Life Before Birth

All right, I always find it absolutely ironic at this time of election season when the candidate will put forth their policy and support of abortions and then finish their speech with God Bless America, right? A little bit ironic, but we know that Satan has not opened the eyes of everyone and we take the posture never of vanity but rather humility that we have had our eyes opened, we're learning more and more and we then look to others to help make a difference in society's viewpoint and try to bring them as persuasively as possible to God's viewpoint. This is why we're here part of the purpose of this Bible study and really all the Bible studies will be to equip you to put forth a defense and give an answer when you're called upon. This is going to be the purpose. It's going to be succinct, bite-sized because often those opportunities will come in that kind of scenario where you don't have time to put on a biblical soliloquy. You just have maybe a moment or two to put forth a thought, plant a seed in that way. So that's going to be our purpose here today in this Bible study as we explore and put forth the sanctity of life and deal with this whole matter of abortion. Let me just state right up front, this is not in my notes, but I just want to state right up front. If there's anyone here who has had an abortion, I just want you to know that God's grace is enormous.

And the blood of Jesus Christ covers all those things. Bring it to Him, let bring it to Him, ask for forgiveness, you've turned, let the past go. Satan loves to rummage around in the bin of forgiven sin and he loves to bring that forth back to you. Don't let him do that, it's forgiven. Close the lid on it. God's closed the lid on it. I just want to say that you or a loved one, if you've ever been in this circumstance and dealing with the matter that we're speaking about today, God loves you and we're all, no matter what avenue we've walked in the past, we're all new men and new women as a result of God's grace. We're all in need of forgiveness in the past and daily each and every day. So I just wanted to state that. Now, with regards to the sanctity of life, that was loud, emphatically and absolutely the Bible makes the clear statement that life is sacred. Life is sacred and we're going to start with two fundamental truths. That's it. And we're going to go through these rapid fire. First fundamental truth that I want to put forth to you today that punctuates the fact that life is sacred is number one, life is a gift and the giver of that gift is God. That's number one fundamental truth. Life is a gift. The giver of that gift is God. Therefore, every child in the womb is fearfully and wonderfully made and given by God, the gift of life.

One passage of scripture that you can commit to memory to support this is found in Isaiah 44. If you want to turn there, Isaiah 44 is a wonderful place to go to for this first fundamental truth.

Life is a gift from God. The prophet Isaiah states this very clearly. Isaiah 44, look at verse two.

Isaiah 44, look at verse two. Very clearly, thus says the Lord who made you, informed you from the womb.

And then go down to verse 21, if you will. Verse 21. Remember these, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant. Here it is. I have formed you. You are my servant.

One more from Isaiah 44, verse 24, verse 24. Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb. Back he says, I am the Lord God. I'm the Lord who makes all things.

So first fundamental truth that you want to internalize, obtain to memory. Isaiah 44, this gives you a few touch points to touch in that punctuates that first truth. Life is sacred because it's a gift and that giver of that gift is God.

Second and last fundamental truth before we're going to get to questions in just a moment.

Second fundamental truth. Number two, life is sacred because man and woman are made in God's image. Okay. That's the second fundamental truth. Life is sacred. He's number two. We, man and woman are made in God's image.

One scripture to punctuate this fact, it's going to be one that's obvious is Genesis one, verse 27.

I commit this to memory. Of course, this will be this scripture is very familiar to even those who aren't fully church. Isaiah one, verse 27 to punctuate and to support why life is sacred. Well, we're man and woman. No other create nor the part of the created order is made in the image of God. And there it is. Genesis one, verse 27. God created man in his own image. In the image of God, he created him male and female. He created them. So this is a profound statement. So two fundamental truths. Uh, life is sacred because it's a gift from God in the womb and life is sacred because man and woman is made in the image of God. So what we do with fundamental truth then is we say, therefore, what are, what are the implications of these two fundamental truths? Well, therefore, man, and you understand, I'm speaking generically of man and woman is distinct then from every other part of created order. Okay. Therefore, it's the most precious thing in the world. Life is the most precious thing in the world because of these two foundational truths.

And therefore it makes sense that God protects life. This precious thing in the world, the most precious thing in his commandment, you shall not murder. And of course, for your notes, we won't turn there. That's Exodus 20 verse 13. God protects the preciousness, this precious gift in his image. Um, with the commandment, you shall not murder. In other words, you should, it's the murder is the unlawful taking of life.

Murder the heinous destruction of that which God made. Okay. So therefore, God protects all human life, even unborn life in the womb. We're making all these conclusions from those two fundamental truths.

Now we're about to get to these questions, but let me just state this uh, this uh, this uh, um, prickly comment when speaking to society today. Therefore, based on all that we've just said, the right to life takes precedence over every other supposed right that men and women have. You might not think that's a prickly statement, but it is in society. Therefore, because of everything we just said, the right to life takes precedence over every other supposed right that man and women have.

So to our first question, what are some of the reasons then that society would say makes it difficult to choose and to adhere to um, protecting the life in the womb? Does anyone have a comment? What are some of the main objectives, the main arguments for pro-abortion? I know you've probably particularly heard this in this election space that we've been in. Does anyone have a comment back there? What's that? I would say that one of the big problems has to do with malpractice, has nothing to do with abortion, but often gets confused with it. And when something goes wrong, it's served up as an option. This baby is going to have this problem or that problem. I was faced with that with our first one and I kind of looked at the doctor and laughed and I said, this is the reason we want to use a midwife. That doctor almost murdered my wife. As a result, the next time I had a midwife involved with our second and I would say to all the men who are thinking about having kids, even when you're going to date, find out what your future wife's position on abortion is first. You might decide not to date her a second time. The other thing I would say is that there are things that happen in a woman's body, each one leading to another. And as men, our position, our job is to find out what those body changes are going to be, both for the baby and the mom, and to educate us enough to know what to do. I delivered my third child and the baby was born with the umbilical cord wrapped twice around her neck. And I was schooled by a midwife on what can go wrong and typically can go wrong. They're ready to move the baby from outside and be able to massage that back in. I actually ordered a birthing kit and everything and my point's not that everybody should do what I did. The point is that you need to know, you need to be not ignorant of what happens because she's going to be in the most vulnerable position ever and you've got to be there to protect her. You're her warrior.

I was involved in that way. If that birth had happened in a hospital, I would have lost both the wife and child of that marriage. Anyway, great comment. And I'll do a quick follow-up and then we'll go to the next question. Wow. Thank you for that. Young people, you want to be in line with God first. So we ask that you enter into that relationship with God first in baptism and then join with a nice young man or nice woman. That way you're in line with those fundamental principles of the biblical view of life. Thank you for that. Medical. So medical complications that can come to you quick in those circumstances and you're having to respond to new information. Your wife's life is in danger. The baby's life is in danger.

Those are some very difficult decisions to make. I'll just say and open for follow-up.

There are circumstances, you know, so we know the fundamental truths.

God does not ask us to check our brains and use the wisdom he's given us.

We are to use wisdom and seek him in prayer and guidance and those things.

If it's a medical circumstance where the baby is born outside of the uterus and it's unviable, it's not going to be brought to term. Wisdom would say that that could be addressed medically. There was no viability of that. Now in the circumstance where a doctor might say, is it the life of the mother could be in jeopardy if they go forward with this birth? Wow, that's a difficult one. Wow, that's a difficult one. And I would say you would go to prayer and in all ways, in all things, put it to give it to God. Those are some circumstances that are above, that need to be spiritually made and above our own wisdom. And I have no doubt that God would give the right answer to that couple at that time. And go back to these two fundamental truths. It's a gift from God. Life is the most precious thing on earth.

Put that in God's hands, using wisdom and judgment and being guided by the Spirit.

Yes. What I heard when the campaign was to support abortion, women felt that if they were a victim of rape or incest, and I think the most common reason for actually wanting to have an abortion, it was that was inconvenient for my life. But they didn't say that because I understand that the number of people that have abortions is that last reason that it's inconvenient to do so. And the first two are kind of rare.

Okay, thank you, Thomas. Right out of the bat, we got the most two. Y'all are very educated. This is a well educated group. The pregnancy through rape of a 14 year old. I've heard that scenario poised by politicians. I'm sure many of you have as well. Go back to the two fundamental truths. Is it our right to take the life of that which God's gift in the womb? Did that baby, no matter the circumstances, did God still put that baby in that womb? Did God have to participate in that?

Yes. Every life is a gift from God. And these aren't easy circumstances when you think about adoption and those kind of things. But what I have found when I think of that 14 year old girl, and I even feel a little bit of emotion, you know, it always wells up. And I know you do too. I know that God most comes forward with His grace, His comfort, His blessings in the times of the most difficult times. So the God I know would bless that 14 year old girl, comfort her, guide her, be with her through life, through that difficult circumstance. I have no doubt that's the God we worship. We just have to make sure we're bringing God along with us, as we heard in our sermon study through every decision. Does everyone agree with that? Is there any grayness? Am I missing a perspective? Is there anything that we could add? Yes, Gary. Just to add a comment that when you look at the situation, yes, something unfortunate has happened to you. You're pregnant. You're going to have a child. You may be 14 and you absolutely don't want to go through this. You don't want to have anything to do with it if you had a choice. Now you don't have any choice. But one thing that you've mentioned, God's involved in it. This is a life and God has allowed the life to begin. So the potential of that individual, regardless of what you feel, is to be a member of God's family. So you've got to keep that in mind. Yes, I don't want to deal with this kid, but this is a potential child of God. And that's an overriding reality that you've got to take into consideration. So there are ways to resolve it without going to the extent of ending the life. Because you're the one who has to make the choice. And yes, our society allows it. But you've got to keep in mind that, just as you said, in the sermon, we have to answer to God. That's the big picture we have to keep in mind. Perfect. Any young perspective along the way?

As a nurse clinician, I have experienced many, many times in my life.

A patient walks in in severe pain and bleeding. And it's like 10 weeks old. Of course, there's life 10 weeks old in her body. But to find out the baby, the embryo is not growing in her uterus. So that baby, as the baby grows to nine months for viability for birth, it won't be able to happen because that's not the right place. It's an ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tubes. So there's the uterus, fallopian tubes, then ovaries. So as it grows, it will pop and rupture and mother can die. And the baby is not viable. And that's not the right place to live. So medically speaking, they have to remove that life there. And it puts me, as a Christian, in a very, very tight situation, especially I used to be an orner and to be involved in the procedure. And that's life.

But then the mother is dying there. Her blood pressures are dropping and her pulse rising and bleeding and in a lot of pain. So that's the perspective and that's the situation, you know, I was placed in and it was very, very, very, very hard that I had to refuse. I know we have to save the life of the mother, but then there's another life causing it. So it's like a murdering that child that is non-viable, only 10 weeks old and allowing and seeing the mother, you know, dying in your shift, in your time clock. So that's really, really tough. Boy, thank you for that perspective. That is so valuable to our discussion today. Bible. And so again, God doesn't ask us to check our brains at the door in any of these matters. We are to adhere to his law and then seek wisdom in those areas that are complicated situation. And I think you discerned it correctly and the viability of the baby was not there. The death of the mother is pending. So you're making those judgment calls. And I think in those circumstances, and I know you did, you pray and you ask God to be in the situation and to give you guidance. And that's the perfect way to do it. And so I love the medical point of view. Thank you for sharing that. I love Gary's logical thinking that was very helpful. I am very emotionally built. If you get to know me.

So these things tug at my heart emotionally. Sometimes you have to, you know, get your, what do I know? What is the fundamental truth? And I'm going to base my actions upon that. And this is what we're building today so we can be a good defense, provide a good defense in these matters. We had a question here.

So mine's basically a question. The church of God worldwide used to teach that the baby had, no, the didn't have the human spirit until it was born. And I'm assuming they don't teach that anymore because I know people that when they heard that, that really, they no longer come to church because they were basically told that that child did not have the human spirit until it was born. Yet it was a sin to kill it because the way that they perceived it is it was not a viable human being until it had the breath of life. And so it made it look like the church was being hypocritical in the fact that they said that it was wrong to have an abortion. But at the same time, the baby was not viable until it had breath of life. Is that still a teaching of the United Church of God? I haven't heard that teaching. I would say emphatically, no. And this might be a good part. Let me, let me, let me support my response to you on that way. Jeremiah 1, if you'd like to turn there. So when, when does God begin his participation in bringing this baby into existence? Well, as you turn to Jeremiah 1, the Bible puts forth the notion that the baby, that God provides the baby and gives the gift in the womb. And there's even a notion, not only conception, but even before conception, that God has plans and purposes for the child. Jeremiah 1 verse 5, very classic place to turn in confirming our belief that this is a gift from God. It's the precious gift of life, the human spirit here. Jeremiah writes, Jeremiah 1 verse 5, before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.

Before you were born, I sanctified you. I ordained you a prophet to the nation. Speaking about Jeremiah, in this circumstance, we see that God had plans for baby Jeremiah even before he formed Jeremiah in the womb. And if you go one more argument to, to look to, and these are ones that you can commit to scripture and even right in the side of your Bible to lead you to the next one. If you can commit one to scripture, and then you can see the next reference. Psalm 139, Psalm 139, classic passage to turn to verses 13 through 16. Psalm 139 verses 13 through 16. This is the Psalmist Psalm 139, beginning in verse 13.

Speaking of our creator, creator God, Psalm 139 verses 13, for you formed my inward parts you covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvelous are your works that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Listen to this verse 16. Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed.

And in your book, they all were written the days fashioned for me.

When as yet there were none of them. Let's stop there. Incredible. Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed. So when I think about arguments like when does God's when is the human spirit given? Sometimes I'll look at an argument like that and say, well, it kind of doesn't matter. It's kind of a new point. I know God participated in bringing about this baby before the baby was not only at conception, but maybe the notion that it's before that baby was even formed. This is a gift from God. We're made in the image of God's most precious thing. So therefore, even covered in the womb is this precious life.

Yes, back here. We'll do one a few more. Yep.

So one one comment. Sorry. So life is protected.

Yeah, if God had plans for that baby and created that baby. Yes. Now, how that will come about at that time. No one knows. But it is. And we don't really have to know. Sometimes the Bible is silent on certain issues, but the part that it does speak to you is very comforting because even those babies that their life was ended before it began. You want to say it that way before it was at birth. And so, you know, God will have a plan for it and will be brought to life.

God has, as we see here in the Psalms, very clear intentions for those individuals to be brought to life. No matter if that life was discontinued a day or a hundred years down the road, God has a plan and purpose for them in the future.

One comment on that. If it's murder in the womb, then I would expect God would resurrect. That being a great way. Makes a lot of sense. The other thing is one comment on sperm meeting egg. They have found that there's a discharge of four hundred and eighty thousand volts of electricity when the sperm meets the egg. The high power transmission lines do a three hundred and eighty thousand. So this is a hundred thousand more than that.

The speculation is, and this happens in animals too, but Solomon talks about the human spirit going to God, the animal spirit going to the earth. Speculation is that's when the spirit combines with the egg to make the human being or the animal. And then they've seen that spark on video. I think 2016 was the first time that was actually seen. So that's not why I raised my hand. I wanted to just share our experience with that. Our son Ben had stopped growing in the womb for two weeks and the doctor suggested abortion. And we got so anointed at that time. And on the way home from church after that anointing, she started to feel kicking in the womb. And so God still does heal. He still does intervene. I wanted to share that story because it brings a lot of hope and joy. The kicking began. Yes. Wow. Thank you for that. Yeah. And I know I probably speak with Gary and I both speak, you know, in these matters, we as pastors, we try to put forth and give information based on scripture to our best ability guided by the spirit. You will have some of these gray areas that are gray. But, you know, even if the we try to look in scripture and and glean what the truth is and then based on that truth, then try to make logical conclusions on those biblical principles. Maybe every so often we won't make the right conclusion or or maybe there's more nuance to answers that we give. So coming in new, I always just like to look for opportunities to to state those kind of things. And I'm always open to for you to come and give comments. Well, when you said this, it kind of what about this circumstance? Sometimes there is nuance. Sometimes you can't throw a blanket over everything. But what we do know, black and white and very clear and what we stand upon is that life's a gift from God, period.

And we are made in the image of God. And therefore, life is the most precious thing in the entire world. And so therefore we protect it with the commandment as God we and that's what we preach.

One comment here and then we'll come to Kate and then we'll go on a little bit. I guess the question comes on to when are we human and what makes us human? And I've always contended that our emotions and our desires make us human. Okay, so I think there's no statement in the Bible that says thou shalt not have abortion.

But I think you can infer that there is indirectly a statement that does that. And I'd like to make my case in Luke. It says in Luke 1 verse 36, actually in 35, the angel answered and said to Mary, the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the highest will overshadow you. Therefore also that holy one who was to be born would be called the Son of God. Now indeed Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived the Son of her old age. And this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. And if you go down now to verse 39, now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste to a city of Judah and entered the house of Zacharias and greet Elizabeth.

And it happened when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary that the baby leapt in her room and Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit. And if you go down to 44 it says, for indeed as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby bleeped in my womb for joy. Now to me joy is a human emotion. It's an emotion.

And to me, if John, that means, but we're so caged, John the Baptist, this is probably the sixth or seventh month of her pregnancy because Mary's with her for three months. I'm assuming that she gets pregnant soon after the angel talks to her. And then she is with Elizabeth for three months in chapter two and says that in verse, or in chapter one verse 56, Mary is with her for three months.

So the assumption is that when she arrives at the house, she's probably, Elizabeth is probably six or seven months with John the Baptist. So here is a baby in the womb that's expressing joy. And to me, you're aboard John the Baptist, you're avoiding a human life because emotion is a human characteristic. Yeah, thank you for that perspective. I received that. And yeah, it might be, it's definitely an indication of human life. The question though, and I heard you, is it the only or is that an indicator of the beginning of when human life begins?

Well, also the fact that she walked in the door and he was aware of the presence of Christ. Well, how was, how was, you know, yeah, that's a great point. Wow. That's definitely human life, right? Responding to soon coming Savior.

Yeah. Thank you for that comment. That's a great passage of scripture to add to cable. Kate, did you have it right here up front? And then we'll get this comment and then we'll move on. I guess once you figure out that abortion, like a fetus is life and abortion is in the same category as murder, then anecdotally, it's like, how do we address it?

And I think people distract from the bigger population of abortions, which there are extreme cases on either side, but what we would call a convenience abortion is generally someone who's grown and it was consensual, but they weren't planning a baby. And I would call that a fear abortion. In most cases, it's a lack of support and fear. And people who have almost gotten an abortion and then didn't, and they'll give testimonies and they're so happy they didn't, usually the turning point anecdotally for them was someone reached out and supported them.

So it's kind of like a, a real life example of how love can smooth over fear. Yeah, absolutely. And that's where we can provide the, you know, all of God's word in his instruction is the most loving and brings the most joy. Sometimes we can be an agent to help bring that about to the awareness of the individual that's going through that difficult situation. The Luke reference actually made me think of one other reference. If you look at Exodus 21, Exodus 21 verses 22, while abortion is not mentioned specifically in the Bible, that's a true statement. Perhaps Exodus 21 is the most direct passage to address an aspect or address abortion, the premature harm to a fetus in the womb. Look at this.

Exodus 21, here's a scenario that refers to abortion and God's view on it. Here's a scenario that was painted. Exodus 21 verse 22, if men fight and hurt a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished according to the woman's husband with a woman's husband imposes on him and he shall pay as the judge is determined.

But verse 23, if any harm follows from this scuffle, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, strike for strike. Let's stop there. So here's a scenario. Two men are fighting, the woman, the pregnant woman gets involved in those in the scuffle. If it ends where the woman's not harmed, then you have it kind of go to the judge and jury and the husband of the pregnant wife can impose certain things as well as the judge can. But if harm results, i.e. the child is injured or death ensues from that premature birth, the penalty related to that is death to the individual who caused the destruction of that human life in the womb. So, though the fetus is enclosed in the womb of its mother, per Scripture and per this scenario, it's already considered a human life.

And if that human life comes forth prematurely and is harmed and it's insinuated that there's death here, then the penalty is life for life.

This is not life for non-life. This is not life for pre-existing life in the womb. But this is life for life, life which already exists in the womb. And so, therefore, the penalty is life for life. So this is really a direct reference to how God views life in the womb. And He absolutely considers it human life. It was mourn. Correct. It was mourn. It was not in the womb anymore. So it was life for life. Exactly. Yes, thank you. But there's this connotation that harm was bestowed to it. There was a harm. Yes, Kate. Kate was confused about the Scripture. Chill this verse moment. Yes. If it's born and lives, then you just pay a fine. If it's born and lives, then you just pay a fine. If it's born and dies, then the life for life. I thought it was saying if it's born premature and dies, you just pay a fine. But it means... No, this is life for life. So if that life is ended... If it was just born premature and it's fine. Yeah. So I point that Scripture, that passage out, just to add another indication, as we're putting forth a defense for the truth of God. This is a place you might go to if you're really getting into the conversation. Now, oh, that's so wonderful. Thank you for those comments. Those are... There's some thoughts in that I would not have come up with. That's why these interactive Bible studies are so precious and valuable. Thank you for that. Does anyone have any notion how we got to where we are today? Moving on to the second question.

How do we get to today? How do we get to where 60% of all America... What is it? 60% is reported that abortion should be legal in most cases.

What are some of the contributing factors that have led to that opinion?

Anyone have a... Yes, Liz.

Because as a nation, we've become secular. Nobody basically doesn't believe in God.

Your previous question was interesting because also... Because I was thinking about it. Because life for life, usually an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth or whatever is about restitution.

You know, because that's how it was done. But because I sat there and I thought, well, maybe the man... Whoever did it could go to the place, one of those cities of refuge until the high priest died. But it's just interesting. I think it was... To me, it's a good point to put in the Bible. Unfortunately, there's no examples of ever given of that. You know, it was nice if there would be an example given. But your question initially was to... I mean, abortion is a way of birth control for a lot of people. And it's my body, my choice, and they don't look at godly things. In the church, you know, you're talking to the... We all agree, I would say, probably. Almost everyone agreed that we are against abortion. But worldly, they don't have God in their mind at all. Yeah, thank you, Liz. So we have about seven minutes. That's so good.

And I am going to build off of Liz's comment that we are secular now. We've moved away from God. And I want to give you a history within seven minutes of how we've gotten to where we are today.

So stretch a little bit, buckle up. No, I'm going to keep it very high fly over here.

It all began, most agree, religious authorities agree, in 1859. Does anyone know what happened in 1859? Yes. Origin of the species, thank you.

The great thinker, Charles Darwin, came onto the scene with a theory that was widely accepted.

Here's the progression. Since the Renaissance, Western man, Western society, decided that it could do without God. Philosophers said we do not need God. So when Charles Darwin dumps out the origin of the species in 1859, bingo, we've got what we needed. Not only can we get rid of God, but we can do it more easily with this scientific belief, which they can support and teach. And so they embrace evolutionary thinking, despite the fact that this was merely a theorem.

It was taken as proven, and it was rolled out to all of our youth in school, in science class. They eliminated God altogether. And as man saw it, this was good. They were no longer accountable or responsible to any authority. All that sounds good until man evolves and begins to think about evolution. Terrific, we've moved away from any authority. But wait a minute. With evolutionary thinking, what does that make me? If there is no God, and I'm no longer in God's existence, and I'm simply a product of a swampy amoeba pool. Well, that doesn't feel quite good to my vanity.

So man sits down and thought about it a little bit more. He realizes that by getting by taking on evolution and getting rid of God, they've also stripped themselves of dignity. They're now merely advanced animals. So man, by embracing this theory, has paid a price. Loss of God means loss of worth and dignity. Again, we're going to get to the babies in just a moment and get to how abortion where we've gotten to where we've gotten to. So it began with evolutionary philosophy.

But as the evolutionary dream began to fade, the thinkers of society gathered again, and decided to switch to another philosophical base.

This philosophy that would now come forth was the new existential philosophy, existentialism, existentialism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the individual's freedom and responsibility to search for meaning in the world, a world devoid of inherent meaning.

I'll repeat that. We moved from evolutionary theory doesn't feel good after a while. Where's our dignity if we just come from a cesspool to now moving to existential philosophy of existentialism, existentialism, which puts forth the individual's freedom and responsibility to search for meaning in the world, devoid of inherent meaning. Inherent meaning would be given from God. Well, this is devoid. So now their response is to make rational decisions in an irrational world. Because man had burned the bridges to God, where could meaning and value be found?

We don't want to remain in an amoeba pool. So we now must exalt ourselves to the proper place.

And we're going to exalt ourselves to the place of God. This is now the essence of this new philosophy that came onto the scene. Now we're concerned about number one. And that's me, everyone would say. Now I am the God of the universe. And so as this progression of thought continued, what happened is and what we see today, existentialism, while it exalts each individual to their proper place, it can come with great difficulty. Because the problem is, you're not the only existential God on this earth. Now everyone is their own existential God. And that causes problems. If you as your own existential God want to lay down in the street, that's fine. But it doesn't prevent another existential God from running you over if they choose you see. So they moved from evolutionary thought to this God philosophy. And again, we're going to come apply this to the abortion topic. The key element in the overarching discernment with this existential philosophy is the self selfishness.

Number one, the self is number one. So I have the right to do with my body what I choose to do.

Self God philosophy, I can sleep around, I can conceive children, I can get rid of them.

There is no God. And in fact, I am God. And what you find in and what we're seeing today, there's a certain with man's thought, and if man is God, there's a certain schizophrenia to this.

One of the schizophrenia aspects is decades ago, we see that we need to highlight, for example, the disabled population. We go to legislation and mandate that all these businesses have ramped in accessible bathrooms. This is good. It's proper. It's right. The schizophrenia comes into the picture now that you're now we're now moving to the point that if you get a examination of what's in your womb, what's that called? They ultrasound, and you discover that that baby is disabled, get rid of it. You see what you'll find when you begin to think about this, there's always the schizophrenic aspect to man's thinking. Here in one aspect, we highlight this part of society. And here in the other aspect, we say, oh, let's get rid of them, because we've identified that they're disabled in the womb. Schizophrenic, that's just one example. There's so many. I'll think of another one in a moment. You need parental permission to get your ears pierced. But it's moving, many states and counties are moving where you don't need parental permission to abort a baby in the womb. This is man's way of thinking.

And it's destructive, and will lead to the destruction of mankind soon coming.

So we see, despite us being, as we heard in Ecclesiastes, the most educated, have access to most educated education in all the world at this time, because we've blocked God out, ultimately, we will not find the right answers. And we're going to live in a broken society, and it's only going to continue to be more and more broken. So in the end, we have to remove all emotions. We have to remove all preferences, and we have to base our lives upon Scripture when it comes to these difficult and challenging circumstances surrounding abortion. How was that? Man, thank you so much for your participation. Sorry.

I look forward to more discussion on this down the road. But wow, that hour went fast.

Thank you for being patient with me. We will look to continue this. I think next Bible study, we'll just keep going with these controversial topics. We may take on homosexuality and this whole gender issue, but that might be later. Thank you, everyone. This concludes our Bible study, and you are now free to go. Thank you for your participation in contributions. I really appreciate it.