It is ironic that, in a nation that defines individual rights as supremely sacred, the most basic right to life is being systematically denied 1,500,000 persons each year. This is not done in the name of God but in the name of choice, pro-choice to be exact.
Admittedly, too many young mothers find themselves in unwanted situations which carry with them very difficult and painful decisions. This we cannot overlook. They deserve our mercy, compassion, and love rather than harsh words and uncharitable judgment. Nonetheless, their difficult plight can never warrant an unwarranted solution; the extermination of their defenseless baby. Eliminating the problem resolves nothing, but instead often triggers a long path of guilt and depression. In a haste to solve the problem, we ignore the long term consequences for both mother and child. Both will inevitably suffer. Ours has become a culture of death for the child..and the mother. One dies physically, the other begins dying spiritually and emotionally. Thus under the banner of freedom we enslave souls. In a thirst for “rights” we respect no one’s rights. And in a frenzy to respect a woman’s choice, we impede her from making a choice according to the truth which would free her from a false sense of liberty, from the lies of propaganda, convenience, and our me first generation.
Most especially, however, the rights of the Creator are snubbed. The child who exists in the womb – as well as the parents of the child – were created by God in a pure act of love. He responded in love to the union of a couple by giving them the gift of an infant. You see, it takes three to have a baby; the mother, the father, and Almighty God. They give the material element, while He gives the spiritual. They co-create with Him. He unites a soul to the matter which they have given. So when parents decide to abort their newly conceived child, it is a horrible infringement on the rights of God. He alone is Master of life and death, not we. We have no inalienable right to choose when someone will come into existence (we can do all in our power to bring about a child, but if our Lord does not respond, then nothing happens.) Nor do we have the right to decide when someone will cease to exist on this world.
The Correct Response to Abortion
The Correct Response to Abortion
Psalm 139 has often been noted as a beautiful expression of the value of human life. Taken as a whole, it is a prayer reflecting on God’s intimate knowledge of who we are – a knowledge stretching to the moment we were conceived in the womb and before. The theme of continuity is striking. Notice how the author uses personal pronouns with reference to himself both before and after his birth. Past (v.1), present (vv.2-3), future (v.10), and the pre-natal stage as well (v.13). The psalmist is clearly aware of no discontinuity in his existence. He was, is, and will be the same person…again both during his pre-natal and post-natal life.
Recognizing this, how should we respond to those who would advocate aborting such a life? It’s at this point we need to read a little further through Psalm 139 and take a look at vv.19-24. As always, God’s Word tells us not only what is right, but also how to do the right thing in the right way. Reflecting on what we’ve seen so far, the psalmist finds himself filled anew with a zeal for this God who knows him so completely. And he then turns this zeal both to those around him as well as towards himself.
As the psalmist looks at others around him, he recognizes that not everyone responds to God with faith and love. Some respond with blasphemy and hate. And this leads him to use some strikingly harsh language…words that really take us back (READ v.22). How ought we to understand such words? And is it ever appropriate for us to say the same thing? Well, in order to answer these questions, we need to clear some things up…
Who are the people being cursed? (READ v.19a and b) How are they characterized? (READ v.20a and b, v.21a and b) So what then are the curses? We need to recognize that in Hebrew poetry, we often find the usage of vivid and graphic language. Used here, it is not intended to be expressions of a desire for personal vengeance. Rather, the psalmist is filled with moral indignation and a desire for God to exercise justice.
So in terms of application, we need to remember that these words are the prayer of the psalmist, not actions he carries out.