|
Over forty million babies have been
aborted since Roe v. Wade in 1973
and approximately 93% of those occured for social reasons (not medical
problems, rape or incest click here).
It is estimated that 43% of all women will have an abortion (at least
one) by 45 years of age (www.abortionno.org).
If what pro-lifers are saying is the truth, isn’t this abysmal and
abhorrent infanticide on a mass scale enough to at least give us
pause? As a friend of mine said, this is a “modern day sacrifice
of
the most innocent of human beings to a god of comfort and convenience.”
Those who are not in Christ are spiritually blinded to His Truth (2
Corinthians 4:3-4). I understand the spiritual side of the issue of
abortion. But I also understand that there are medical and biological
facts. And if we approach this issue logically, I have a difficult time
understanding why people that know the facts through and through, still
believe choosing abortion is a moral choice.
What causes us to instinctively celebrate with friends and family when
they announce that they are pregnant? Is it because they are
pregnant
with a life?
When Does Life Begin?:
The 30-year old question of when life begins is not a religious one, as
pro-choice proponents would like to have you believe. This
question
can be (and has been) addressed scientifically, and plenty of evidence
has shown that life does begin at conception. It just has not
been
fully accepted by those unwilling to see the truth.
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together
in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully
complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous–how well I know it. You watched me
as I
was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the
dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day
of my life
was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a
single
day had passed” (Psalm 139:13-16).
Wikipedia says “life is a characteristic of organisms that exhibit
certain biological processes such as chemical reactions or other events
that results in a transformation.” Time Magazine had a cover
story in
November of 2002 that addressed the issue of life at conception and
detailed biologically what happens to an embryo from conception to
birth. This article states that cell division begins within hours
of
conception. Is that life? National Right to Life reports
that a heart
beat is formed somewhere close to 22 days after conception and brain
waves at 40 days. Is that life? And yet, abortions usually
are not
performed until after those days.
So is it biology that determines life? We’ve just seen above how
biologically there is life in the cell division, heart beat, and brain
waves of an embryo. Is life determined by viability outside the
womb?
Babies outside the womb can die without caretakers and those on
respirators are still filled with life. That is not a valid
argument.
What about size? Is a child that is 5 years old more alive than
one a
couple of weeks old? Is it intellect? Is it brain
development? Do you
see the flimsiness of these arguments?
Why are Planned Parenthood and other pro-choice activists fighting the
Ultrasound Bill, that would “require all expectant mothers considering
abortion to be shown ultrasounds and hear the heartbeat of their
developing child, which is almost non-existent in abortion
clinics.”
Are they really interested in reducing abortions as they claim, because
the simple act of viewing an ultrasound first has been shown to change
80% of women’s mind about abortion
(http://www.freemarket.org/Img/November%202008%20Design.pdf). Are
they
afraid of this bill because they are not really interested in reducing
abortions? That would then reduce the millions of dollars that
are
made each year from this “medical” industry.
Why was Scott Peterson, for example, convicted of two counts of murder
when he killed his wife Laci and their unborn child, Conner? The
courts have recognized, in such cases, that an unborn child is a life
for which we can seek justice.
Right to Choose:
Can we be honest for a minute? What are pro-choice advocates
really
asking to choose? If we establish that life does begin at
conception,
then aren’t they asking to be able to choose one life over
another?
Their convenience over a defenseless baby? Remember, according to
statistics cited above, only 7% or less of all the millions of
abortions are performed because of the life of the mother or rape and
incest. So let’s address the 93%. Do we have a right to
take that
baby’s innocent life? If we take a baby’s life after he or she is
born, then we are put on trial in a court of law for murder. But
“it’s
our body” women will say. Do we have a right to “choose” our body
over
that baby’s body–a body with a heartbeat, brain functioning,
fingernails, and the ability to feel pain, especially the pain of an
abortion? Do we have that right?
Unwanted/Unplanned Pregnancy:
What if the child is “unwanted” or the pregnancy “unplanned”?
According to the National Council for Adoption, “there are 450 married
couples for each child waiting to be adopted, and millions of qualified
singles who could foster parent or adopt as well.” Given those
statistics, there is no such thing as an unwanted child. And to
turn
an unplanned pregnancy into the gift of a lifetime for a couple
desperately wanting a child. . .what an incredibly selfless act that
will bless others for years and years to come. Many children
secretly
labeled unwanted or unplanned, or born into less than ideal
circumstances, have gone on to become some of the world’s leading
figures and incredible defy-the-odds success stories.
Some would ask if an unwanted child then becomes an abused child?
Statistics actually show the opposite. Child abuse has been on
the
dramatic rise since abortion on demand became legal in 1973.
Could
this have to do with a culture that devalues life and treats it as a
disposable commodity?
The Procedures:
This is by far the most disturbing part of this whole debate, and I
firmly believe that this is where the greatest myths and lies are
perpetuated. Not all women seeking abortions have ultrasounds
beforehand. Why is that? We discussed the Ultrasound Bill
earlier,
but shouldn’t all women see the truth about what they are aborting
before subjecting their baby (or themselves, for that matter) to this
“procedure”? Planned Parenthood, on their website, admits that an
abortion may or may not be preceeded by an ultrasound (and I will not
link to them for obvious reasons, but you can find the source if you so
desire). I wonder what lengths Planned Parenthood goes to
discourage
young, vulnerable women considering abortion from obtaining an
ultrasound.
If people really knew the procedures for abortion, and had a chance to
not only see their baby with an ultrasound, or see an abortion in
progress, would humanity really sit by and advocate for this
brutality? Well, we have a chance to not be in the dark
anymore. If
abortion providers and pro-choice advocates are not afraid to support
these procedures (even though they are afraid of being honest with the
public about them), let’s combat this by being bold enough to know them
ourselves, and speak out against them. Check out “The Silent
Scream”
on YouTube. It is the video that many abortion providers do not
want
you to see. (Warning: This video is incredibly disturbing
and many,
if not most, of you will be unable to watch it all the way through).
Let’s begin with the most egregious and inhumane of all the abortion
procedures, the partial-birth abortion. This is for women beyond
20
weeks into their pregnancy, and sometimes much later. Here is
what a
20 week old baby looks like. In this procedure, the doctor pulls
the
baby out by his or her legs until only the head remains inside the
womb. (If the head isn’t “born,” does this keep it from being
called
“murder” in their eyes?) “Then the abortionist jams scissors into
the
back of the baby’s skull and spreads the tips of the scissors apart to
enlarge the wound. After removing the scissors, a suction catheter is
inserted into the skull and the baby’s brains are sucked out. The
collapsed head is then removed from the uterus” (source).
Other procedures include:
* Suction Aspiration–the baby is essentially cut
into pieces and
suctioned out with a vacuum; the patient is at risk for infection if
all of the body parts and tissues are not removed properly.
* Dilatation & Curettage–very similar to suction
aspiration
* RU 486–the abortion pill that starves the baby to
death, causing the “embryonic baby to be expelled from the uterus.”
* Dilatation & Evacuation–similar to the D&C
except the
baby is torn limb from limb and the hardened skull is sometimes crushed
before removing.
* Salt Poisoning (aka “Saline Amniocentesis”)–some
of the baby’s
amniotic fluid, allowing him or her to live and breathe, is replaced
with a concentrated salt solution causing ”painful burning and
deterioration of the baby’s skin” until the baby dies.
The Aftermath:
Despite what many would have you believe, there are side effects to
abortion in many cases–physical and emotional. Bleeding,
hemorrhage,
laceration of the cervix, and infection are among the most common
physical complications, but there are also psychological complications
such as guit and regret (nrlc). Some studies show upwards of 50%
of
the women experience this guilt, as seen in the many sources below:
* http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125515.php
* http://www.abortionfacts.com/reardon/after_effects_of_abortion.asp
* http://www.pregnancycenters.org/Fact%20Sheet%20on%20abortion-emotional%20risks.pdf
* http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/ASMF/asmf13.html
* http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/ASMF/asmf14.html
* http://www.thefloridacatholic.org/mia/2009_mia/2009_miaarticles/20090205_mia_shanice.php
* http://prolifeaction.org/providers/everett.htm
(Carol Everett is a former abortion provider that is now a strong
pro-life advocate because of what she saw. Her story is quite
compelling.)
Now What?:
I have nothing but compassion for the majority of women who have had an
abortion. As stated earlier, I believe most of them are deceived,
without the truth, and taken advantage of during a vulnerable
time.
And knowing that many will feel guilt, regret, or experience
significant physical complications from their abortion, I am not in
favor of using our pro-life passion to condemn those already feeling
the weight of their decision. God is a God of forgiveness. . .it
is
not in His nature to deny anyone forgiveness when they seek it and it
certainly isn’t in His nature to condemn those who are in Christ.
As
Christians, we need to remember that this issue, although heated at
times, involves children of God (both the babies at risk, the women who
are choosing abortion, and even the doctors who provide and perform
these abortions). Our approach must always be loving, and never
violent, no matter how passionate the protest.
What we can do is speak up, stand on the Truth of God’s Word, and not
be passive anymore. Let’s be advocates for these precious
children,
let’s refuse to allow them to be “sacrificed to a god of convenience,”
and let’s get this information out to as many people willing to
listen. Then, knowing that we have the power of the God of the
universe behind us, let’s pray with fervency that the eyes of those who
are blind will be opened and that one day soon we will see an end to
these deaths.
I’ll close with God’s Word on the matter, as well as links to ways that
you can further educate yourself on abortion and then make your voice
heard.
Support Pro-Life Groups–with your time, talents and treasures; or
volunteer with a local crisis pregnancy center.
Contact Your Elected Officials–let them know how important this issue
is to you and your family, especially when there is legislation pending
that threatens the right to life (such as now with President
Obama).
Click here to locate state and local elected officials by zip code.
Get and Stay Informed–with credible websites such as http://www.abortionfacts.com/
and books such as Why
Pro-Life? or Prolife
Answers to Prochoice Arguments, both by Randy Alcorn. He also
has an excellent article on his webpage entitled, “Fifteen Pro-Life Truths to Speak.”
Encourage Your Church to Speak
Up and Get Involved
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple
of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?
You
do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.
So
you must honor God with your body.”
Proverbs 31:8-9 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for
themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the
poor and
helpless, and see that they get justice.”
Proverbs 24:11-12 “Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save
them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by
saying,
‘Look, we didn’t know’.”
Source: Standing on Truth
Publish
Date: March 25, 2009
Link
to this article.
Send
this article to a friend.
 
The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in
Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state
coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of
Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our
society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political
persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic
backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has
been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the
human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that
every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is
dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection
for the disabled and the elderly. Click here to learn more about the IFRL.
|
