Doubtful Disputations-Birth Control and Abortion

Preface

 

Some form of birth control has been a round from ancient times.  However, a long history does not necessarily validate a practice.  So, are some forms of birth control acceptable with God?  There really is no explicit prohibition against birth control in the Bible; however, there is a command to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).  Considering His command to be “fruitful” is it a violation of God’s expressed will to practice family planning?  The answer to these questions are not clear, and perhaps are best left to individuals as they sincerely seek to follow the Lord.  Birth control measures that do not include abortion, I believe, fall under the intent of Paul’s counsel concerning “doubtful disputations.”  I have included abortion in this study, not because it qualifies as a “doubtful disputation,” but because it is most often a form of birth control.

Though some forms of birth control are probably acceptable, it is certain that ending the life of an unborn child as a form of birth control is not acceptable.  Though there is passionate disagreement with that statement, even among Christians and church organizations, I believe with intense conviction that intentionally aborting the life of an unborn child is murder; in violation of the sixth commandment—“thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13).  However, what I believe must be substantiated by Scripture, or mine is just another meaningless opinion.  So, let’s see what Scripture says about birth control and the sanctity of human life.

 

1.  BIRTH CONTROL IS FOUND IN ONLY ONE PASSAGE.  You may already be familiar with the events of Genesis 38:1-30, though the meaning might not be quite clear, there being varied interpretations.  In a nutshell:  Er, the eldest son of Judah was slain by the Lord for some evil that he had committed.  Dying childless, it fell to the second son to marry his widow, Tamar, and to produce a child on behalf of his elder brother.  Onan, not wanting his child to become the legal offspring of his brother, refused to impregnate Tamar.  For this thing God killed him also.  Of all the commentaries that I have read concerning Onan’s actions only the Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible points out the fact that the Messiah was prophesied to some day come through the family lineage of Judah, and that by spilling his seed upon the ground, Onan not only violated the law, his actions were a direct attempt to prevent the coming of the Messiah.  He may have not had that in mind, but surely Satan knew the prophesy, and used Onan’s selfish attitude to accomplish his plan.  This method of birth control was not, in itself, condemned by God’s judgment upon Onan.  His disregard for the messianic prophecy and honor granted to him, not the fact that he spilled his seed upon the ground, became his ruin. 

There is some debate about a couple forms of birth control that suggest that they potentially may abort a fertilized egg.  The Inter-Uterine Device (IUD) abosolutely does cause the abortion of a fertilized egg by preventing it from attaching to the uterine wall, thus, making it impossible for it to survive.  Some birth control pills failing to prevent an egg from being fertilized can contribute to preventing the fertilized egg from attaching itself to the wall of the uterus, thus, leading to the abortion of this human being at the earliest stage of development.

Because it is impossible to know if the pill prevented the pregnancy, or aborted a fertilized egg some women take no chances, and use alternate birth control measures.

 

2.  ABORTION TAKES A HUMAN LIFE.  According to the Bible before we were born, before and while developing in the womb, God knew us:  Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…”  David also said concerning this stage of human development:  Psalm 139:16, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”  In both passages the unborn child is given personhood by the use of personal pronouns describing both David and Jeremiah.

There is a controversial passage of Scripture used by “pro-choice” Christians found in Exodus 21:22:  “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.”  The phrase “so that her fruit depart from her” which is found in the AKJV reads in some translations, either “if she miscarriages” or “if she delivers prematurely”; giving quite opposite meanings to the verse.  If we are to acknowledge, as the “pro-choice” factions do that the proper translation is “miscarriage”, then it would seem that God puts a lesser value on the unborn child than He does the mother.  If, on the other hand, the meaning is that the baby comes early it becomes clear by the punishment imposed by injury or death to the baby that the Lord values the life of the child to be equal to that of its mother:  verse 23, “And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life…”.  In this case we have grounds to assert that killing an unborn baby is equal to killing a person any time after their birth.  

 

3.  HOW SHOULD WE MINISTER TO PRO-CHOICE PEOPLE?  I believe that abortion is murder.  But, because so many people have been mislead by the medical, political, and women’s movement crowd, I believe that there is lacking the malice toward the unborn child that one would find in the murder of a person post birth.  It only furthers the divide to accuse them of murder.  Calling names, making accusations, and pronouncing damnation upon some misguided, confused young person will not draw them to Jesus.  Paul offered the best counsel that one can find when he said in Ephesian 4:15, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”  How will they know that what they do is wrong if we fail to say anything?  Yet, on the other hand, the likelihood that they will listen to us is very slight if we approach them in a spirit of anger, self-righteousness, or loathing. 

Bombing abortion clinics, murdering abortionists, and ranting against young expectant mothers are not acts of love.  Supporting expectant mothers, offering homes for unwanted babies, volunteering in and/or financially supporting Pregnancy Help Centers are all measures that show love for both mother and baby.  If we consider what Jesus would do I believe that His answer is found in His own statement about Himself in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  I believe this verse says what side of the life question Jesus is on, and also where Satan stands.  As for me and my house, we will stand with the Lord.

 

CONCLUSION:  I know Christians that have had abortions.  Many others have perhaps used birth control measures that have the potential to cause abortions.  There is therefore now no condemnation.  Like all sin, abortion can be forgiven.  If you are concerned that you might have used a birth control measure that might have caused an abortion, ask the Lord to forgive you, and seek a measure that is safe for an unexpected life.  We must speak up for the innocent unborn child, yet at the same time be mindful that how we conduct ourselves will also have an effect on those on the other side of the debate.