Abortion

A key Biblical text on the issue of abortion is Exodus 21:22-24 which reads “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman's husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (NKJV). This passage teaches if a man hurts a pregnant woman such that she gives birth prematurely and the baby dies, then the man who caused the harm shall be put to death. Notice the penalty for killing a child was the same regardless of whether or not the child was born yet.Knowing then the unborn child is viewed as a living human being in the eyes of God, the reason abortion is wrong is because it is murder, and murder is condemned by many scriptures (e.g., Revelation 21:8). Jerry Falwell famously and correctly condemned abortion based upon the fact that it was murder, but said that it was allowed in the case of rape and incest. If abortion is murder (and it really is), how could it be right to murder the child based upon the irresponsible actions (sin) of its parents? Mr. Falwell can’t have it both ways. In religion we need to follow all of Jesus’ teachings consistently, not just the parts we agree with.Proverbs 6:16-17 says “the Lord … doth … hate … hands that shed innocent blood.” How could anything be more innocent than a precious unborn child?