IT WON'T GO AWAY! |
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of what I believe was America's most infamous decision ever made in the history of this nation. On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that life in a mother's womb was not human, and therefore had no right to life, unless the mother chose it. I'm Dennis Finnan host and speaker for the World, the Word & You! and in a moment we're going to talk about it with some startling facts you need to know.
Did you know that the greatest killer of human life today is not sickness or disease, nor accident or old age? Rather it is the premeditated, brutal execution and murder of a pre-born child! Yes, I know you've heard all this before, but hear me out! The arguments for abortion-on-demand that brought about the infamous ROE vs. WADE decision in 1973, was based on evidence and a premise that has completely fallen in these past 23 years! Yes, that's right. Did you know that the Supreme Court's ruling authorizing abortion on demand, was made strictly on the basis that unborn life was not yet fully human, and that it was only potential life? For although this truth of the court's decision is conveniently ignored and neglected, the Supreme Court said in a seven to two majority and I quote, "if the right of person-hood is established, the 'appellant's case of course, collapses for the fetus' right to life then is guaranteed specifically by the Fourteenth Amendment (1) ."
Do you realize what the court said? It said if and when it can be clearly proven that the unborn life within the womb of its mother can be medically and scientifically established, their ruling is null and void! Friend, this is precisely the issue you and I need to face -
Today we are talking about the "worn out" subject of abortion. Worn out as far as rhetoric is concerned, but far from worn out as to what is at stake. For you see my friend, abortion regardless of how legal it has been and continues to be according to corrupt law, will not go away by hiding from it, nor ignoring the cries of the savagely killed babies in this land. Abortion is according to God and His Word -- murder, and all that we try to say to assuage this will never remove the stain of blood that is on the hands of those who promote, perform and participate in this grievous carnage of human life.
Now, I've used tough words, biting and angry words, for I am angry my friend that we Christians today have taken this national sin and done little to change things when in reality we have the full power to do so. Perhaps after today's broadcast, you'll change your mind about being passive and noncommittal, and be all that God wants you to be concerning the sanctity of human life. Now let's begin where I left off. Remember what I shared with you that the Supreme Court declared in making the abortion on demand decision. The justices said, that if and when it can clearly be proven that unborn human life is not potential human life, but fully human life, then their decision is null and void!
You see today there are only three views battling on the abortion issue. First are those who view unborn life as "subhuman," not being human at all. These are the ones who can callously call for abortion anytime, simply on the basis of the quality of life, or even the privacy of the mother over human life. This was the basic reasoning of the Supreme Court, which argued that a woman's right to privacy prevailed over the states interest in regulating abortions. Thus, the name "pro-choice" arose meaning the mother had the right to decide whether to allow the growth of a fetus in her to become human life by birth.
The second view of abortion sees life in the mother's womb as only "potential" life. Those who believe this do not advocate abortion anytime, but rather "sometimes." In most cases those who believe in the potential human life concept, say abortion is "O.K." to save the mother's life, for rape and for incest, and even genetic deformities. I would imagine a goodly majority of non-Christian moralists in America generally fall into some form of this camp. They are generally opposed to abortion, but since it has not become human yet, one can dispose of it without violating the sanctity of human life.
Now the third and only other view is the Christian view. This view believes that the life in the mother's womb, regardless of its time element, stage of development, or quality of life, is fully and forever human life in every respect it shall ever be until it dies. If this is the case, as true Christians believe, then at no-time can anyone advocate abortion on demand. Now who is right? Herein lies the unresolved argument for the past 23 years.
Yet today, the argument is answered by God's Word, but now also by science itself. Let's examine the scientific evidence now available to us, that was not when the 1973 abortion decision was made. As far back as 1981, American science came to a startling conclusion. At a U.S. Congressional hearing in that year, scientific experts from around the world, came together and testified about the latest understanding and knowledge of the beginning of an individual's life. One of the world's leading medical researchers boldly stated and I quote,
"In biology and in medicine, it is [now] accepted fact that the life of any individual organism reproducing by sexual reproduction begins at conception or the [moment of] fertilization." (Dr. Micheline M. Matthews-Roth).(2)
Through the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, other leading doctors and scientists testified over and over again that human life now has been found scientifically and conclusively to be fully human from the moment of fertilization! This was summed up by the famous Dr. Hymie Gordon who said,
"But now we can say, unequivocally, that the question of when life begins is no longer a question for theological or philosophical dispute. It is an established fact... that all life, including human life, begins at the moment of conception." (3)
Imagine that? How come you never heard about this landmark hearing and studies? How come nothing was ever said of this by the American press? The answer is it was suppressed, and the news simply ignored it for political and philosophical reasons.
Yet today fifteen years later, we continue to know that a human embryo at any stage of existence, is not an extension of the mother, such as a growth, but rather a new and completely different life. You see, the unborn child from the moment of conception contains 46 chromosomes, the correct number of normal human life. The child has its own sex from the same moment. Within three to four weeks, science can detect the child's own individual brain waves which they keep until death. Moreover within the same period, this child growing in the mother's womb has its own blood type, often completely different from its mother.
A perfect example is my own family. My wife has a blood type of O-negative. All five of our children grew within her with O-positive, a blood type that if unleashed into her system would have killed her. Then again as the child grows it exhibits its own unique fingerprints. Hence, the unborn child scientifically and medically is by no means a part of the mother's body, and apart from receiving from her food, water and oxygen, it continues to live on its own, and in many ways actually controlling the mothers body to sustain its own life.
Now knowing these scientific and medical truths now indisputably established as fact - if we want the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court case reversed, we must call for the justices to re-open the case based on the evidence now at hand. And, if the court refuses, this must be the argument presented before congress to gain a constitutional amendment to protect the sanctity of human life in the womb.
However, the human and scientific arguments aside. The greatest argument that should affect you and me is what God's Word has to say.
We cannot be for abortion on demand, if we ever would hope to see God's favor and blessing. For the Bible tells us the very same thing. Now I'll not go into great detail quoting verse after verse substantiating God's Word teaches that all unborn life is fully human and protected by God's commands to revere the sanctity of life. However, I would like to quote a couple of conclusive verses that say it all. Listen now as I read them,
Psa 139:13-16 NIV "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. {14} I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. {15} My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, {16} your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Job 10:8-12 NIV "Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? {9} Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again? {10} Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese, {11} clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? {12} You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit."
Job 31:15 NIV "Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers? "
There is no doubt in an honest person's mind who has studied the Bible carefully that it teaches the fully human existence of life in the womb of the mother. For this reason it is despicable that there are supporters of abortion that call themselves Christians. For several religious denominations such as the American Baptists, United Methodists, United Presbyterian Church, the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church -- these groups actually support abortion on demand by stating "the continuance of pregnancy is not a moral necessity"(4)
Yes, my friend the moral catastrophe, or more clearly the American holocaust is not over. To date, this weekend that remembers that infamous decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, now marks the blood-bath killing of more than 30 million American unborn children. That's more lives killed than all who died in all the wars this nation ever fought! That's equivalent to America experiencing the destruction and wiping out the entire populations of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Iowa, Idaho, Montana and Nebraska!!! Are we so numb, that we cannot see this American holocaust?
Yes, it won't go away, and all the rhetoric for abortion rights will not cancel the cries of the blood shed in the killing fields, and clinics of death that fuel this nightmare from Hell! But now 23 years later, with no let up in sight, what's a Christian and every decent American citizen to do? Begin a war, or resort to guerrilla tactics as some foolish, disobedient Christians have done these past years? I answer no! It is never right to do wrong, and it is not right to fight fire with fire either. That may be all right for forest fires, but not the fires of Hell! Two wrongs do not make a right on earth, in heaven or hell. Well in the remaining time, permit me to give those who stand firmly against abortion - a continued battle plan. For everyone of us can do something to put an end to the violence of abortion if we will but act.
To begin, the first thing we must all do is stop being PUBLICLY INDIFFERENT to these killings. Yes, most Christians are indifferent, because they say and do nothing as the death march goes on year after year. You can stop being indifferent by, regularly writing letters of protest to local newspapers editorial pages, to your congressmen, or other important government officials decrying the abortion on demand rights and asking for congressional or court reappraisal. We must be unrelenting in this, regardless of their present deaf ear response. For if the outcry would gain momentum, in time they would have to listen.
Secondly, we must stage PUBLIC PROTESTS. These are not illegal, nor unbiblical! I believe they are morally required when such evil stalks the land. However, to bomb or destroy, vandalize or break into abortion clinics, stalk abortionists, intimidate patrons and citizens is morally and spiritually reprehensible. Yet honest picketing stills is a powerful voice if more of God's people would get involved.
Third, we should all join and personally support a biblical PRO-LIFE ORGANIZATION, or action group. Your help can change public opinion not to mention political decisions too, through organized, intelligent and informed lobbying.
Fourth, consider becoming a part of a local CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER. It is not enough to condemn abortion, we must do something tangibly and personally to help those who have fallen to immorality and pregnancy. There are millions of pregnant women, from young teens to single young adults who desperately need our help, to be encouraged to carry their baby to term, and then decide what to do with the child God brings forth. Let's not abandon these women, but help them and care for them until the battle is won. Your local Crisis Pregnancy center is the main source to accomplish this.
Fifth, we need to be involved in the continued PUBLIC EDUCATION of Americans to learn the real truth about abortion. How few today really know that the little one growing in a mother's womb is a fully human image made by God Himself. They also need to know the options such as supportive adoption, and the nightmarish after-effects killing ones own child leaves forever in the soul women who have had abortions. Let's educate the public and be involved in such proper responses.
Then sixth, let's be sure we are not leaving God out of the equation. Prayer and fervent supplication asking God to intervene in the affairs of this nation to stop this evil in the land can have a mighty effect. The Bible says in,
James 5:16 NIV "... pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Prayer is, I believe, the greatest weapon we have against the enemy of the sanctity of human life. In fact, I believe one of the great contributing factors to the abortion crisis in America, has been the colossal lack of prayer among believers, asking God for righteousness to prevail. Although many are duped to disbelieve this, we Christians who stand for righteousness still are the majority in this nation. And, as we are a representative form of government, wherein the people make the final public decision, this majority can reverse the untold damage of 23 years, if we will put our collective hearts and voices to it. Oh may God so energize you, your families and churches that together, our voices of outrage, dissent and call for change, will be heard from heaven to halls of Congress and the courts. Let us all faithfully pray that one day soon, we will see this evil fall in this land as the wicked rule of communism did that once was so entrenched, which now lies crumbled in the dust.
Abortion friend, is not just a threat to the unborn life, but to all of us who live under the judging hand of God. For as we are silent, passive, and selfishly non-committed, God's Word tells us He will hold us all accountable for the evil we could have restrained had we joined together in unity to stop the killing of the unborn. Christ is asking each of us right now to come to Him for forgiveness, for cleansing of the blood that stains our hands, so that He might pour out His blessing on those who seek Him and do His will. Abortion is indeed an issue that will not go away! We will all pay the price sooner or later, for God is a just God and will by no means clear the guilty - which is America itself! Meanwhile as God's grace waits, let us be the source of a solution, and may God's love and mercy energize us to stand up and be counted, as we move into this new year of promise and destiny. May God grant this to be so for Jesus' sake. Amen.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Supreme Court Ruling January 21, 1973
(2) Subcommittee on Separation of Powers,
report to Senate Judiciary Committee S-158, 97th Congress, 1st Session, 1981.
(3) Ibid.
(4) Judie Brown, "And Now Its More than 18 Million," A.L.L. About Issues,
February, 1985, pg. 3.
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
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