Reader Questions Pro-Life Argument
By Editorial Staff
Published April 2008
Letters column
The Forerunner teaches much totally false material regarding abortion rights and uses the Jews’ own scriptures, twisting them in such a way as to threaten the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of pro-choice Jews. The Forerunner can only deceive naive people and children. I am neither of these. Please check out the following material for a proper biblical understanding of the status (legally, biblically) of the unborn, and why Jews are pro-choice.
1) The Bible’s definition of life is “breathing.” (See Psalms 150:6; Ezekiel 37:10; 1 Kings 17:22.)
2) The Bible’s definition of person is “a breathing creature.”
3) Exodus 21:22-25 commands a fine to be paid for the death of an unborn child; but execution is commanded for the death of a woman. (See Leviticus 24:17)
The Hebrew for “living man” is nephesh adam; this does not include the unborn.
- Name withheld
Editor’s Note: It would be grossly unfair to classify all Jews as pro-choice. There are many Jews, including many Rabbis, involved in the pro-life movement who base their stance firmly on the Jewish scriptures.
While the Hebrew word nephesh may be translated as “life,” “soul,” and “breath,” the Jewish scriptures do not teach that only that which has breath is a living soul. A more accurate determination of a living being is found in Leviticus 17:11; “For the life of a creature is in the blood.” Unborn infants have flowing blood and a beating heart at 3-4 weeks. In fact, unborn infants do breathe by exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide through the mother’s umbilical cord.
A careful study of the Hebrew legal code regarding the status of unborn children reveals that they are considered living human beings. Exodus 21:22 has often been erroneously used to downplay the hideous crime of aborting children. The event mentioned in Exodus 21 refers to an accident or involuntary manslaughter. The men fighting in this passage were not seeking to harm the woman or her child. The child’s death is considered manslaughter and the prescribed punishment is in keeping with the rest of the Jewish Law concerning manslaughter.
Other passages in the Jewish scriptures show that an unborn infant is definitely considered a nephesh adam. In Hebrew, the same word is used to identify babies in the womb and those out of the womb. Genesis 25:22 says, “the children struggled within her (womb).” The word “children” is the Hebrew word ben, which is used interchangeably to depict a person already born, or one yet in his mother’s womb – there is no difference.
Probably the best known passage in the Bible concerning pre-born human life is Psalm 139: “For thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mothers womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them” – Psalm 139:13-16.
Not only is a unique human being present in the womb, but God Himself is intimately involved in the developing process. To destroy a child yet in the creative hand of God is murder.
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Abortion Clinic 911 Calls (DVD)
Exposes the Dangers of Abortion to Women!
These shocking eyewitness accounts expose the dangers of abortion not only to unborn children, but to the health and lives women as well. An antidote to the smokescreens of the liberal media, these six short clips show what really happens in and around abortion clinics.
Although the content is emotionally gut-wrenching, these videos have been used in church seminars and small groups to educate Christians on the abortion issue and to lead people toward a pro-life position.
Watch these pro-life videos on-line.
“These videos helped change my mind from pro-choice to pro-life. Your videos are what did it for me. I will be walking in next year’s March For Life in San Francisco.” — A. Jackson, California
“I was going to have an abortion until I saw your video. Praise Jesus!”
— M. Drew, YouTube Commenter
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Go Stand Speak (DVD)
With “preaching to the lost” being such a basic foundation of Christianity, why do many in the church seem to be apathetic on this issue of preaching in highways and byways of towns and cities?
Is it biblical to stand in the public places of the world and proclaim the gospel, regardless if people want to hear it or not?
Does the Bible really call church pastors, leaders and evangelists to proclaim the gospel in the public square as part of obedience to the Great Commission, or is public preaching something that is outdated and not applicable for our day and age?
These any many other questions are answered in this documentary.
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The Abortion Matrix: Defeating Child Sacrifice and the Culture of Death (DVD)
Download the free Study Guide!
Is there a connection between pagan religion and the abortion industry?
This powerful presentation traces the biblical roots of child sacrifice and then delves into the social, political and cultural fall-out that this sin against God and crime against humanity has produced in our beleaguered society.
Conceived as a sequel and update to the 1988 classic, The Massacre of Innocence, the new title, The Abortion Matrix, is entirely fitting. It not only references abortion’s specific target – the sacred matrix where human beings are formed in the womb in the very image of God, but it also implies the existence of a conspiracy, a matrix of seemingly disparate forces that are driving this holocaust.
The occult activity surrounding the abortion industry is exposed with numerous examples. But are these just aberrations, bizarre yet anomalous examples of abortionists who just happen to have ties to modern day witchcraft? Or is this representative of something deeper, more sinister and even endemic to the entire abortion movement?
As the allusion to the film of over a decade ago suggests, the viewer may learn that things are not always as they appear to be. The Abortion Matrix reveals the reality of child-killing and strikes the proper moral chord to move hearts to fulfill the biblical responsibility to rescue those unjustly sentenced to death and to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 24:11,12; 31:8,9).
Speakers include: George Grant, Peter Hammond, RC Sproul Jr., Paul Jehle, Lou Engle, Rusty Thomas, Flip Benham, Janet Porter and many more.
Ten parts, over three hours of instruction!
Running Time: 195 minutes
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Massacre of Innocence (DVD)
Exposing The Occult Roots of Abortion
This presentation looks at the spiritual roots of abortion and exposes the myths surrounding child killing. Little known historical facts about abortion and how they relate to modern feminism are presented logically and accurately. Has been effective in converting many to a pro-life position.
Massacre of Innocence goes where no pro-life presentation has gone before in “tearing the lid off abortion” to reveal the spiritual realities we must battle if we will bring an end to this crime. The presentation is absorbing, fast-paced, informative and incredibly devastating to any attempt to justify abortion.
“… an extraordinary statement … a powerfully articulate presentation about what abortion really means, and why a great and moral nation like the United States must not allow the slaughter to continue.”
— Congressman Robert K. Dornan
Running time: 85 minutes
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Reversing Roe: The Norma McCorvey Story (DVD)
In 1969, a pregnant 21 year old Norma McCorvey felt abortion was her only answer. He case was used to challenge the Texas abortion law and she eventually became the Jane Roe of the 1973 US Supreme Court decision, Roe v Wade. She never had an abortion, but instead became an icon in the national abortion debate. For 22 years, Norma McCorvey’s life was a battlefield. She worked inside abortion clinics. She promoted legalized abortion. But she was tormented by what she saw and felt. In the summer of 1995, her life changed forever.
Through the friendship of a pro-life leader and a special invitation from a 7-year old child, Jane Roe finally died so Norma Leah McCorvey could live. This is her story.
Running Time: 28 minutes
Watch a clip from Reversing Roe.
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