God is ‘pro-life’ – God is ‘pro-birthing children’
Gen 1:28a And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,
and subdue it:
Abortion: another word used today for ‘birth control’.
Life begins at conception
For the Bible-believer there can be no doubt on this issue. Scripture tells us that human life begins at conception. The moment the sperm unites with the egg, a brand new human life has begun. Many say it is not possible to know exactly when the embryo becomes fully human; thus it should be called a child. The Bible leaves no such confusion. Consider the following:
“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)
(David Cloud)
God loves large families
Pressure has become so strong in encouraging a young couple to limit the size of their family to no children, or one or two, that I am convinced a Satanic conspiracy is involved. Whatever God commands and promotes as a blessing Satan will attempt to confuse, distort, oppose, and prevent. Since an honest reader of the Scriptures cannot draw any conclusion but that God is in favor of large families (even our Saviour came from a family of at least seven children – Matthew 13:55-56), should not the average believer ask why most Christians are choosing to limit the size of their family or even have none at all?
Doing a little simple computation enables one to see why Satan is desperately trying to convince committed believers in any way he can to either have no children, or to severely limit the size of their family. If we were to assume a godly believer had seven children (after the example of Jesus’ family). and that each of his children would have seven children in each generation, at the end of three generations, he would have 346 godly descendants. At the end of five generations, he would have 16,954 descendants to be soldiers of the cross. At the end of eight generations, he would have the incredible number of 5,815,222 “arrows” fighting for God against Satan’s kingdom!
(Ron Williams)
Ps 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Planned Murderhood
Planned Parenthood and all the other ‘sexperts’ tell our daughters that it is all right to fornicate, as long as they use contraceptives provided by the same people. And when these contraceptives fail, as they commonly do, the girls are pressured to abort by the same experts. hli.org
Planned Parenthood has very little to do with planning parenthood. It has everything to do with preventing parenthood! They are basically an abortion mill. They are the largest abortion provider in the country. In 2002 their clinics performed 227,375 abortions. Very shockingly, we are helping them do this! Planned Parenthood receives $250,000,000 of our tax dollars per year to run their “benevolent” clinics.
Furthermore, they treat but don’t report (as required) many of the young children that go there who test positive for STD’s. They typically do not report to parents the abortions they do on 13-17 year old girls.
Planned Parenthood is glad to hand out ‘prophylactics’ to your children while at school. They have even routinely done this in children as young as 11 and 12 (6th graders)! These representatives of Satan need to be put out of business fast!
What is “the Pill”
The Pill (BCP’s) is a group of more than 50 similar types of abortifacients (chemicals that can cause abortions). These pills are taken orally, usually every day. They have three ways of working:
1) They prevent ovulation by suppressing the part of the brain which signals for ovulation to begin.
2) They change the lining in the cervix to make it more difficult for sperm to pass through and fertilize an egg.
3) They prevent implantation of newly conceived human life on the lining of the womb.1,2
The first two methods are contraceptive in nature, the last one causes abortions. The developers of the Pill realized that using only the first two mechanisms would let too many women become pregnant. So they added a chemical which denies the growing baby the opportunity to continue developing properly. The new pre-born baby starves to death and passes out from the mother’s body.
Very conservative estimates state that the ‘Pill’ kills children between two and ten percent of the time.3 However, this does not account for two very important factors. Many medicines such as antibiotics and several other external factors increase the abortion-causing nature of the Pill.4,5
Since 1988, the amount of the contraceptive component of the Pill was lowered, which allows the abortion-causing component of the Pill to come into play more often. This results in more abortions. It is estimated that some forms of the Pill of today cause abortions up to fifty percent of the time.6 Whether two or fifty percent, what Christians would ever consider gambling with the lives of their own children?
Among the more serious side effects of the pill are possible infertility, cervical cancer, breast cancer, tubal pregnancy inflammatory disease, increased chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, gall bladder disease, blindness, strokes, blood clots and even death.7,8,9
What is the IUD?
The IUD (Intra-uterine device) does nothing but cause early abortions. Inserted past the cervix, the IUD inflames the lining of the womb and stops implantation of the developing child.
IUD’s do nothing to prevent conception from taking place. Their only function is to cause these early abortions.
Some side effects of the IUD are possible perforation of the uterus, temporary or permanent sterility, tubal pregnancy, future miscarriages, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even death.10
What is Norplant?
Norplant is a series of capsules which are implanted under the skin. It is designed to be effective for up to five years. Norplant acts as both a contraceptive and an abortifacient. Studies show that it may cause abortions fifty to sixty-five percent of the time.11
A growing number of lawsuits are being filed against the makers of Norplant because of the difficulty of removal. Reported side effects include weight gain, nausea, yeast infections, and acne. The most serious side effects include heart attacks, strokes and nerve damage.12,13,14
What is Depo-Provera?
Depo-Provera is an injection received every three months. It acts as both a contraceptive and an abortifacient. It has the same three mechanisms that the Pill does, two are contraceptive, and one is abortion causing. Depo-Provera may cause abortions forty to sixty percent of the time. 15
Some side effects include an increased risk of breast cancer, mood swings, blood pressure problems, and weight gain.16,17
What is the future of abortifacients?
The abortifacients mentioned are the most common on the market. There are dozens of products in various stages of research, development or testing. RU-486 is just another of these human pesticides. It was taken off the market but then reintroduced under a different name – Mifeprex (Mifepristone).
The latest abortifacient being used at several sites across the U.S. is the methotrexate/misoprostol combination.18 Like RU-486, it is purely abortifacient and not contraceptive. Methotrexate is an extremely aggressive chemical used in chemotherapy to eradicate cancer.19 Unfortunately, it also acts very brutally towards the pre-born child. Any standard drug reference manual should warn against pregnant women using this drug for any reason for the “risk to the unborn child” that it poses.20
There are also several vaccines being developed to prevent pregnancy. Some versions claim to be effective for up to five years. They work by stimulating the woman’s immune system to produce antibodies which attack the sperm or any newly conceived baby. All of the methods being tested seem able to produce abortions and kill helpless human life.
The Morning-After Pill
The term, “Morning-After Pill,” has been used to describe a number of different drugs and procedures. Initially, women realized the effectiveness of taking a new extra birth control pill if they felt there was a possibility of pregnancy. The belief was that these extra pills would help prevent a pregnancy. Pharmaceutical companies realized the value of this method and started marketing specific pills that could be used after [intimacy]. These pills are really the same as typical combination oral contraceptives but with a higher dose of hormones.
Duramed Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Plan B, provides one pill to be taken as soon as possible and one additional pill to be taken 12 hours later. Other manufacturers claim a woman must take between two and five of these birth control pills immediately and a second dose in 12 hours for the same effect.
A concern is the claim that these pills cannot act as an abortifacient. In some cases, the pills prevent ovulation, but in other cases they inhibit implantation of an embryo. In cases in which an embryo cannot implant, the drug acts as a chemical abortifacient. Pharmaceutical companies have addressed this issue by referencing this method of birth control as “emergency contraception” instead of the Morning-After Pill.
The Morning-After Pill, currently marketed as Plan B, is meant to provide security a woman who is fearful of a pregnancy due to recent [intimacy]. Although Plan B could serve as a contraceptive, it could also serve as an abortifacient.
ChristianLifeResources.com
Abstinence is not a Bible-supported method of birth control
“Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
If a couple decides family planning is God’s will for them, the question of method still must be answered. What about abstinence? Some decide to abstain from sexual relations in order to avoid conception. The New Testament does not allow such an arrangement on a long-term basis. In I Corinthians 7 the Apostle Paul says that one purpose for marriage is to protect men and women from fornication. In marriage, couples are entirely free to satisfy themselves. There is nothing unspiritual about relations between marriage partners.
(David Cloud)
Abortifacient Statistics
CALCULATED HOMICIDES OF PRE-BORN BABIES IN THE U.S.A., YEARLY.
|
TYPE |
LOW RANGE |
HIGH RANGE |
|
The Pill, Mini,EC,Morning After etc. |
588,000 |
14,700,000 |
|
I.U.D. |
1,116,900 |
1,116,900 |
|
Depo-Provera |
1,200,000 |
1,800,000 |
|
Norplant |
2,250,000 |
2,925,000 |
|
Surgical Abortion |
1,500,000 |
1,500,000 |
|
Prostaglandin and Saline |
50,000 |
100,000 |
|
TOTALS : |
6,704,900 |
22,141,900 |
[Source: ( Number 1) “Infant Homicides Through Contraceptives”, page 40, 2nd edition, Eternal Life, P.O. Box 787 Bardstown, KY 40004, (1994). (Source 2) “Beginnings”, Volume X1 No 2, page3. Pharmacists for Life, P.O. Box 1281 Powell, OH 43065-1281. (Source 3) “Birth Control Game: Gambling With Life” page 2 & page 3. American Life League, P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, VA 22554.]
[Thus, it is estimated that there are more than 6 million contraceptive-induced abortions every year in the USA.
Since 1965 it is estimated that there have been well in excess of 560 million chemical abortions in America!]
CONTRACEPTIVES
What about contraception?
As mentioned before, only a few methods of birth control called contraception are truly contraceptives. These are the condom, the diaphragm, the cervical cap, and the anti-sperm agents. While these methods do not cause abortions, a Christian couple should still weigh the facts carefully and consider Scripture before deciding to use one of them.
Although abortifacients and contraceptives are not the same thing, it is a mistake to assume that they are not related. Both have so much to do with how we view Christian marriage and children. Society views children as a burden; the Bible views them as blessings and gifts (Psalm 127:3-5).
Before you decide that contraception is what you really want, ask yourself, “In light of Scripture, why do we want to deny ourselves blessings and gifts from God?” Ask yourself, “Can we plan our family better than God can?”
We invite you to join us in the conviction that children are among the most wonderful blessings and gifts in the world. We believe that God can plan our families infinitely better than we ever could!
Footnotes:
1. The Pill: How does it work? Is it safe?, Couple to Couple League Int’l Inc., PO Box 111184 Cincinnati OH, 42511-1184, (1993), pp. 2-3.
2. Ehmann, Dr. Rudolf. Abortifacient Contraception: The Pharmaceutical accutical Holocaust, Human Life International, 7845 Airpark Rd ., Ste. E Gaithersburg, MD 20879, (1993), p.1.
3. Infant Homicides Through Contraceptives, 2nd ed, Eternal Life, PO Box 787 Bardstown, KY 40004, (1994), p.1.
4. Ibid., p. 2.
5. Ehmann, pp. 16-17.
6. The Birth Control Game: With Lffe, American Life League/ Pharmacists for Life, PO Box 1350 Stafford, VA 22554, (1990), p. 2.
7. Appleton, Joan. The Pill: The Oral Method of Contraception, Pro-Life Action Ministries, PO Box 75368 St. Paul, MN 55175, (1995).
8. Oral Contraceptives Facts Sheet, Pharmacists for Life, PO Box 1281 Pawell, OH 43065-1281,(n.d.),p. 1.
9. The Medical Hazards of the Birth Control Pill, Child and Family Reprints, PO Box 508, Oak Park, IL 60303 (1969),p. 32.
10. lnfant HornicidesThroughCaltraceptives,p. 22.
11. lbid,pp. 28-29.
12. Norplant Facts Summary, Pharmacists far Life, PO Box 1281 Powell, OH 43065-1281, (n.d ), p. 2.
13. Reynolds, Barbara. Women Suffering frorn Norplant Arm-Twisting, U.S.A Today, (July 15, 1994), p. 15A.
14. Norplant Systems Package Insert, Wyeth Laboratories Inc., Philadelphia, PA 19101.
15. lnfant Homicides Through Contraceptives ,p. 28.
16. Ibid, pp. 11-12.
17. Beil, Laura, Popularity of Depo-Provera Soaring Despite Concerns of Minority by Women, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, (November 27,1995), p. 7E.
18. Beginnings, Pharmacists For Life, Vol. XI No. 5, p; 3.
19. Gr.iffith H. Winter. Complete Guide To Prescription and Non-prescription Drugs, 7th ed, The Body Press, 360 N. La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90048 (1990) pp. 634-635.
20. Ibid.