The following is taken from the main body of Episode 2 of my NUCLEAR PASTOR: Critical Mass podcast…

In this podcast we’ll explore the issues of abortion and of the sanctity of life in the womb, and we’ll begin by taking a look at the issue of human life and its intersection with the image of God, after which we’ll look into some Biblical passages that will really put things into perspective for us.  From there we’ll see how these issues align in the battle between the Evil Kosmos and the Noble Kosmos, and then we’ll finish by looking at how we as Christians and churches can best minister in this arena.

SUBJECT

Before beginning, though, I’d like to express a few personal thoughts on the issue at hand, as the issue of abortion is for many a personal issue (and a visceral issue at that), as well as a hugely important political issue in our current times.

So, let’s get into the personal side of things right off the bat.  The statistics on abortion are absolutely stunning, and show that in all probability enough babies have been killed in the womb in the United States alone to match the current populations of Texas and California combined.  Simply staggering in scope and magnitude.  Now, not only is that a lot of children, but that’s a lot of lives affected, and I would imagine that there are fewer families in the United States that haven’t been directly affected by abortion than have been affected by it.

It also shows us the astronomical number of girls and women who have undergone such procedures, and so I want to say some words to them (and to the men in their lives and to the families who are affected as well).  Now, there’s no question that this podcast will deal sternly with the issue of abortion, for it must be dealt with in a stern manner, as we shall soon see.  But, please understand that abortion is NOT the unforgiveable sin.  If you’ve had an abortion, counseled someone to receive an abortion, performed an abortion or just are really into the idea of promoting abortions, please know that God’s grace and forgiveness are available to you.

And so, this is a great place to remind all of us of the Scripture’s beautiful promise found in 1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Bottom line: You can be forgiven of your participation (at whatever level) in abortion; but more than that, you can actually be healed and restored by the God who knows you better than you know yourself, and who sent His beloved Son to die upon a cross in your place in order to redeem you back to your Creator.

Continuing on, let’s move on to look at how human life intersects with the image of God.  Simply stated, there is no equal to human life anywhere on earth (and, as we looked at in the previous podcast on extraterrestrial life, in the entire universe).  And that’s because humanity alone is created in the Image of God.  Now, this isn’t designed to be a study on the Image of God (my book UNGOD is the place for that), but, in essence, part of what it means to be created in the Image of God is that human life is designed to be an advertisement in the physical universe for the existence and nature of God, who is unseen in this universe.

This fact in and of itself is interesting enough, but when you couple this fact with the fact that there is also an ancient Enemy of our souls who hates the very existence of God, it helps us to understand that this ancient Enemy will do everything he can to kill every human being on Earth.  He simply hates humanity and every single living human being, because every single living human being is a reminder of the God who cast him (Satan) out of heaven, and who will eventually send him (Satan) to his forever home in the Lake of Fire.

Remember that in John 10:10 Jesus said that Satan comes only to steal and kill and destroy, and in John 8:44 He said that Satan was a murderer from the beginning.  That’s simply who he is and what he is: a murderer.  And wherever his Evil Kosmos holds sway, the murder of human beings will be rampant.

This is true wherever communism holds sway (which, by the way, is the form of government invented by atheists).  Look at the former Soviet Union.  Look at China since World War II.  Look at the killing fields of Cambodia.  Look at the actions of Che Guevara and the Castros in Cuba, etc.

This is also true wherever fascism holds sway.  Look at Hitler and Mussolini.  Furthermore, this is true wherever true Mohammadian Islam holds sway.  Look at the true history of the spread of Islam by the sword.  Look at ISIS.  Look at the Taliban.  Look at the mullahs of Iran.  Look at Hezbollah.  Look at the recent actions of Hamas in Israel.

And finally, this is also true of the abortion craze in Western civilization, as abortion has become the most socially-acceptable method of taking a human life in our time, and perhaps of all time.  In fact, it’s such a socially-acceptable method of taking a human life that the American womb may just be the most dangerous place to be alive on planet Earth.  But, as Solomon says, “There’s nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9), so let’s see some ancient examples of this practice, which in bygone days was known as child sacrifice.

Now, I can already hear the chorus of naysayers chiming in: But Barry, those ancient versions of child sacrifice aren’t practiced today.  We don’t worship pagan gods anymore, so that doesn’t apply here.  Well, it’s true that we may not openly worship ancient Canaanite-area gods like Baal, Molech and Chemosh, but if you know anything about how Baal, Molech and Chemosh were worshiped by the Canaanites, Ammonites and Moabites respectively, you know that the worship of these pagan deities involved rampant sexual promiscuity, and rampant sexual promiscuity has the side effect of conceiving children, who are usually unwanted.

But if sexual promiscuity is your god (and the Bible is clear that whatever drives your heart is your actual god), then having children or having to then raise those children will really put a dampener on the worship of your god, and so there needed to be a way to get rid of these unwanted children to allow the promiscuity to continue.  And so, in the case of Molech, what the Ammonites did was to heat up the metal hands of the statue of Molech until they were red hot, and then place their children upon those hands, where the children were quickly burned to death.  Hideous and inhumane in the extreme.  But hey, at least the partying was able to continue.

But wait, we’re far more civilized than that, right?  Not really.  Is it more civilized to burn them alive with a saline solution while they’re in the womb?  Is it more civilized to tear them limb from limb while alive in the womb?  Is it more civilized to bring the child to the point of delivery and then puncture his or her skull?  You tell me.

Now, I’m sorry for the graphic detail here, but this is what’s going on every day in this country, multiple, multiple times a day.  And so, for all intents and purposes, the abortion industry of today is the modern-day worship of Molech, where children are killed in the womb in order to save someone from embarrassment, or to save someone money in the long term, or to keep someone from having to love and care for a human being, or so that someone can keep working, or so that someone can keep partying, etc.

So, I’ve just classified abortion as the murder of a human being.  But for that to be true, then a child in the womb must be classified as an actual human being.  Is there any proof of that and, if so, what is it?  Well, let’s first look at it from outside of the Bible.  Scientifically we know that at the moment of conception, the zygote contains all of the DNA information needed to be classified as a human being.  Biologically we know that the child’s heart begins beating at around week 6 after conception.  And medically we know that a child in the womb feels pain and can scream in horror during an abortion.  Essentially, it’s not a lifeless clump of cells – it’s something much, much more.

And to find out how much more, let’s now turn to the Scriptures for some insight, beginning with 2 of the most famous and go-to pro-life passages in the Bible, and then to a passage that may surprise some people with the depth of its relevance to this topic.  First let’s pay a visit to the go-to pro-life passages, the first of which is Psalm 139:13-16, and which reads as follows: For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

This is a beautiful passage in which King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, speaks of how God formed his inward parts and knitted David together.  Regarding the latter, grammarians tell us that this is a fantastic representation of the double helix DNA strand coming to us from the Hebrew language.

And then there is Jeremiah 1:5, where God personally tells Jeremiah: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.  This beautiful verse builds on the idea begun by David – which is that not only did God form Jeremiah as he had done with David, but the verse overtly states that God had a relationship with Jeremiah in his mother’s womb.  And that idea alone powerfully states that a child in the womb is a human being – an actual person.

But from there we head over to the New Testament, to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1, Verses 39-45, which to me is the richest pro-life passage in all of God’s Word.  Luke 1:39-45 says, In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.  And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

First, a bit of background and context for this passage.  Mary had just been visited by the angel Gabriel, who had told her the Holy Spirit would overshadow her so that she would conceive and bear the Son of God.  When Mary marveled at this because she was a virgin, Gabriel told her that the impossible was possible with God, and he pointed to her elderly cousin Elizabeth, who had been barren her whole life, but who had now conceived and was already in her 6^th month of pregnancy (and the baby is, of course, John the Baptist).  At most it’s a few days’ travel to get from Nazareth to Judea, and so as we enter this passage Mary is probably only a few days pregnant – she probably hadn’t even missed a period yet.

And now on to what we glean from this verse, and why I consider it the best passage in the Bible for the pro-life position.  First, there is the clear teaching in this passage that Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, which in turn means that the words she utters in the passage are divine and perfect in origin – that she is being (in the words of 2 Peter 1:21) carried along by the Holy Spirit, or being driven/propelled by the Holy Spirit.  And in these divinely inspired and perfect words regarding the days-old baby Jesus in Mary’s womb, Elizabeth calls this developing human being her Lord, which in the context of the passage is calling Him her God, the God of Israel – at only a few days old!

Next, regarding her divine and perfect words concerning the 6-month-old baby in her own womb (who we know will become John the Baptist), she states that he (John) leaped for joy to be in the presence of his Lord and God.  Of great importance to the discussion at hand is that joy itself is an emotion, and having emotions is a human trait, meaning that the baby in her womb was a person – an actual human being.  And so, in summary of Elizabeth’s divine utterance, we see that it’s the opinion of the Holy Spirit (who is God) that children in the womb (at any stage!) are human beings in every respect.  They are people and they are capable of a relationship with God, as the passages in Psalm 139 and Jeremiah 1 have already suggested.

In summary, the Bible is crystal-clear on the issue: A child in the womb at any stage of development is a human being – every bit as much a human being as is someone outside of the womb.  Now, such a fact has deep and far-reaching repercussions for those who have had abortions or who have performed abortions, since the act of abortion is therefore tantamount to the murder of an innocent human being (regardless of what human law may say or not say), and such murder truly assaults the souls of those involved, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not.  And I say that not to castigate those involved, but to point out their great need for forgiveness and healing at the forgiving hands of Jesus Christ .

Now, let’s move on to discuss how this issue intersects with the ideas of the Evil Kosmos and the Noble Kosmos, but let’s begin that discussion with a quick reminder on just what those two things are.  If you’ll remember from Episode 1, the Greek word kosmos describes an orderly system; but more specifically the way of arranging one’s thinking.  Meaning what’s considered right and wrong, what’s considered good and bad, what’s considered important and unimportant, etc.

And in this world, there are two ways for human beings to arrange their kosmos: to arrange their kosmos in line with the nature of the God of the Bible, in which case we arrive at the Noble Kosmos.  But on the other hand, people can arrange their kosmos in line with the nature of Satan (the god of this age), in which case we arrive at the Evil Kosmos.  In essence, the Evil Kosmos defies God and His nature in every conceivable way, meaning that if God/His nature says something is right, the Evil Kosmos says it’s wrong.  If God/His nature says something is bad, the Evil Kosmos says it’s good.  If God/His nature says something is important, the Evil Kosmos says it’s unimportant, etc.  Not hard to understand at all.

Now, regarding this Evil Kosmos, we get our first earthly glimpse of it in the third chapter of Genesis, where Eve is led astray by the serpent (which is being possessed by the fallen Satan), giving us some excellent examples of just how the Evil Kosmos works.  First, we see that the Evil Kosmos always questions/distorts the Word of God, such as with the phrase, “Did God really say?”  Second, we see that the Evil Kosmos always questions/distorts the nature of God.  For instance, in the account of the Fall in the Garden of Eden, the serpent insinuated that God wasn’t good, but was actually afraid of humanity if they knew the difference between good and evil.

And so, the very nature of the Evil Kosmos must oppose and undo all that is of the Noble Kosmos, and the issue of human life in the womb is no exception (in fact, there are no exceptions to this, period).  Understanding that, all we need to do in order to understand the Evil Kosmos’ position on something is to first understand the Noble Kosmos’ position on that something, and then seek the opposing or undoing of that position.  And what is the position of the Noble Kosmos regarding the issue of life in the womb?  It’s very simple: Human life in the womb at any and every stage of development is a human being and is to be protected every bit as much as a human being outside of the womb is to be protected, with the taking of human life in the womb being classified as murder.

And knowing that then makes the position of the Evil Kosmos extremely easy to understand, which is as follows: Human life in the womb at any and every stage of development is NOT a human being and may be ended for any reason whatsoever, with no repercussions at all.  Furthermore, because of the nature of Evil itself (which cannot rest until everything that is good in the universe is destroyed or corrupted), it’s to be expected that this taking of human life in the womb is to be celebrated as something wonderful by the Evil Kosmos, as it is considered a good and noble thing.

Additionally, since it’s the design (Biblically) for human government to be the protector of human life, in the Evil Kosmos it must be expected that the government itself will become the defiler and destroyer of human life.  In the case at hand, we see this clearly with the current national Administration, as well as with those States that are being run by those enthralled with progressive ideologies (such as California), which clearly line up with the Evil Kosmos, where governments are the ones pushing the idea of abortion the hardest.

Since we now know where both the Noble Kosmos and the Evil Kosmos fall on this issue, it’s now time to wrap this up with a brief discussion on what those of us who love the Noble Kosmos should do concerning the abortion issue.  First, knowing the position of the Noble Kosmos, we who serve God and love the Scriptures need to hold the line concerning the clear teaching of God’s Word: All life in the womb is to be protected.  No matter how the child was conceived, he or she is a human being.

This is true even in cases of rape and/or incest.  The child is a human being.  This is true even in cases of a potential birth defect, Downs Syndrome, cleft palate, etc.  The child is a human being.  This is true even in cases of risk to the life of the mother (which is a considerably rare occasion, by the way).  This child, too, is a human being, but to me this is the only area where taking the life of a child in the womb should even be considered – when there is a truly rare, legitimate, medical risk to the life of the mother (meaning that to carry the child to term would cause her to forfeit her life with certainty).

Now, before moving on, let’s talk about these issues a bit, because the proponents of abortion often use these to browbeat those of the Noble Kosmos, where they like to propose questions such as: Well, what about children conceived through rape and incest?  What about children with birth defects who are doomed to live horrible lives?  What about when the life of the mother is as stake?  Have you no compassion?  Well, there’s an easy way to answer such questions and get them to show where their hearts actually are at the same time.

Here’s what I like to ask in response to such questions: Okay, hypothetically I concede your point on these issues.  So even though I think it’s wrong to do so, I’ll give you those children conceived through rape and incest, who have birth defects, or when the life of the mother is as stake, if you give me all the rest and let them live.  Now, I’ve never known anyone who follows the Evil Kosmos on this issue to ever give assent to such an agreement, showing us two things: #1 They don’t really care about the children or the life of the mothers, they just use this gotcha question to club us emotionally and philosophically.  #2 They really just want to kill as many babies in the womb as possible.  Period, end of story.  Remember, the Evil Kosmos is based on the nature of the Evil One, who is a murderer by nature.  He thrives on the issue of murder, as do those who follow his kosmos.

The second thing we of the Noble Kosmos should do regarding the issue of abortion is to pray, pray, pray.  Although abortion is truly an extremely divisive cultural and political issue today, it is ultimately a heart issue, the same as it was a heart issue for Cain when he contemplated murdering his brother.  And the best way to see hearts changed is to pray for those hearts, leading us to the third thing we of the Noble Kosmos should do regarding the issue of abortion.

Simply stated, we need to love all involved.  Remember, abortion isn’t the unforgiveable sin, and everyone involved in abortion at every level is someone for whose sins Jesus died, and who showed His love for them upon the Cross.  Now, this love goes hand-in-hand with prayer for a couple of reasons: #1 It’s hard to be cruel or mean to someone for whom you are deeply in prayer (and there ARE pro-lifers who can wax cruel and mean).  #2 These are ultimately lost souls, and their lost souls should be as much a priority for the pro-life movement as that of the unborn themselves.

When you pray for and love someone with the love of the Cross displayed by Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives is greatly strengthened and will often lead to their eternal salvation.  And, although it’s not the reason we love and pray for them, there a few more ardent pro-lifers than those who once participated in abortion but who were saved by the grace of God.  And so, this is a great place to be reminded of that old leadership adage, which says: People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

And finally, we need to care not just for the babies conceived, but for all involved: mothers, fathers, boyfriends, siblings, clinic administrators and counselors, abortion providers, etc., which leads me to a well-rounded approach to this issue and gives me the chance to brag on an amazing local pro-life ministry here in the Tyler, Texas area, called Living Alternatives.

LIVING ALTERNATIVES

When looking for a well-rounded approach to how Christians and churches can involve themselves in this all-important issue, I think it would be hard to find a better example than that of Living Alternatives, so let me give a brief overview of this ministry, which has an amazing 8-pronged approach to the issue.

Approach #1: The Pregnancy Resource Center itself, known as AXIA.  The PRC is a permanent clinic-style location that offers free pregnancy tests and supportive help to women facing the first moment of a positive pregnancy test. Additionally, a free ultrasound is available by appointment, and these ultrasounds drastically increase the survival rate of the unborn child. Here, community volunteers stand ready with support, guidance and resources.

Approach #2: The Building Blocks Program.  This program offers practical help to parents that encourages and renews their hope for the future. It’s a unique earn-while-you-learn program where moms and dads earn points for going to doctor appointments, attending parenting classes, and meeting with one of Living Alternative’s parenting mentors.  These points can be used to obtain baby items, such as diapers, clothes, furniture and more through their store at the Pregnancy Resource Center. Through practical assistance, emotional support, and spiritual encouragement, this outreach prepares young people for life’s biggest challenge – becoming a parent.

Approach #3: Childbirth Services.  Childbirth Services provides free support to pregnant moms through childbirth classes and doula care. This knowledge empowers moms to advocate for themselves and helps them feel confident, safe and secure.

Approach #4: The Stay-In-Touch Program.  Every month, Living Alternatives has the opportunity to meet with more than 100 young women. Some of them are married and thrilled with the news of a confirmed pregnancy, while others are devastated that their test is positive, and sheer terror crosses their face as they absorb the magnitude of the news.  Others will test negative, a huge relief to some but to others a great disappointment.  What do many of these have in common?  A need to authentically connect with another human being who can empathize, relate, and rejoice or grieve over the result of one simple pregnancy test. Within the context of the first appointment, Living Alternatives can determine if the young girl, woman, or couple need ongoing support and encouragement, and their Stay-In-Touch program follows up with phone calls, personal visits, and get-togethers to maintain contact to provide ongoing support and encouragement.  Even negative pregnancy tests do not negate the grip of emotional turmoil some women find themselves caught in.

Approach #5: Fatherheart.  Fatherheart is a safe place for an expectant mom to prepare for the birth of her unborn child. This safe, private home is nestled among East Texas’ piney woods on 40 acres in a peaceful country setting. Fatherheart has provided more than 600 young women a safe haven to mend the past and move into the future with renewed hope.  This amazing home also provides a traditional family atmosphere, where residents have meals as a family, attend church on Sunday morning together, enjoy evening game and movie nights, fun outings, devotions, Bible studies and more.

Fatherheart is a protected environment where women find loving house staff who support them emotionally and spiritually through their pregnancies while providing practical training through life skill classes, birthing classes, parenting classes and continuing high school and college-level schooling.  Fatherheart also offers doula services (birth coaches), transportation to medical care, parenting preparation, and adoption counseling. Here, moms are encouraged, whether they choose to parent or place for adoption, and where support and resources are provided along the parenting or adoption journey.

Approach #6: Loving Alternative Infant Adoption Agency.  Loving Alternative Adoptions supports all members of the triad of adoption – birth-parent, adoptive parents, and the child – through the process of adoption.  A firm foundation is critical here, as adoption requires a lot of tender loving care.  Understanding, patience, and a healthy respect for each other’s position are crucial, not just initially but for the next 18+ years that follow adoption day.  The goal here is to unite unrelated people into a unique adoptive unit. Similar to marriage, adoption unites people in a unique way, and just as love is vital to a successful marriage, it’s also paramount in adoption.

Approach #7: KEEPS Boutique.  Statistics tell us that many girls who age out of the foster care system are at a high risk of teen pregnancy and of becoming victims of sex trafficking. KEEPS Boutique combats these statistics through reaching out to teen girls in the state foster care system with Jesus’ love. KEEPS offers personalized shopping appointments at KEEPS Boutique, where all the clothing is brand new. Each girl picks 6 items to take home free of charge.  Additionally, KEEPS also offers “girls’ nights out” events, summer camps and bible studies to teen girls in foster care around East Texas. Through these brief but impactful year-round encounters, the girls experience our Heavenly Father’s love, which changes their future trajectories.

Approach #8: Mobile Pregnancy Center.  The Mobile Pregnancy Center (known affectionately as Ruth) travels across East Texas, bringing the free services of the Pregnancy Resource Center (such as pregnancy testing and early ultrasound) to local communities, helping to connect prospective mothers and fathers to resources in their own communities.

Now, my apologies as I know that this description took up considerable time, but I thought it essential to be able to highlight something as deep, wonderful, caring and insightful within the pro-life movement as is the success of Living Alternatives, which in my opinion is worthy of imitation.

CONCLUSION

And so, finally, to our conclusion.  The Scriptures are clear: At the moment of conception, the life in a girl’s or woman’s womb is a human being made in the image of God.  It is fully a human being and a person regardless of the stage of development, and that life is precious and should be allowed to grow and be born.  Furthermore, since this life is fully a human being and a person, to take that life is technically murder, regardless of what societal norms or laws may say.  To this end, all who truly love God and adhere to the Scriptures should work at supporting and protecting such life (and those affected by this new life) by all noble means possible, as shown to us so wonderfully by the multi-pronged approach of the Living Alternatives ministry in Tyler, Texas.

PRAYER

Sir, we thank You for the indescribable gift of human life, for it allows us to proclaim your unseen attributes in the physical universe.  But we know that our ancient Enemy hates human life for that very reason, and so wants to see every human being on Earth murdered, as we so sadly see in how he has convinced so much of this world to so thoughtlessly and heartlessly take the life of millions of human beings while in their mother’s womb – the place that should be the safest place on Earth.  Help us to – with love, prayer, time, effort, compassion and financial support – save these precious lives, but also impart the glorious hope of eternal life into these situations that find so many mired in hopelessness and despair, and to minister to those troubled of soul by what they’ve done in the past.  May they find forgiveness, healing and renewal in You, for truly, You are the answer for all of these lives.  Amen.