With the recent rulings on third-trimester abortions, I thought it would be a good time to address this and see what the Bible has to say about the topic. Although I have never personally met a believer in Elohim that was in support of abortions, I decided to look up if any sect of Christianity approves of abortions (Outside of cases where the mother would die). Lo and behold, there are groups of Christians that believe abortions to be ok and sight certain Bible verses as poetic and not to be taken literally. This is one reason why I have an issue with Christians taking the Bible as metaphorical or allegorical. The Bible is very clear when it is being literal or symbolic, if you would like to learn more on this you can read my post, “Biblical Literalism”.
Poetry can Speak the Truth
One such example of this interpretation of scriptures is that they claim Psalm 139 to be out of context when used to oppose abortion. The quote you are about to read comes from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
“To use a poetic reference such as that in the Psalm as if it were a literal description of the beginning of personhood is to confuse poetry with a factual explanation of stages of gestation.” (http://www.life.org.nz/abortion/abortionreligiouskeyissues/christian-religions/)
The particular verses they say are taken out of context, is the following.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14) ESV
“For You, You possessed my kidneys, You have covered me in my mother’s womb. I give thanks to You, For I am awesomely and wondrously made! Wondrous are Your works, And my being knows it well.” (Psalm 139:13-14) The Scriptures 2009
Sure, this is a song and like songs nowadays, poetic speech is interlaced with the truth. Ask anyone who writes poetry or songs and they will tell you the same thing. Maybe YHWH didn’t knit me together like one knits a blanket but that doesn’t take away the part He played informing me.
Changes in Childbirth
I know someone will probably say, “If He forms everyone, why are there children born with deformities?” I don’t claim to know everything but if I had to surmise why abnormalities are a possibility, is that sin is active and entered into the world after the fall. I have no reason to believe that if the fall never happened, that malformations would occur. We know this for certain though, that sin did change aspects of Childbirth.
“To the woman He said, “I greatly increase your sorrow and your conception – bring forth children in pain…” (Genesis 3:16)
A Lack of Fear
What is bizarre, is there are “Christians” (proclaimed followers of the Messiah), who support abortions. When even the Hebrew midwives of the past, had the wisdom to fear Elohim and violate a direct order from the Pharaoh.
“Then the sovereign of Mitsrayim (Egypt) spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Pu‛ah (Puah), and he said, “When you deliver the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stools, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death, but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” But the midwives feared Elohim, and did not do as the sovereign of Mitsrayim (Egypt) commanded them, and kept the male children alive. So the sovereign of Mitsrayim called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and kept the male children alive?” And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Mitsrian (Egypt) women. For they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.” So Elohim was good to the midwives, and the people increased and became very numerous. And it came to be, because the midwives feared Elohim, that He provided households for them. And Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Throw every son who is born into the river, and keep alive every daughter.” (Exodus 1:15-22)
I know many may argue that technically what Pharaoh wanted to be done was murder and not abortions. Spare me the antics, just because the child is in the womb versus out of the womb does not change how YHWH feels about them. Again, some may state that Elohim Himself has killed children, such as when he flooded the Earth or when He killed the firstborn of the Egyptians. I have thought about this, and while I might not have a concrete answer, I do know this. His ways are higher than mine, and as a created being I have no right to judge YHWH on His actions, for He is just, and His way is perfect. It should be noted though, that whenever this does occur, it is to either (or both) bring judgment upon a people or to save Israel from being assimilated into the nations.
Deuteronomy 7 Explored
Many may site Deuteronomy 7, to show that YHWH sanctioned the massacre of all those living in the promised land but let us examine this ourselves.
“And when יהוה your Elohim gives them over to you, you shall strike them and put them under the ban, completely. Make no covenant with them, and show them no favor. And do not intermarry with them – you do not give your daughter to his son, and you do not take his daughter for your son,” for he turns your sons away from following Me, to serve other mighty ones. Then the displeasure of יהוה shall burn against you and promptly destroy you. “But this is what you do to them: Break down their slaughter-places, and smash their pillars, and cut down their Ashĕrim, and burn their carved images with fire. “For you are a set-apart people to יהוה your Elohim. יהוה your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a treasured possession above all the peoples on the face of the earth. “יהוה did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more numerous than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples, but because of יהוה loving you, and because of Him guarding the oath which He swore to your fathers, יהוה has brought you out with a strong hand, and ransomed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim (Egypt). And you shall know that יהוה your Elohim, He is Elohim, the trustworthy Ěl guarding covenant and loving-commitment for a thousand generations with those who love Him, and those who guard His commands,” but repaying those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He does not delay to do so with him who hates Him, He repays him to his face. “And you shall guard the command, and the laws, and the right-rulings which I command you today, to do them.” (Deuteronomy 7: 2-11)
Here we see the reason those who inhabited the promised land were exterminated, was because they would have led the Hebrews astray (they also had the genetics of giants). Which would have led to the Israelites being destroyed as well, and that was not a risk YHWH was willing to take, and rightly so. Ok, I know that was a bit of a detour, but I know some of those arguments would arise.
Abortion in the Bible
Does the Bible say thou shall not have an abortion? Well, no but it does say this.
“You do not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)
Some may say abortion is not murder but that is far from the truth, it is a lie the wicked want you to believe. In Exodus, we learn what should happen to someone if they hurt an unborn child.
“And when men strive and they shall smite a pregnant woman, and her children come out, yet there is no injury, he shall certainly be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband lays upon him. And he shall give through the judges.“But if there is injury, then you shall give life for life.” (Exodus 21:22-23)
The penalty for causing a miscarriage appears to be death (for more information check out my post titled "Eye for Eye"). The argument that life starts after birth is ridiculous, in Luke we read that John leaped for joy in the womb. When’s the last time you witnessed an inanimate object move on its own accord?
“And it came to be, when Elisheḇa (Elizabeth) heard the greeting of Miryam (Mary), that the baby leaped in her womb. And Elisheḇa (Elizabeth) was filled with the Set-apart Spirit, and called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! “And who am I, that the mother of my Master should come to me? “For look, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:41-44)
The Origin of Abortions
To those who are unfamiliar with the book of Enoch (Check out my post, “Ripped from the Bible, 1 Enoch”), it may surprise you to learn that it was a fallen angel who taught men how to perform abortions.
“And the name of the fifth is Kasdeyae; this one showed the sons of men all the evil blows of the spirits and of the demons, and the blows that attack the embryo in the womb so that it miscarries…” (1 Enoch 69:12) Note: Some translations of Enoch will have this verse at 69:17.
It is a wicked thing, make no mistake it is not something Elohim wishes to see. I know there are cases when abortion might be appropriate, such as saving the life of the mother, I pray that you never find yourself in that situation. But if you do, I would seek the guidance of the Rauch Hakodesh. As always test all things, including this, and may the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth.
There is still Time to Repent
One more thing, if you have had an abortion or if you condoned the act, I do not wish for you to feel as if forgiveness is beyond you. Do not let the sins of your past rule in your life. Yeshua has taken the consequences for our sins, now walk in obedience to your Elohim YHWH.
“My little children, I write this to you, so that you do not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Intercessor with the Father, יהושע Messiah, a righteous One.” (1 John 2:1)
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