Op-Ed?

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” — Mark 10:14

Recently, an “Op-Ed” piece appeared in our local newspaper, authored by a minister of a denomination that sadly is well-known for its liberal approach to Christianity. It was in regard to abortion. After reading it, I felt a need to write an “Op-Ed” of my own in rebuttal.

His article was titled, “As A Minister, I Support The Repeal Of The Ban On Abortion.” That bill is currently in our State Legislature and will be voted on tomorrow. These were his opening words, “I was very sad at the conclusion of the 2019 legislative session when the New Mexico Senate failed to repeal the old law on the books that made abortion a crime, and even more disappointed to see so many other states passing laws criminalizing providers and women.”

I was very sad, as well, when I read his short treatise—but it wasn’t his gloom that impressed me but his failure, as a minister who claims to be Christian, to cite any biblical authority for his position—not even one verse! I was very disappointed also, that one who would identify as a ordained minister, would publicly sanction the killing of babies in the womb, which now reaches over one million every year in America! So perhaps I can help him and others in this short space by introducing just a few of the many Scriptures from the Bible that speak to the issue.

Exodus 20:13, one of the well-known Ten Commandments says, “You shall not murder.” Murder is defined as the premeditated act of taking another person’s life. Proverbs 6:17, expresses seven things that God hates. One of them is, “Hands that shed innocent blood.” There is no person more innocent than a defenseless baby in its mother’s womb.

Psalm 119:73 speaks tenderly of God’s involvement in the birth process, “Your hands have made me and fashioned me.” However, perhaps the most definitive of all the Biblical passages that express God’s view of human life may be found in Psalm 139:13-16, which describes the process of human development in the womb by God Himself, speaking through the words of David: “For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”

In love we must seek out and embrace the countless young women who—through fear, ignorance, coercion, bad counsel or family pressure—felt that abortion was their only choice and let them know that we have a merciful, gracious, and loving Savior who forgives completely and removes all guilt when one comes to the cross of Christ (Colossians 1:14-15).

Having said that, we also must speak up at every opportunity against the evil of abortion and not accept it as a cultural option when someone makes a mistake. God’s word does not allow that. Maranatha!