The Bible doesn't address abortion as such and we approach most all our replies from a biblical perspective. Following is why we inherently do not condone nor believe in abortion. We consider abortion murder of an individual just as if that individual were outside of the womb. I'll give you the reason why we believe that after the Scripture which relates to this.
Here is what Jesus said in Matthew 19:17-21 "And he said unto him, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." He saith unto him, "Which?" Jesus said, "Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
The young man saith unto him "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matthew 19:20,21)
What Jesus was implying here is that most likely all of us sin and come short of the glory of God and we need a Savior who forgives all and died for all and in verse Matthew 19:26 it states: "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.""Here is why we believe the way we do. The controversy is "when does life begin for a human being?" To tell you the truth, I simply believed in it without ever analyzing it and you are giving me the opportunity to look at this more closely.
I went to the Encyclopedia and Webster's Dictionary.
The definition of life: a quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body. A principle or force [mind, intelligence] that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings - capacity of metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli and reproduction.Let us go to Webster's Dictionary: conception = fetus = an unborn vertebrate = having a spinal column. The Encyclopedia states that "fetus" is an unborn offspring.. In earlier prenatal life it is known as the embryo which is implanted in the lining of the uterus and develops a separate circulatroy system with its own blood supply receiving nourishment and oxygen from the placenta. A heartbeat can be heard from the 18th week on (which doesn't mean that it wasn't there earlier).
The embryo in humans derives from a sperm uniting with an egg cell. A series of mitotic divisions begin after fertilization and a blastula occurs which is cuplike forming a stomach. Next organs and tissue form around it. Skeletal structure evolves and next the nervous system, sensory organs, respiratory tissue and reproductive organs form.
The Dictionary states that a state of being is a state of existence of life with consciousness. The fact that there is growth which is by design, focused on a specific outcome without assistence from anyone, tells me there is consciousness in this living, evolving embryo which is a becoming person. The heartbeat is there at 18 weeks but the noticeable movements begin at 16 weeks.
I hope this helps you understand why Christians are against abortion although God doesn't deal with it in the Bible.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, in Christ Jesus, George & Rita Williams at Cephas MinistryBACK