The church must have a clear stand on abortion and must articulate it unambiguously, as it has direct implications for the survival of our nation.

The Bible clearly teaches that abortion is wrong. This instruction comes across in many ways and for many reasons. To refute this claim, some people point out that the word “abortion” is not in the Bible, even though the topic of abortion is indeed addressed. Similarly, the word “Trinity” appears nowhere in the Bible. Nevertheless, the notion is prevalent throughout the text and is a central part of Christian theology. The point is that even if abortion was directly referred to in the bible, opponents would refute it on numerous other grounds.

Let’s consider some of the Biblical reasons why abortion,–the deliberate destruction of a fetus,–is morally wrong and inhumane.

The Bible states that human life is fundamentally different from other types of life because human beings are made in the very image of God.  “Then God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:26-27).

Notice that the word “created” is used three times therein, emphasizing a special crowning moment in the whole process of God creating the world and everything in it. Not even the original sin diminishes the image of God in human beings. St. James refers to this image in a letter: “But no man can tame the tongue; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.” (James 3:8-10).

The image of God! This is what it means to be human. Because we are not just a bunch of cells randomly thrown together by some impersonal force, but rather, we are intended to reflect an eternal God who knew of what we were to be made, and purposely called us into being.

Therefore, not only did God make us, but He values us…as an imperfect extension of His image. And as the Bible teaches, He loved us so much, that He sent his Only Son to save us from our sins. In the face of all this, can we say that human beings are disposable, like a car that becomes more trouble than it is worth? Indeed not, because human life is sacred, more sacred than we have ever imagined.

Moreover, the Bible instructs that a fetus in the womb is truly a human being, who even has a relationship with the Lord. As the psalmist says, “Nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret.” (Psalm 139:15). “I was cast upon you from birth. From my mother’s womb you have been my God.” (Psalm 22:10). The same testimony is given by Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, …” (Galatians 1:15).

An act of justice is an act of intervention for the helpless — an act of defense for those who are too weak to defend themselves, as declared by the psalmist: “In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures. … .For he will deliver the needy, when he cries, … and him who has no helper7” (Psalm 72:7,12). Hence, Jesus Christ is Justice. “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (I Cor. 1:30).

God does justice for His people and He expects His people to do justice for one another: “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36). “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, the same do also to them” (Matt. 7:12).

 Abortion is the opposite of these teachings. It is the deliberate destruction of the helpless rather than their delivery into grace. Therefore, as true Christians, we cannot be indifferent to this destructive practice that does not please God.

Jesus Christ paid special attention to the poor, the despised, the children, and those whom the rest of society considered insignificant. With his love He broke down the false barriers that people set up among themselves, and, instead, acknowledged the equality in human dignity for every individual.  Hence, we see Him reach out to children despite the efforts of the apostles to keep them away: “Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 19:14).

When it comes to dignity, Christ eradicates distinctions between human beings. Apostle Paul, in his letter addressed to the  Galatians, declares: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”(3:28).

The ultimate truth of the Gospel is LOVE. Therefore, “love” is in direct opposition to the nihilistic “slaughter” of the helpless. To take the life of another is to break the command of love of Christ. Abortion is death. Christ came to conquer death, and therefore abortion: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10).

This inhumane act of abortion has its adverse consequences in our social lives as well. In the absence of specific reasons given by a physician to protect the life of a pregnant woman, then the willful slaughter of human life is manifestly against God’s will.

 

Medical arguments against abortion…let’s examine a few:

1.      A developing embryo is genetically different from the mother. A developing embryo is also genetically different from the sperm and egg that created it. A human being has 46 chromosomes (sometimes 47). Sperm and egg have 23 chromosomes. A trained geneticist can distinguish between the DNA of an embryo and that of a sperm and egg. But the same geneticist could not distinguish between the DNA of a developing embryo and a full-grown human being.

2.      In medical terminology, death is largely defined by the cessation of heartbeat. Therefore, a heartbeat indicates the existence of life. The heart of a fetus is formed by the 18^th day in the womb. If the existence of a heartbeat was used to define life, then nearly all abortions would be outlawed.

3.      The developing fetus has a unique set of fingerprints as well as genetic patterns that make it unique. The development of sonography has provided us with “a window to the womb” showing us that a person is growing and developing in the mother’s womb. We can discern eyes, ears, fingers, a nose and a mouth. Our visual senses tell us that this is a baby growing and maturing. This is not a piece of protoplasm; this is a baby inside the womb.

Most of the Supreme Court’s verdict rested upon two sentences. “We need not to resolve the difficult question of when life begins. When those trained in the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy and theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, at this point in the development of man’s knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to an answer.”

The unborn are ostensibly protected by various international documents such as the Geneva and the U.N. declarations of the Rights of the child. Furthermore, physicians around the world take the Hippocratic Oath, which, in part, states: “…I will not give a woman a pessary to produce abortion”. In spite all of the above, wholesale abortions take place on a daily basis around the world.

There are others who defend abortion on philosophical grounds. Dr. Joseph Fletcher argues in his book Humanhood that “Humans without some minimum of intelligence or mental capacity are not persons, no matter how many of these organs are active, no matter how spontaneous their living processes are”. In other writings, Dr. Joseph Fletcher suggested that an “individual” was not truly a “person” unless he has an IQ of at least 40.

In conclusion, we can see that there are many good arguments against abortion—and some ridiculous ones for it. Obviously there are a number of Biblical arguments against abortion. But there are also medical, legal and philosophical arguments against abortion. The Bible and logic are on the side of the Christian who wants to stand for the sanctity of human life.

Besides all the above arguments, we have our own national concerns that are associated with abortion. The Armenian population is not immune to the practice of abortion. As such it is part and parcel of this tragic, unconscionable practice. We are not here to condemn any one, rather we leave every individual to think and act according to his conscience.

Our concerns are deeply rooted in our national survival. Bearing in mind that the Armenian Nation has seen innumerable acts of persecution and genocide, we ought to think seriously about abortion. We anticipate that the next Synod that will convene this year in St. Etchmiadzin will make this crucial issue part of its agenda and proffer resolutions.

In closing, I would like to attach a short thought written by Willi Hofsümmer.

The diary of an unborn child…….

May 1.-  The love of my father and mother gave me life.

May 15.-My veins are forming and my body taking shape.

May 19.- I already have a mouth.

May 21.- My heart is beating. Who can say that I am not living?

May 22.- I do not understand why my mother is worried.

May 28.- My arms and legs are growing and I can move them.

June 6.-   My hands are growing. They give me great pleasure.

June 15.- For the first time my mother felt that I was in her womb.

June 20.- I am a girl.

June 24.- My entire body is formed.

July 6.-    I have hair and eyebrow. I start feeling beautiful.

July 8.-    I have eyes and soon will see my mother who carried me in her womb.

July 19.-  My heart beats normal. I feel safe and happy.

July 20.-  My mother killed me today.

 

 

            VOSGAN MEKHITARIAN                                               to be continued

April 4, 2014