Blog Abortion, the Bible and Guns
Some cherry-pick passages in order to claim the Bible allows for abortion. The question is, do passages such as Numbers 3:15 and Leviticus 27:6 really support abortion—the taking of a preborn baby’s life? Is a child of less than one month in the womb of less value?
Numbers 3:15 “Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.” -KJV
Leviticus 27:6 “And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver. –KJV
Actually, one has to force a meaning on these passages to assume they refer to abortion. According to the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry, these passages refer to “…the amount of money a person would pay the priests in order to redeem, to buy back, an infant who had been dedicated to the Lord in a solemn vow (Leviticus 27:6) and the minimum age for the census of the Levites that Moses was going to undertake (Number 3:15).”
Another passage used is Exodus 21:22-25. If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. --KJV
Some Bible versions translate the passage as miscarriage and is used by the pro-abortion crowd. Other versions translate the phrase as premature birth. There is a word used for miscarrying, but the word here is not that word, but the word used refers to a live birth. Either way, when taken within the text and original word uses, this passage has nothing to do with abortion.
Even if the first translation is correct, the passage does not support abortion. This is about an accident. Abortion is a deliberate act. Because a penalty is attached, this shows the value of the child. In this and other passages, an accidental death engenders lesser consequences than a deliberate killing. This affirms not destroys the humanity of preborn children and human life itself. Further, many who seek to twist Scripture to prove abortion don’t even believe in the Bible as God’s Word. The sole intent is to harm not deal honestly with the issue.
The overall message of Scripture is about a Creator who loves and acknowledges and values His creation even in the womb. Scripture backs up the value of life even for the preborn. "Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.'" --Jeremiah 1:4-5
"The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name."--Isaiah 49:1b
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works…. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret” --Psalm 139:13-15, NASB
In the New Testament, Jesus has bad things to say about those who harm His little ones. The Bible is not a book that promotes abortion. Instead, the Bible affirms life from a caring, deliberate Creator, and Jesus who came to heal and set free those in bondage, to the Savior who chose to give up his life to save His human creations, offering life in Him. Jesus is about life and love.
Abortion, on the other hand, is about torture and violence against the most innocent among us. Too many abortions, which is the deliberate killing of a preborn child, are done when that child could survive with medical care.
Planned Parenthood likes to abort in a way, when possible, to produce an intact child with a still-beating heart. These living babies are cut up, with no anesthesia, to sell for parts to be used for experimentation or for cell lines. There is big money in the sale of baby parts. Why? Because these babies are living and are fully human.
Abortion is a basic outcome of not believing in the preciousness of each human life. It discounts the value of life itself. This comes from pretending knowable truth doesn’t exist and there is no higher being who values life.
This affects the gun argument. Again, guns don’t kill, people do. It is a choice. When our young people are taught that life doesn’t matter, that it is ok to kill unborn babies, the sick, the elderly, why should they value life? What difference if society or they kill? Murder becomes simply another outlet. After all, those killed might legally have been killed before, and now in some states, even after birth.
The problem is not owning guns nor is it about abortion per se. It is what we feed our and our children’s minds and hearts. Why not instead, teach our children they are precious and special— because they are. Why not lift up a God who loves and cares for them, cares about life, and cares enough to be there for those who follow Him? Why not promote a culture that treats every person born or preborn, disabled or elderly with care and respect? Allow our culture a foundation of faith and the mental and physical health of the nation will rise. We’ll once more become a nation of life instead of death.
© 2022 Carolyn R Scheidies
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https://wels.net/faq/bible-passages-used-to-support-abortion/
https://abort73.com/abortion/exodus_2122_25/
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-misuse-of-exodus-21-22-25-by-pro-choice-advocates
Devotion God is Good and There in Time of Need
Read: John 10:1-15
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. --John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd, “Jesus said. “I am the door.”
In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but through me.”
Throughout the Bible, in illustration after illustration, God lets us know that the One to turn to in times of need is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one with the answers for the problems that beset our daily lives.
Whether war erupts, or our neighbor threatens to sue over some minor disagreement, Christ has an answer and way to deal with the situation without hate or revenge, and with an attitude that leads to freedom regardless of what happens with the situation.
While it is easy to speak in platitudes about God’s love and care, most of us wish for specific direction. How?
First, we need a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Without Him, our lives will be adrift with our own will and way.
Second, we need to spend premium time reading, studying, meditating and memorizing God’s Word every day. Why is this important?
Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
Following Jesus means knowing His Word.
Third, each day we need to spend quality time in prayer, worshiping God, asking His blessings and direction for our lives, confessing our sins and turning from them, and praising God for who He is.
Fourth, regardless of circumstances, we need to commit to doing things in God’s way, and in God’s time.
Finally, the key to positive problem solutions is our willingness to obey and follow the God we claim to serve, believing He truly is the “Good Shepherd” who will not lead us astray.
Thank you, Lord, that You are a good God and have my best interests in mind. Help me be willing to both seek and follow Your, not my, solutions to the problems I face each day. Amen.
Meditations:
Monday: Psalm 23
Tuesday: Matthew 11:28-30
Wednesday: Psalm 34
Thursday: Psalm 136
Friday: Psalm 27
Saturday: Psalm 86
(c) 2018, 2021 Carolyn R Scheidies
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