Abortion

Thinking About New Life

Introduction

Thinking About New Life

God is the creator of new life. Every baby - born or unborn - is a human being bearing the image of God. They hold value, not because they are strong or because they have a loud voice, but because of their connection with their maker.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:13-14

Consider the following documentary on the issues surrounding the formation of new life.

The topic of abortion is sensitive and should be approached with great compassion and pastoral care. The fraught choice that expectant mothers find themselves in can often cause much angst. The babies father may not be willing to step up to provide for the new family. Modern society has made it increasingly difficult for young single mothers to forge a sustainable life. Where possible, and as much as possible, the church should practically step forward in love to provide pathways for expectant months to not be forced into such a horrible life choice.

Sadly, many abortions today are elective abortions of convenience and are even celebrated as a means of sexual liberation and career mobility. Theologically, believers cannot depart from the position of calling this evil and murder. This is position is not new, but is also reflected in the historical position of the church leaders. Upon seeing the horror medical practices in Nazi Germany, theological Dietrich Bonhoeffer succinctly wrote:

Destruction of the embryo in the mother’s womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed upon this nascent life. To raise the question whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life. And this is nothing but murder.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - from his book on Ethics

Australian society and its laws have quickly shifted from safe, legal and rare abortions to abortions on demand until the moment of birth. It is even an uphill fight to pass a 'Children Born Alive Bill' A society that pursues a culture of death does not have a bright future. God will not hold them blameless who separate children from their Saviour.

Egypt will become a waste, and Edom will become a desolate wilderness, Because of the violence done to the sons of Judah, In whose land they have shed innocent blood.

Joel 3:19

As believers, we may be tempted to despair on this topic. God's people faced similar situations in Egypt and Judea when the Pharaoh and Herod respectively legislated the mass genocide of children. But God preserved His people then and He will preserve humanity now - until the day of His return. And when He returns He will judge with complete justice.