Written by Joseph Parker

In the tragic abortion debate today, with people who say that they love the Lord on both sides of the issue, who is right? In fact a bigger question is, who decides what is right or wrong? Who decides whether something is good or bad? Who decides what pleases the Lord and what does not please Him?

The simple answer is – God does. God tells us His perspective and thoughts. He tells us what is right and what is wrong in His Word.

In the present cultural landscape, we can actually determine who is right and who is wrong. We can see who is on the Lord’s side and who is not.

We do need to be mindful that this is the issue. Its not a matter of – who is God siding with. God doesn’t take sides. He gives us His Word and if we line up with His Word – we end up on the right side. If we ignore, disregard, and oppose the Word of God we are on the wrong side. So now, let’s look at what the Word of God has to say about abortion. Of course, abortion is the act of deliberately killing an innocent baby in the womb. It’s the taking of an innocent and helpless human life.

Here are some passages from the Bible that give us God’s counsel and will concerning life, abortion, and the taking of innocent life.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13).

Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (Proverbs 24:12)

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:8-9).

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech (Leviticus 20:1-5).

You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods (Deuteronomy 12:31).

And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? (Ezekiel 16:20-21)

They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood (Psalm 106:37-38).

They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin (Jeremiah 32:35).

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

In Exodus 1:15–22 and in Matthew 2:16–18, God’s Word tells of two governmental leaders, two kings who for sad, cruel, and selfish reasons gave orders to slaughter innocent little boys. By their power and authority, their orders were carried out. Tragically, we still have governmental leaders who continue to approve of killing innocent babies in the womb.

This is not an exhaustive listing of the Scriptures that speak to the issue of life, standing up for life, and standing against abortion. These are just a few. But there are enough to help you see what God clearly thinks about the issues concerning life.

What should be our response to the God’s Word in view of what He says about these issues? A correct response on the part of believers and the church is that we get passionately involved in aggressively standing for life.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), three people of “faith” found a man in great trouble and distress. Two of the three passed by on the other side of the road after seeing the injured man. Sadly, they did nothing to help.

Yet when a Samaritan saw the man, he had compassion on him. The Samaritan went through great lengths to help the injured man. He used his time, energy, and money to assist the person in need. The Lord Jesus, after sharing the parable gave a command: “Go and do likewise.”

Babies in the womb have too often been the “man of the side of the road.” The world has beaten them up, robbed them, and took their lives. May the church, the body of Christ, stand up today like the Samaritan. May we not pass by on the other side any more. And may we stop supporting people who say they are believers yet support the killing of innocent babies. Let’s rise up and faithfully stand for life and help end the tragedy of abortion in our culture and world.

This article originally published at AFA.net