Debunking the AbortionMyths
Psalm 139-1-16; 1 Timothy 1:13-15
INTRO:
“Because He Lives” Bill & Gloria Gaither wrote the song in 1970.
“How sweet to hold a newborn baby. And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance, This child can face uncertain days because He lives.”
We just sang that verse from the hymn by Bill Gaither, I have pictures in my mind of our latest baby, little Hannah Ruth in Portland that I got to hold the week after Christmas, and I know she can face uncertain days because her daddy and mommy are believers in the sanctity of human life, and that she will be raised to know Jesus too.
And then I picture in my mind the aborted babies, who faced certain deaths, because our nation has disobeyed God and made abortion legal. Peter and John, arrested and standing before the judges declared: “we must obey God rather than man.” (Acts 4:18-19) Just because the U.S. Supreme Court says it is so doesn’t make it right in the sight of God. So, who do you obey? The Government or God?
The third Sunday of January has been declared the “Sanctity of Life” by those who are trying to save the lives of the innocent unborn babies who are daily being slaughtered in the abortion mills across our land. This year, there are five Sundays in January, and some are designating next Sunday as the official day, but I want to get started early on this topic, especially when the appointed Psalm for this Sunday is Psalm 139:1-6.
I believe that God hates abortion but loves those who have been a part of one and desires that they would repent and turn to Him for forgiveness. As God’s representatives we must do the same.
I hope that by this message this morning that you will be informed of God’s pro-life views. And if there’s anyone you know who may some day consider abortion for themselves or a loved one, it is my hope that you will help them recognize the long term effects of such a "quick fix".
And for those who have been stained by abortion, my hope and prayer is that they will be freed from condemnation.
And finally, and so important, I pray that this church, and the churches across Americawill be inspired to action to eradicate abortion.
On September 11, 2001 over 3000 lives were extinguished when four planes crashed into the twin towers, pentagon & the field in Pennsylvania. And the world mourned.
On September 12, 2001 4000 lives were extinguished and again on September 13 and 14 and 15. Over the past 10 years that daily rate has been reduced to 3600 lives each day, but that is still 1,314,000 babies aborted each year.
Thirtynine years ago the Supreme Court of the United States of America handed down their infamous decision in Roe v. Wade making abortion on demand a legal reality in this great nation - and putting into motion the destruction of over 50 million human babies since then.
How could this have happened - and what can we do about it now?
If we are ever to make a difference on the national political scene, in the lives of those who face a crisis pregnancy, or the lives of those already scarred by their choice to abort a baby - we will have to dismantle the myths of abortion that abound in our culture. The pro-choice movement won in part because of the very words they have used to fight the war. We all like choices, right? How dare we try to limit a woman’s choices of “reproductive rights”! You hear that term on the TV news all the time don’t you. You hear our president and politicians use that term, “reproductive rights.” I hope that when you come to realize what God’s opinion is on abortion that you will understand that it is a misnomer, that is, it should correctly be titled “murder rights,” because it is the killing of the defenseless, innocent unborn.
We true Christian believers need to be able to dismantle, to debunk the abortion myths.
My prayer is that God will speak to you today the message that God hates abortion but loves those who have been a part of one. And that as God’s representatives we must do the same.
The Pro Choice Myths of Abortion
Myth #1 - God does not have an opinion on abortion.
Truth #1 - God is pro-life.
A. God is the creator of the unborn.
Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT) 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--and 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.
B. God has plans for the unborn. Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Every person is created by God, in the image of God. And this creation is called good by God.
Who are we to decide that a human life, however it is conceived, and no matter how small or fragile, is not worthy of fulfilling the destiny he or she was created to fulfill?
The truth is that every human life is created by God, with a destiny known before they are even born by God, and that the practice of abortion must, therefore break God’s heart.
Yet - even though people may agree with this, they may still choose to abort an unexpected baby, due to their belief in abortion myth #2.
Myth #2 - Abortion will solve the problem.
Truth #2 - Abortion causes more problems than it solves.
Health risks:
Breast cancer: A 1994 study in the Journal of the national Cancer Institute found: "Among women who had been pregnant at least once, the risk of breast cancer in those who had experienced an induced abortion was 50% higher than among other women."
Effects on future pregnancies: scarring or other injuries during an abortion may prevent or place at risk future pregnancies. The risk of miscarriage is greater for women who abort their first baby.
Emotional Impact:
Mothers: Post-Abortion Stress (PAS): here are some of the symptoms of PAS -
Guilt, anger, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, anniversary grief, flashbacks of abortion, sexual dysfunction, relationship problems, eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse.
Fathers and extended family:
anger over powerlessness
guilt over having pressured woman to have an abortion
ongoing feelings of loss
Spiritual Consequences:
Fear of heaven. This stems from the idea that their aborted child is somehow standing next to God and pointing a finger of retribution down toward her.
Works-based Christianity. Some women, in an effort to pay off the debt they feel to God and to their aborted child, overcommit themselves to church service. "If only I serve faithfully, maybe God will accept me," they think.
Guilt and feelings of shame create a feeling of distance between women who choose abortion and God. This makes it harder to come to God and experience the forgiveness He offers.
This leads to the 3rd myth of abortion...
Myth #3 - Abortion is unforgivable. A view held by many good church people.
Truth #3 - Abortion is covered by Jesus’ blood.
Once upon a time there was a man who traveled town to town, tearing fathers from mothers and parents from children, sending them to jail, and even presiding over their executions - all in what he later discovered was misdirected spiritual zeal. The guilt this man must have felt as he remembered scenes in his past of standing watching men and women being killed by a mob of people throwing stones at them must have been intense. But this man discovered that, though his guilt was great, God’s mercy is greater!
1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NLT)
This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--and I was the worst of them all. But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.
If you are one of those whose hearts has been broken by abortion I want to say two things to you right now.
1. There is nothing God wants more than to help you feel His forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us of all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
2. The path to experiencing that forgiveness is not easy, but there is help along the way.Post-abortion counseling, such as that offered at the Pregnancy Care Clinic for free, can be of tremendous help in identifying and overcoming the symptoms of PAS, learning to forgive yourself, and experiencing the warm, forgiving embrace of your loving God.
Another myth, spouted those of the pro-choice movement against Christians trying to stop it.
Myth #4 - Abortion does no harm to our society. In other words, why should you pro-life Christians get so up in arms about it. As a matter of fact, Margaret Sanger, the white woman who was behind this movement, stated that abortion providers should be strategically placed in the poor African-American neighborhoods, based on the premise that it would therefore limit the spread of poverty.
Truth #4 - Abortion is just one more Satanic lie destroying the Christian foundations of our country.
Psalm 52:3 You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evilgood and goodevil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Can it be any clearer from the Word of God? Abortion is evil, the pro-abortionists claim that it is good, they are calling evil good and good evil!
You can bet that if the prophet Isaiah were around today he would be denouncing our nation for the holocaust of abortion.
But still, the pro-choice advocate will say, so what?Truth, good, evil, it’s all relative. We’re choosing the lesser wrong over the greater wrong. That, by the way, is what is known as “situation ethics.”
But are they correct. Absolutely not. The fact of the matter is that 31% of abortions are paid for by your tax dollars. The millions of dollars which the abortion mill Planned Parenthood receives every year come from your tax dollars!
Now, Christian friends, you who want to ignore the problem, what do you have to say about your tax dollars funding abortion!
The myth that it doesn’t harm you is such a lie, one-third of the generation after Roe vs. Wade has been murdered. It is the American holocaust. See the 180 movie.
Myth #5 - There is nothing I can do to stop abortion in our country.
The numbers are staggering, but what can I do? What can anyone do to put an end to this national tragedy?
Truth #5 - There is much each of us can do.
1. Vote pro-life.
Is this too narrow minded? If it is true that every abortion actually kills a human child, then voting for someone who is pro-choice is voting for someone who believes women should have the right to kill their children.
Would you vote for someone who believed people should have the right to rape someone? Or how about someone who believed people should have the right to beat up homosexuals or Jews or African-Americans or any other minority group?
In this great democracy of ours, the only way the legal landscape will change is through the thoughtful, researched, votes of the pro-life community.
2. Support Pregnancy Care Clinics.
When young pregnant women see an ultrasound of the baby, 80% of them change their mind and keep the baby. That’s the biggest reason why there are far fewer abortion today than in the 1970’s.
3. Pray.
Pray for God to work in the unseen realm to break down this Satanic stronghold in our nation.
4. Love and support those caught in crisis pregnancies.
CONCLUSION:
I am pro-life because I believe it is God’s position, and I strive to represent him on this earth.
I pray that you will be inspired to action as well.For God hates abortion but loves those who have had one. And as God’s representatives we must do the same.
Prayer: Lord God, forgive us for our complacency in the issue of abortion. As we throw away our votes to those who further abortion and do little to stop it, millions have been murdered in America’s abortion holocost. We pray for You to change the minds of Christians across our country, to obey God, rather than the Supreme Court decision. In the name of Jesus; Amen.
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