Partial Birth Abortions
QUESTION: Partial Birth Abortions: Is there biblical support?ANSWER:As emotional as the abortion debate has been in America, the issue of partial birth abortion raises temperatures another notch.
As the words imply, a partial birth abortion involves extracting a fetus (usually one that is fairly far along in the birth process) through the birth canal. The fetus may die because of the extraction method or because it is too immature to survive outside the womb.
Some groups have drawn attention to the practice by disseminating graphic pictures of the process. Even supporters of abortion find it difficult to argue in favor of partial birth abortion.
It's funny the trouble we can get into when we discuss something like "right to life" vs. the "right to choose" an abortion. Even some people look to the Bible for the right to choose an abortion.
Our right to choose CAN be traced back through Scripture. It follows the winding path of Esau choosing to throw away his inheritance, of the prodigal son choosing to waste much of his life in wild living, of Cain choosing to murder his brother, and of Adam and Eve choosing to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.
The right to life is a precious gift extended directly from God, for purposes known only to Him. It is not our place to interfere in His plans and purposes.
Perhaps what confuses us is the erroneous idea that we "own" our own bodies, rather than having them on loan from God. We live in a culture that encourages us to do whatever we want as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone else. But there is little or no concern about interfering with the Maker of the Universe.
The details of partial birth abortion vs. other types of abortion are really not important to the debate. Partial birth abortions may stir more emotion because they look more like murder than other procedures.
Supporters of this and other forms of abortion argue that these procedures should be allowed in cases where the health of the mother is in jeopardy. Such situations are extremely rare. The truly appalling thing is how many abortions are performed to avoid inconveniencing the parents, because of financial problems or because tests have indicated the child might be born with birth defects.
To our self-absorbed world, all of these arguments may sound valid. Why should we have to change dirty diapers or pay to feed another child if we don't want to? Why should we be saddled with a child who has Down's Syndrome, or cerebral palsy, or epilepsy, or diabetes?
Again, looking at the world from God's perspective makes a huge difference. In God's world, we know we will suffer, but that "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4).
And we know God does not put us in difficult situations without giving us the strength to prevail.
We live in a world that, by God's will, allows us to choose daily between good and evil.
Life is good.
