Abortion and Euthanasia countries began allowing abortions to be performed legally. | Swordpress Nigeria

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Abortion and Euthanasia

ABORTION

About forty years ago some countries began allowing abortions to
be performed legally. Then in 1973, abortion was legalized in the
United States. In 1979, fifty-five million abortions were performed
in the world. Millions of abortions are still performed each year
worldwide, and are legal according to man’s laws! Herod’s killing
of a few babies in Bethlehem is insignificant in comparison
(Matthew
2:16-18^[1]). The Pharaoh who
ordered the Hebrew male children slain to hold down the population
is made to look like a modern-day ecology hero (Exodus 1:15-22^[2]).

IS THERE HUMAN LIFE IN THE WOMB?

Life begins at conception. If life does not begin then, when
does it begin? Where is the evidence to show that life begins
later? The baby’s sex, race, hair color, etc., are determined at
conception. From twelve weeks after conception until birth the baby
grows until exiting the womb, breathes air, and takes food by
mouth.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE UNBORN BABY?

The Bible^[3] teaches that it is
sin to kill an innocent human life on purpose (Genesis 9:6^[4]; Proverbs 6:17^[5]). This is what abortion
does!

A study of the Greek word βρέφος (brephos) and the way it is translated tells
us God’s thinking about the unborn baby. In Luke 1:41^[6], 44, the Bible refers to John the
Baptist as “the babe in her
womb.” In Luke 2:12^[7], 16, the word “babe” refers
to Jesus^[8] in the manger. This
same word is used in 1 Peter 2:2^[9], 2 Timothy 3:15^[10], Luke 18:15^[11], and Acts 7:19^[12]. All of these are
instances of the same Greek word with the same meaning.

God^[13] shows His concern
for people before they are born (Jeremiah
1:4-5^[14]; Psalm 139:13-16^[15]). God does not approve
the taking of life just because of inconvenience. The right of life
and death belongs to God (Job 1:21^[16]). We do not have the
right to take away life.

EUTHANASIA

The meaning of euthanasia is “good death,” or “happy death.” It
is the taking of a human life by another person to prevent further
pain and suffering.

There are two basic types of euthanasia:

1. Voluntary. A patient is dying a slow, painful death. He asks
   for help to speed up the process. This is assisted suicide.
2. Involuntary. This is to cause the death of one who is not able
   to ask for help in dying. This would include little babies or those
   in a coma.

Those who believe in euthanasia say that if a person is not
normal or does not have a productive life, he should be killed. But
what is normal? Who has the right to say what is a productive life?
There are many examples of people who are not normal, but are
living happy, useful lives. Deformed babies, old people, sick
people, and mentally disturbed people are targets of euthanasia.
When we take the decision for life or death out of the hands of
God, and place it in the hands of imperfect people, many mistakes
will be made! (See Job 1:21^[17].)

The Netherlands have led the way in promoting the practice of
euthanasia. Before 1973, euthanasia was illegal in the Netherlands.
Since that time, doctors and nurses have been actively involved in
killing people who were not ready to die. In 1990, nine percent
(9%) of all deaths in the Netherlands were carried out by doctors.
Half of these were cases where the patient was killed without his
consent.

There are organizations which publish books to teach people how
to kill themselves or others. In the United States, Jack Kevorkian
has become famous by helping many people kill themselves.

WHY IS EUTHANASIA WRONG?

The practice of euthanasia is wrong because it violates the
principle that life is given by God. God does not approve
of “hands that shed innocent blood”(Proverbs 6:16-17^[18]). Life comes from God.
It is God’s decision to give life and to take it away (Ecclesiastes
12:7^[19]; Job 1:21^[20]). In the Bible,
shedding innocent blood is called murder^[21] (1 John 3:15^[22]; Genesis 9:6^[23]).

The death of King Saul is an example of euthanasia (1 Samuel
31:1-6^[24]). Saul did not want the
Philistines to find him alive, because he knew they would torture
him. He asked his armorbearer to kill him. When the armorbearer
refused, Saul fell on his own sword and died. Saul committed
suicide, but he did it in order to avoid suffering. He murdered
himself and therefore was guilty of sin^[25] (Exodus 20:13^[26]).

Not all suffering is bad. Even though we may not always
understand why we suffer, some good can come from it. The apostle
Paul understood this (2 Corinthians 12:7-10^[27]). He had
a “thorn in the flesh” which he asked God to
remove, but he was made to realize it was for his good. Job is also
an excellent example of this point (James 5:11^[28]).

DIFFICULT DECISIONS

This whole issue of euthanasia has come about as a result of the
cheapening of human life. Abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia are
all results of the loss of respect for human life. When people
understand and respect the sanctity of human life, they will not
vote to end it.

In a Chinese family, the grandfather was no longer able to bring
in any income to the family. He had become a liability. So one day
his son put him into a wheelbarrow and took him to the top of a
mountain to leave him there to die. He took his young son with him.
After they had taken grandfather to the mountain and were on their
way back down, the young son said to his father: “I am glad you
took me with you so I will know where to take you when you are
old.”

God has given us the right to make choices in this life. Many in
the world today no longer believe it makes any difference whether
we live or die. God wants us to “choose life” (Deuteronomy
30:19^[29]).

CONCLUSION

In order to solve these problems in our society, we must
strengthen the home. God teaches this in both the Old and New
Testaments (Deuteronomy
6:6-7^[30]; Proverbs 22:6^[31]; Psalm 127:3-5^[32]; Ephesians 6:1-4^[33]). Let’s teach the value
of human life, and let’s oppose the taking of innocent human
life!

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