____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ April 25, 1993 ____________________________________________________ The Value of a Human Life by Tom Edwards Some media, such as the movie industry with its often corrupting and desensitizing influence, sometimes change the world's perspective toward values and morals by interjecting values and morals of their own, either subtly or bluntly. While, in addition, the true nature of sin is either glossed over or denied entirely of its very existence. We live in a time in which ``homosexuality is an alternate lifestyle''; vulgar and profane language--along with pornographic material--are simply ways of expression and art; decency in dress is an outmoded concern, and today anything fashionable sets the trend. On and on we could go considering this merry-go-round of humanistic ideas that the world would have each person to grab the reins of and ride happily on; but to God, this is not merry at all--nor should it be to us. Rather, what it does show is a blatant disregard for the Lord Himself and that many individuals view the Bible as either being untrue or simply irrelevant for our time. Since we are considering various values, let us give our attention specifically to the value of man. Should we turn to the world to learn of this? If we do, would we not find that value continually depreciating? To many, man is nothing more than an animal with higher intelligence and, therefore, an animal should have as much rights as a man. Actually, it is the animals that sometimes have more. A few months ago I read that a person could be fined $10,000 and imprisoned a year for destroying the egg of a bald-headed eagle--but to kill an unborn human baby is now a lawful option without penalty. Though God gave life to all creatures, to man God gave more. For to man the Lord also gave an immortal soul (Matt. 10:28) and created him in God's own image (Gen. 1:26,27). This could never be said about an animal. As one old preacher used to point out, ``Man is not like Rover who when he dies is dead all over''--for man has a soul that will always exist. Furthermore, it was only to man that God gave dominion over all the earth. Therefore, he was given the right to kill animals and use them for food (Gen. 9:3); but never was he given the right to destroy the innocent lives of his own kind--and what life could be more pure than that of the unborn child? Genesis 9:16 states: ``Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.'' Clearly, God shows a great distinction between the value of human life and that of the animals. Man is not conceived as a dead thing--but as a living entity. Nor is this new life ``animal'' life; for it is the offspring of humans, and humans can produce only humans. So here we have human life that begins at conception. Today, unfortunately, many of the same people who are opposed to capital punishment are in favor of destroying--by abortion--innocent children. Where is our society heading when the guilty are provided for and the innocent are put to death? And when even animals sometimes have more rights than human beings? What will come next? Will we soon have the right to exterminate the elderly who can no longer care for themselves? And if so, who will it be after them? The poor? The sick? The feeble? Will euthanasia be the answer to help rid the world of some of its ``problems''? I still can't understand the reasoning of those who call it murder to kill a baby two days old, but would not call it such if the child were destroyed prior to being born. There have been children born prematurely who are younger than some who have been aborted. Why would it be murder to kill the one, but not the other? Simply because of a person's ``rights''? And what kind of ``right'' justifies the extermination of an innocent life? Someone once said, ``Life is the gift of God . . .God gave us life . . .What each of us do with life is strictly up to us.'' Let us think about this truth a moment: if God gave us life, when did He give it to us? Was it after we were born? a few months before our birth? or at the moment of conception? Let us note that the same Greek word (``brephos'') that is used to describe a young child (Luke 18:15-17) is also used to speak of one who is still unborn (Luke 1:41,44). The unborn is more than merely ``fetal tissue''; rather, he is a human being to whom God has blessed with life and many potentials. To abort this precious life while still in the womb, is it not to interfere with the Lord's marvelous work? Let us each turn to the Scriptures to learn from there the value of human life and see how it should be respected, cared for, and treated. God would have us each to ``regard one another as more important than himself'' and, therefore, be concerned about others (Phil. 2:3,4). Do we realize the value of life and are we concerned about the lives of others? Jesus cared enough that He left heaven's glory in order to come to the rescue of a people who were lost and dying in sin. Let us follow His example, realizing the value of every human soul, showing the proper respect toward each individual, and teaching God's laws of love to one another. ___________________________________________ A Woman's ``Right'' to Choose by Kenneth D. Sils It appears the debate about abortion in America is over. Recently, America spoke in the national election and various state elections to continue the practice of abortion. Abortion may be defined as: the wanton destruction and elimination of: (1) viable tissue mass or (2) a baby in the womb of a: (1) woman or (2) mother. Regardless of what people may say, abortion is the wanton destruction and elimination of a baby in the womb of a mother. Since 1973, America has witnessed the killing of 1.5 million babies a year within the wombs of their mothers. That calculates to 30 million babies by the end of this year which is approximately 1/10 of our current population in the United States. The trumpet sound of the ``modern person'' now boldly and assertively blows that this practice of pre-meditated murder and slaughter is what we want in our society. For them, it is a great day of victory for the ``rights'' of women across the land. Many groups proudly display their legislative victory as a woman's ``right'' to choose. I can remember reading about a woman's ``right'' to choose in the Bible. The very first woman had a ``right'' to choose in Genesis chapter 3. It was there that Eve recalls God's command for her not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. However, Satan told her that she had a ``right'' to that tree. Satan said in Genesis 3:4, ``You shall not surely die. For God knows in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'' There is no doubt, Eve had a choice. It was up to her. Would she obey her Creator, or eat the fruit she truly wanted to eat? She exercised her ``right'' to choose and disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. The story in Genesis goes on to tell us that the results of Eve's choice brought heartache, pain and suffering. She had a ``right'' to choose, but it surely wasn't the right choice. Our country has made it legal for women, without regard to the father, to slaughter a child in her womb. It is her choice to exercise legally, but it isn't a choice without consequences. Consider some of the consequences of this ``right'' to choose to have an abortion. The same God who created and punished Eve has spoken to people concerning his hatred of the shedding of innocent blood (Prov. 6:17). Man would like to tell you that this ``tissue mass'' is not a human being, but God, in the Bible, completely contradicts this idea. In Ecclesiastes 11:5 the wise preacher says, ``As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grown in the womb of her who is with child.'' God calls the fetal mass within a woman's womb a child. In Luke 1:44, the Scriptures tells us that ``the babe (brephos) leaped in the womb for joy.'' Clearly God has taught us that a babe becomes a babe at its creation which can only be fertilization. Isaiah said this in Isaiah 49:1, ``The Lord has called me from the womb; from the matrix of my mother he has made mention of my name.'' God called Jeremiah in a similar fashion in Jeremiah 1:5, ``Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.'' When a woman exercises her legal right to ``choose'' to abort her ``viable tissue mass,'' she is actually choosing to murder a child in her womb! We are beginning to be exposed to a great deal of data from emotionally shattered women who exercised their ``right'' to choose. There are many, many women who have come out of the closet confessing various kinds of emotional distress a past abortion has done to their lives. Some women have committed suicide. Some will never be able to forgive themselves. Some have divorced their mates and left their other children. On the positive side, some have turned into the most ardent campaigners and champions of the ``pro-life'' movement. Why do women continue to have these types of reactions if they were just removing an inconvenient, unwanted growth? They knew conscientiously, and later knew biblically, that they destroyed a life which God created. They were beginning to feel the impact of Eve's consequences for their ``right'' to choose. What is the bottom line to the modern holocaust of abortion? It is the ancient battle of Satan verses God. It's the battle of big money verses God's righteousness. It's the battle of self-seeking verses sacrifice. It's the battle of good verses evil. It's the battle of our personal choices verses what God wants me to do. Sadly, it appears that truth and righteousness are losing. One must have his head buried in the sand not to notice that the sin of abortion is destroying the moral fabric of our society. Abortion's overt wickedness is affecting the minds of our next generation by encouraging them to promote self-seeking and self-proclaimed ``rights'' the constitution and God never extended to Americans. Abortion is even affecting those who would call themselves Christians. There are several denominations who have officially taken pro-abortion stands such as the Episcopal, United Methodist, United Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ and United Churches of Christ. Today, there are members of the blood bought body of Christ, the church of Christ, who are ``closet believers'' in a woman's ``rights'' to an abortion. There are disciples of Christ among us who have had no conscientious problem in voting and electing people who have advocated a pro-abortion stance in our last election! Consider what God said in Romans 1:32, ``Who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.'' Brethren, we need to repent and pray God if we have knowingly supported one who publicly advocates a pro-abortion stance! Where is our love for the truth of God's gospel? Since God is the Creator of life, he is the only one who has the right to destroy life. God has decreed to extend this authority to the government to bear his sword on the evil doer (Rom. 13). This godly principle known as ``capital punishment'' continues to be fought against by the same people who demand their ``right'' to bear the sword on the innocent babe in the womb. God will not be long in his punishment. In Revelation 21:7-8 God has said, ``He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.'' Abortion often results from sexual immorality and tries to cover up lies, idolatry (covetousness), cowardly action and other abominations. The act of abortion is one of the ultimate acts of unbelief. How can Christians be even remotely connected or endorsing such a heinous action? Brethren, we must be prepared. The time seems to be drawing near that our cries to end abortion in America will no longer be an acceptable protest against this abomination. In the future, we may all be challenged to state our views and we may have to publicly suffer for speaking the truth of God's word on this subject. Are you prepared to stand up as a soldier of the cross and accept persecution for the truth? Abortion is a sin against God and humanity. No amount of legislation can change the truth of God or make a wrong a ``right.'' Choose to accept God and our forefather's plea for ``life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.'' -- Via Guardian of Truth 1/21/93 ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________