Infanticide, Abortion, and Jesus
Infanticide
has long been tightly wound with the Biblical storyline. In fact, we see the killing of babies
and young children surround some of the most important stories in the Bible. Moses was rescued from the throws of
Pharaoh’s plan to keep the Jews under subjection by killing the sons of Israel
as soon as they were born (Exodus 1:8-2:10). When God rescues the Israelites from Pharaoh in the
Passover, God takes the firstborn children of Egypt and yet spares Israel by
the blood of the lamb (Exodus 11:1-12:13). When Israel and Judah are being kicked out of the Promised
Land and Judah is being sent into exile, God allows Israel’s enemies to kill
their children. The Psalmists
hopes for God’s wrath to be poured out on their enemies in the same way it was
meted out to them in Psalm 137:9 even calling those “blessed” who will dash the
little ones of Israel’s enemies against the rocks when God re-establishes
Israel. This connection between different events in the story line of the Bible
and infanticide is so strong that it has been posited that the societal killing
of babies could be of eschatological significant, preempting changes in the
history of salvation.
In
our world right now we are witnessing the most unprecedented silent holocaust
the world has ever seen under the cover of personal rights in the form of
abortion. Bryan Catherman of SaltyBeliever.com does a great job exploring the latest report from Planned
Parenthood, where he reveals just a sliver of the American piece of the this
world-wide war on the most defenseless among us. Human life in its most fragile and hopeful state; unborn.
But
how should we as Christians respond to this unthinkable epidemic? In an early post this year I waded
through the depths of what a Christian’s responsibilities are to influence the
government that they are in subjection too in a article entitled Legislated Morality. Some of the primary responsibilities I
touched on for Christians were to be “Salt” and “Light” in the world; this
having two parts, warning others when they are participating in sin, and urging
for proper law and behavior that respects and is in accordance with the moral
Law of God without advocating a theocracy.
But
what are we to do in the abortion situation? The magnitude of this issue is so great and the timing so
ever pressing that we must consider our response as believers and take
action. I think the Christian
stance on abortion is clear, Christians regard the sanctity of life as
important precisely and simply because we believe each and every human bears
the image of God (Genesis 1:27).
We stand against naturalistic arguments that see life as only important
because of the usefulness that a life brings to society or the quality of life
that each person leads. We
understand the lack of usefulness or low quality of life to be related to our sinful
fallen state as a whole, Romans 1 style.
Our sinfulness however does not negate the value of life, instead we
must say that every life has value
because God has breathed life into it and it bears his image and will one day
praise Him as the Psalmist looks forward too in Psalm 78:6 and 102:18.
So
here are a few ways I Christians can engage in the fight to save the most
defenseless humans on the planet from being murdered through abortion.
1. Settle the Issue in your heart.
We don’t like to think about abortion and that is exactly the way
the world around us would like to keep it. Even as Christians we are guilty of wanting to keep this
atrocity out of sight and out of mind.
We don’t want to even think about what is going on at the local abortion
clinic. But I would encourage you
to take a fresh look at what is going on in abortion. You must ask yourself, “Is an unborn baby a human life?”
Next, understand the way the Bible speaks of human life and make a decision. The issue is not about choice, it is
about the life and death of another defenseless human being. If the unborn have life, and I believe
they do, then the implications and responsibilities for us to protect these
lives are clear.
2. Be Salt and Light. Being salt and light means bringing the truth of the
Gospel where it is not, or more where it is weak. Begin to fight for the unborn right where you are and with
the opportunities God has given you on a daily basis. Learn to be faithful in proclaiming the truth. This means standing for the unborn among
family members, friends, and co-workers. This means bringing the issue to light and not
sweeping it under the rug. You may
be the only light in your circle of acquaintances and it is your responsibility
to speak up. Being salt and light
also means voting in accord with your conscience and standing for the truth in
the other public opportunities that God affords you.
3. Embrace other Christians
with the love and grace of Christ that have experienced abortion firsthand. If the statistics hold true, there are many among
our churches that have experienced and still reap the consequences of having
been a part of an abortion.
Whether it is the young woman who has had an abortion, the mom who
enabled her daughter to have an abortion, or the scared boyfriend that urge his
girlfriend to terminate the baby; these people need the love, grace, and
forgiveness afforded in the Gospel.
We must learn to speak to the surviving victims of abortion with the
love of the Gospel. 1 John 1:9
tells us that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” These surviving victims of abortion
need the Gospel to cleanse them from their sin and help them walk in new
life. Strive to be a Christian
that shares the love of Christ with these usually silently hurting individuals.
4. If you are a Christian that
has had an abortion, speak up. If you are a Christian that
has had an abortion and you are living in the love, grace, and forgiveness of
the Gospel, then you need to be brave and bold to speak up about what you have experienced. Become weak in the eyes of many by
publicly bearing your sin (covered by the blood of Christ) so that Christ and
the Gospel may be made strong in your weakness. Take your scarlet A and turn it white through the blood of
Christ. By your witness others can
hear of the personal costs of having an abortion. Your witness will give fresh eyes to the issue before others
rather than perpetuating cultural silence. You can be an agent of light by bringing these atrocities to
light. In addition you can bring
others that have experienced the same salvation found in the Gospel. If you are a Christian that has
experienced abortion you have a special place in this fight. Speak up for the sake of the Gospel.
5. Consider the costs of
further action. If you have grasped the
magnitude of the slaughter that is going on right in our own home towns, then
you must consider the costs of further action. This human rights atrocity is way bigger than shootings and
gun control, biological epidemics and pandemics, casualties of war, and human
trafficking. If there is one human
rights issue to stand up for it is this one. As believers having settled this issue in our hearts,
believing in the protection of life, being salt and light in our everyday
interactions, and loving the surviving victims of this atrocity with the love and
grace of Christ, we must ask ourselves if the magnitude of this problem calls
for more action on our part. Each
one us must personally answer that question.
Finally,
there is one other major Biblical event in which infanticide is intimately
surrounded, and that is the birth of Christ (Matthew 2:16-33). Let us remember that the mercy of God and
the hope of Christ came in the midst of murder and take heart. Maybe it is time for Him to come
again. If He tarries, let us
continue to bring the Gospel into the midst of murder.
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