What is the Christadelphian position on abortion?
Thank you for your question. I really think the question should be "What guidance do the Scriptures give concerning abortion?" instead.
At the outset, I would like to say that Christadelphians are not out to become involved in the debate over the abortion issue. What we state will only be in relation to those who truly believe that they are part of the covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Fact 1: God has control over the womb.
Genesis 16:2 - "And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing:"
Genesis 20:18 - "For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife."
Ruth 4:13 - "So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son."
Fact 2: God says that the "fruit of the womb" is a blessing from Him.
Deuteronomy 7:12-14 - "Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle."
Psalm 127:3 - "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."
Fact 3: God knows us as we are developing in the womb.
Psalm 139:13-14, 16 - "For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works!... Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."
Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
Fact 4: The fetus is aware of its surroundings.
Genesis 25:22 - "And the children struggled together within her..."
Luke 1:44 - "For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy."
Fact 5: God is involved in the birth of the child.
Psalm 22:9 - "But thou art he that took me out of the womb..."
Psalm 71:6 - "By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee."
Galatians 1:15 - "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace..."
Fact 6: The Law of Moses protected the unborn child.
Exodus 21:22-25 - "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise."(NIV)
I know that these quotations only touch the surface, but based on these facts alone we can conclude that any true believer in God would NOT condone or participate in an abortion.
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Copyright © 2000 - 2001 Matthew D. Smith