L I F E
Sanctity of Life Sunday
Psalms 139
I. Psalms 139 tells us that we were known by God before we were formed, and our forming came by the hand of God. - And that process began in the womb. - Today, our world is divided over this issue. – I believe that the issue that divides us is not the debate over choice, but simply what defines life.
A. Before I begin let me share with you that the subject matter today is a sensitive one. – It is a topic that has probably pierce the hearts of everyone in this room in one way or another. – I do not speak to you as an authority, simply an orator of God’s Word.
1) In doing so my opinion will be expressed; not flippantly, but prayerfully and with the earnest knowledge that I am addressing an issue that I can not fully understand. - I can never truly experience the devastation of the mind and heart that having to chose and abortion can bring, nor can I grasp the pain such a choice may leave behind.
a] So with that, I wish to address LIFE. – Let me lay a bit of a foundation for todays message.
II. We tend to move into one of two camps … - The Pro-CHOICE Group … those who favor abortion, and – Pro-LIFE Group … those who oppose abortion. – Although these titles are intended to be descriptive of the motive and purpose of each group, I think they are more opposing statements then a descriptive ones.
A. The term Pro-Life is strange. - Who isn’t in favor of life? – Pro-Lifers should be called “The Pro-Appropriate Choice Group”, because sense both sides of the issue are in favor of life, then the real question is, “Is the choices being made, appropriate?”
1) And the term Pro-Choice should be called “The Pro-Partial Choice Group,” because only one of the two individuals involved gets to make a choice, and the one who has no right to choose is the one who suffers the consequences.
a] There’s only One is who is truly Pro-Life! So much so He created it! - And He’s Pro-Choice! He made the life He created to be a "free moral agent" … - Thus He’s pro-life and pro-choice. – He wants us to live fully, and chose wisely.
Deuteronomy 30:19b “…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live…”
III. Based on the number of lives lost, statistically the two most dangerous places on earth are ground zero at a nuclear bomb testing sight. –And what was once revered as the safest place on earth – a mother’s womb. – How could we come to such as place?
A. Example: How can a refined and educated nation exterminate, with cool detachment, millions of other people. - What permitted a civilized people like the Germans to commit such a monstrous evil, as the Holocaust?
1) I believe the cause was their attitude toward life itself. - The victims simply lost their humanity - they weren’t considered to be people.
a] Their human rights were striped from them. Their social status was reclassified. – They were seen as inferior, useless and worthless. – They were characterized as a threat to the social welfare.
III. We have witnessed in the last decade Bosnia; Yugoslavia; Nigeria; Rwandan; Croatia; Albania; Kosovo; Iran and Iraq, just to name a few, practice ethnic cleansing, because they have redefined L-I-F-E.
A. Are the lives that are being snuffed-out not significant enough to continue? – That may sound ridiculous, but isn’t that the question about the life in the womb? - Is that really a person, a human being? - Is it of significant value that it should continue?
1) Will it serve the best interest of society? Will it be an undue burden to those who conserved it? –Will it interfere with the lives those who are responsible for keeping it alive?
a] These questions must be answered. – But there are two more questions that must be answered, “Is it a human life?” – and – “Are we the makers of that life?” – and – “Do we have the right to take that life?”
Genesis 2:7 “The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
IV. Here are some biological facts regarding the development of the pre-born child.
Day 1: At the moment of conception 23 male chromosomes will fuse with the 23 female chromosomes resulting in a 46 chromosomes single cell embryo. - The genetic make-up (sex, eye color, hair color, etc.), has been determined. – After a short move, all that’s required is time and nourishment.
3 - 6 Weeks: Heartbeat and brain waves can be detected. and recorded.
8 – 13 Weeks: All body organs are present, and gender is clearly apparent. - Eyes open; lips move; hands grasp, and pain can be felt. - Fingers and toes are complete, with their own distinctive prints that will last a life time.
16 - 20 Weeks: 8" to 12" tall; Movement is aggressive. – Chance of survival of premature infant is possible (As early as 18 weeks has been recorded.)
A. What is Modern Science Saying? – At what point do the great minds of science see life beginning? – Is this thing within the womb a person or not? – If not, then at what point does it become a person?
1) “In biology and in medicine, it is an accepted fact that the life of any individual organism resulting from sexual reproduction begins at conception, or fertilization.” Dr. M. M. Matthew, Harvard University.
2) “To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion. The human nature of the human being from conception to old age is not a metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence.” Dr. Jerome LeJeune, University of Medicine, Paris, France.
3) “But now we can say, undeniably, that the question of when life begins is no longer a question for theological or philosophical dispute. It is an established scientific fact. Theologians and philosophers may go on to debate the meaning of life or the purpose of life, but it is an established fact that all life, including human life, begins at the moment of conception.” Dr. Hymie Gordon, University of California, School of Medicine.
a] The knitting process of human life was well understood long before modern medicine concluded it.
Psalm 139:13-16 “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; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”
V. On January 22, 1973 the United States Supreme Court handed down its famous Roe vs. Wade decision. - By a vote of 7-2 they declared that the removal of a pre-born life was a constitutional right. - Since that time, over 47,282,923 lives have not been allowed to impact the world around them.
A. That means that during the time of this service 250 destinies will come to a close. - That’s one every 20 seconds. - Over 4000 every day. - Statistics say that less then 4% of those abortions are the result of adverse and perilous circumstances. - 45.400.000 of the over 47,000,000 abortions performed in the US are done for birth control reasons only.
1) Unfortunately such a statistic mistakenly assumes that every woman who has an abortion does so because she wants one. - When in fact, according to national polls, while many women believe they need an abortion, very few, if any, actually want an abortion.
a] This reality is described by pro-life feminist Frederica Green: "No woman wants an abortion as she wants an ice cream cone or a Porsche. She wants an abortion as an animal caught in a trap wants to gnaw off its own leg. Abortion is a tragic attempt to escape a desperate situation by an act of violence and self-loss. Abortion is not a sign that women are free, but a sign that they are desperate."
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
VI. What are the some of the major arguments that may give some justification for a person to seriously consider abortion as an alterative answer? - Here are 5 possibilities:
1) There is the woman’s right over her own body.
2) There are situations in which the baby will be born hopelessly deformed.
3) There is the need to alleviate the painful indignity forced upon a woman by a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.
4) There are those unwanted pregnancies that make a child vulnerable to neglect and abuse.
5) Why should a woman be forced against her will to bring into this world a baby she doesn’t want?
A. These are pretty persuasive arguments. - They each have merited, however, for them to stand alone one major assumption must be made: That the unborn being is not a human person.
1) If it is not a person, then it has no protection. – For it doesn’t have the same right of life as every other human being.
a] The arguments used for abortion rights, can also be used for infanticide and euthanasia as well.
VII. Consider the following findings from a survey of women who had join a post-abortion support group:
(1) 70% chose abortion in violation of their consciences;
(2) 30% to 60% desired to carry the pregnancy to term;
(3) 80% would have carried to term if supported by loved ones;
(4) 53% felt "forced" to have the abortion by others;
(5) 64% felt "forced by outside circumstances";
(6) 40% were still hoping to discover some alternative to abortion when they went to the abortion clinic.
A. To escape the trap of a crisis pregnancy, a women will choose to abort, and thus sacrifice some part of themselves. – Such a decision requires a betrayal of one’s own moral values, and a redefining of God given maternal instincts.
1) The concept that women should be "free to choose" abortion without question or hindrance is based on an ideal that the woman involved is emotionally stable and well informed about the dangers abortion poses to both their psychological and physical health.
a] In other words, they have a clear understanding of what they are about to do. - Unfortunately this is not always the case.
2) Many are emotionally dependent on, or easily influenced by, parents, boyfriends, husbands, counselors, employers, or others who may want them to choose abortion for their own agendas.
VIII. We all agree, we should never intentionally take the life of any innocent human being. - Thus there is only one relevant question to be answered. - Are unborn babies human beings?
Abortion Is Not A Religious Issue;
It Is A Human Issue. - It Takes Human Lives.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
In this quite place with you I bow before your throne
I bear the deepest part of me to you and you alone
I keep no secrets for there is no thought you have not known
I bring my past and all the rest to you and lay them down
With all my heart I want to love you lord
And live my life each day to love you more
All that is in me is yours completely
I’ll serve you only with all my heart
You faithfully supply my needs according to your plan
So help me lord to seek your face before I seek your hand
Then trust you’ll know what’s best for me when I don’t understand
Then follow in obedience in every circumstance
With all my heart I want to love you lord
And live my life each day to love you more
All that is in me is yours completely thank you jesus
I’ll serve you only.
