Innocent Blood

by Emmett Smith

According to some sources, an ancient Chinese curse was invoked by the phrase “may you live in interesting times”. It’s my contention that we certainly live in interesting times these days. As just one example, let’s look at the recent history of abortion, or “choice” as some insist we call it. Lord willing, we’ll examine some more examples in weeks to come.

There was a time when Christians might have been able to justify (rationalize, if you will) abortion. In 1973, when Roe v Wade was handed down, there was much discussion regarding just when life actually begins. Some (including me, I’m ashamed to say) found that they could justify the excision of a simple early-term “lump of tissue” as opposed to a full-term baby. The language we use in these discussions is also interesting: fetus or embryo rather than child or baby; choice rather than abortion or, more properly, murder. But today, with late-term abortion common, I submit that we as Christians have no remaining rationalizations regarding this issue. I don’t really think we ever had.

According to Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Note the phrase in red. I’d hate to be an abortionist, wouldn’t you?

One of the more interesting tactics of certain anti-abortion groups lately is the publication of graphic depictions of actual aborted fetuses. The resulting uproar in the media by so-called “pro-choice” advocates has been interesting, to say the least. They recognize that if people ever actually see what they so zealously advocate for what it actually is – butchery – then public support for such policies will evaporate. Even they must be disturbed by graphic evidence that their little “choices” actually have fingers, toes, ears, hair, and blood.

Another scripture of interest is Psalm 106:37-38, “Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.” Amazing isn’t it? The Israelites, in the depths of their moral decline, actually offered their own children as sacrifices to idols. And the land was polluted ...

What idols do we sacrifice our children to? That extra paycheck, that new car, or boat, or time to yourself, or (you fill in the blank)? Think about it. The slaughter of literally millions of unborn children each year since 1973 isn’t the only travesty of our times, is it? The casualties of abortion are deprived of physical life here and now. But what about the casualties of parental negligence? What if we gain those material extras, but lose our souls? What if we sacrifice the souls of our children?

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

November 2024

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