'	Social & Moral Issues Abortion

DOES THE BIBLE'S PROHIBITION ON MURDER INCLUDE ABORTION? 25th February 2005 Some argue that because the Bible does not give an explicit command against abortion, therefore we should not be too strict on the issue. Abortion is a category of murder and is just a special word refering to the age of the victim. It is covered by the sixth commandment. The argument that there is no explicit scripture on murdering the unborn is insufficient. A person like Bill Clinton could on the basis of such a twisted argument argue that oral sex with Monica Lewinsky was okay because there is no explicit scripture reference against oral sex. The Bible does not need to list all the categories of deviant extra-marital sexual relations in order to prohibit them. Such behaviour is generally accepted as included in the prohibition: 'you shall not commit adultery'. Likewise abortion is generally accepted (except in modern liberal churches) as part of the prohibition 'you shall not murder' and numerous other scriptures prohibiting the shedding of innocent blood. Other scriptures refering to the humanity of the unborn support such interpretation of the commandments. This has been the position of the Christian church from the earliest manuscript evidence in the 2nd century through all the various splits between the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Protestants and numerous denominations up till very recently. The only groups that do not take this position are those that do not recognise the Bible as the inspired Word of God. Unfortunately, however some modern Bible-believing Christians have been influenced by the liberal position and so adopted a middle of the road position - that abortion is a sin, but not quite as serious as murder. I hope this article will encourage such people to re-consider the Bible's teaching on the subject. Say you have a murderer who kills a 21-year old adult. Then when accused, the murderers says that there is no scripture against the killing of 21-year old adults. You reply, that the Bible's prohibition covers all ages of victims. It does not need specifically to prohibit the killing of 21-year olds. Likewise, the Bibles prohibition on murder includes 19-year olds, 31-year olds, 52-year olds, 5-year olds, 65-year olds, 1-year olds and also those still in the womb. Lest there be any doubt on the interpretation of this latter age group, there are numerous other scriptures indicating the humanity of the unborn. The word 'abortion' is an any case a euphemism for murder which used to mean a 'miscarriage' (and still does in the medical context). Just because the Bible doesn't use euphemistic words like 'queer', 'pink' and 'gay', does not then mean that we can now condone sodomy. Just because our modern culture uses such euphemisms, does not mean that the absence of euphemisms in the Bible means that the Bible does not prohibit such behaviour. We should really preferably avoid the use of euphemisms. It is clearer to use the term 'unborn murder', rather than abortion. Maybe we would remove a lot of confusion if we did so. Ancient Roman pagan law at the time the Bible was written did allow fathers the right to kill their young unwanted children up till about age five. Numerous pagan cultures practiced similar slaughter of unwanted born children (also in Africa, Asia, America and Europe) and continued to do so right up till the arrival of Christian missionaries in the 19th century. Now the Bible did not in response to Roman law and common Canaanite practice put in a special commandment not to kill children under five years old? No. The prohibition on murder in the six commandment covers it all. Likewise the probition on murder includes the prohibition on abortion. Furthermore, I would argue that the sin of murder is a very much more serious sin than either adultery or lying. The fact that the victim is very young does not lessen the sin, but rather increases it, because the child is innocent and defenceless. The Bible does offer forgiveness for those who have been involved in such killing, who repent, but it does not treat it as any less serious than murder of an adult. Philip Rosenthal _______________________________________________ Please read our disclaimer   Back to Social Issues