means that the embryo has the same nature—in other words, it is the same kind of entity—from fertilization onward; there is only a difference in degree of maturation, not in kind, between any of the stages from embryo, to fetus, infant and so on.”
The devil has sowed the seed of the lie, “Abortion is the death of cells. It’s not the death of a child, but only the death of potential life.” By their own definitions they must assert that the embryo is developing human life.
The true scientific view of humanity is entirely in accord with the teaching of Scripture. The unborn child is always deemed a human being in Scripture. Theologically, we know that God’s general and special revelation do not contradict each other. The psalmist refers to his person in terms that indicate an undeveloped, “unformed” embryo. “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect…” (Psalm 139:15-16). Dr. Luke asserts that the unborn person can be filled with the Holy Spirit. “He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb” (Luke 1:15). The same doctor uses the same Greek word to refer to the unborn child, the new-born child, and the young child. (See Luke 1:41, 44; 2:12,16;18:15) Furthermore, the miracle of the Virgin Birth is really a miracle of virgin conception (Luke 1:35). Hence the incarnation of the God-man, the union of the divine nature with the human, must be dated from conception, not birth. This miracle is predicated on the fact that the unborn Jesus is a true, living human being.
The pro-choice, pro-abortion lie is against the truth of God’s revealed will. In the Bible, the act of killing the unborn is viewed as murder. There is no euphemism in the word “slew” used in Jeremiah 20:17. The interpretation of Exodus 21:22-25 has been debated, but the most likely view is that a man’s actions may bring forth the premature delivery of a child. If the child survives, a fine is the prescribed punishment; however, if the child dies, then “life for life” is to be required. This confirms that the killing of the unborn is the taking of human life, worthy of punishment in the judgment of God.
This matter is of vital importance. Some pro-lifers have felt frustration at the difficulty of winning the moral argument. I recall a time when people were presenting papers regarding the harm that abortion does to the woman. That is undoubtedly true, but we must not move the debate away from the humanity of the unborn.
I understand the motive of legislators’ promotion of so-called fetal heartbeat bills. Commendably they are seeking to reduce the number of abortions. They perceive the impossibility of passing any more extreme legislation. Yet such bills may lead to the conclusion that early abortion is acceptable. The early embryo is living and human. There are differences between the unborn and the newborn. These are differences in dependence and in physiology, but no difference in the essence of humanity. The location of the baby, i.e., in or out of the womb, doesn’t change the humanity of the baby. Be clear—the Word of God asserts that abortion is the killing of a living, human being.
Advocating that abortion is right tells a lie regarding the nature of autonomy.
The agreement about a woman’s right to have an abortion often falls on the claim to personal autonomy. The devil has sowed the lie of autonomy. “Autonomy” is a compound of two Greek words for law and self. Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines personal autonomy as “the capacity to decide for oneself and pursue a course of action in one's life, often regardless of any particular moral content.” In the defense of abortion, autonomy is heard: “It is my right to do what I want with my body.”
There are many issues with this claim. As Christians we live with the understanding that we don’t have the ultimate right over our bodies. We do not have the right to do as we please with our bodies, but must only do those things which please the Lord. The whole concept of autonomy must be carefully defined. Rightly understood, autonomy reminds us that we are responsible for self. We must exercise self-control! We must govern our own conduct without external constraint. But our conduct in light of sense and Scripture is under a higher authority. We are not governed by the law of self, but by the law of God. Self-confessed atheists know they are accountable when they reckon with conscience. God is the only Lawgiver. He reveals His will in the Word. Even those without the law have the law in their hearts (Romans 2:14-15). We are not autonomous. We are responsible creatures under a divine law.
What is more, the unborn child within the woman’s body is not truly part of her body. The unborn is a genetically distinct entity with his or her own DNA profile. The unborn is not “her body” but dependent. God has ordained that the mother sustains the life in the womb and for a time out of the womb. That is how God has made mankind. Even allowing for the woman’s autonomy does not allow for that autonomy to extend to her decision to allow her child to be put to death.
Advocating that abortion is right tells a lie regarding the nature of morality.
Obviously, this issue is about ethics and morality. The devil has from the beginning asked the question, “Hath God said?” He has questioned the authority of God to deliver the foundational principle of ethic. The only right ethical principle is the one based on the foundation, “God said.” When that foundation is removed all manner of confusion arises regarding morality. The devil sows his lies and the foolish heed the lie and ignore the truth.
The devil asserts the lie of pragmatism that, in a moral dilemma, the end can justify the means to the end. If you have ever spoken to someone considering an abortion or to someone who has had an abortion you will know that abortion is not an easy decision. Tragically, there are some who have seared their consciences and who seem to have no trouble exercising their “choice.” More often a woman believes an abortion is the best way to deal with a terrible situation. There may be various reasons, but the thinking is that it would be better to have an abortion than to carry and have the baby. The decision is determined by outcome not by a fixed standard of morality. When we hold to the ethical foundation of God’s Word, our decisions will be based on what God thinks, not what we think might work. We will do what is right, even if it is extremely difficult.
The devil has continued to spread his lies regarding morality by the manipulation of people through use of language. The language of “rights” has been used to sway the mind of the masses. One of the first arguments offered was that a woman must have the same right to be “not pregnant” as a man. Such confusion of language has caused people to hesitate in protest. Add to this the confused language of reproductive “health” and you can see the devil at work. The Bible’s ethic of healthcare is to help and benefit the needy. Historically, the oath of the doctor was primum non nocere (“first, do no harm”). The advocates of abortion turn Christ’s Golden Rule on its head. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
What is the Christian response to the propagation of lies? We must tell the truth. We must open our mouths “…for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction” (Proverbs 31:8). One can’t help but feel that people are deliberately calling evil good and good evil. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). God’s will is good. Life is good and must be protected. Christians ought to seek to rescue women in crisis and be willing to adopt children who are rescued from abortions. In all this we must proclaim the gospel of a God who is ready and able to forgive our sins by the merits of the blood of His Son.