Rev. Dr. Cecil W Thorn, ThD
Doctor Willy Parker, an OB/GYN Abortionist said that until the fetus has passed through the birth canal it is not a baby.
God said that he formed you from the womb and called you by name.
Isaiah 43:1 (ESV): “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'”
Isaiah 44:24 (ESV): “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: ‘I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.'”
Dr. Willie Parker, an OB/GYN and pro-choice advocate, argues that personhood begins after birth, stating that until the fetus has passed through the birth canal, it is not yet a “baby.” His stance aligns with a secular, scientific perspective on when life becomes a person with moral and legal rights, often linked to viability outside the womb or actual birth.
However, this view directly contrasts with the biblical perspective, particularly as seen in Isaiah 44:24 (ESV) and other Scriptures, where God declares His involvement with humanity even from conception. In Isaiah 44:24 (ESV), God says, “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb…” This suggests that God’s relationship with and knowledge of a person begins long before birth. Additionally, in Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV), God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” This conveys the idea that human life, identity, and purpose are known to God from the earliest stages of development.
Contrasting Perspectives:
- Secular View (Dr. Parker):
- Dr. Parker’s perspective reflects the belief that the unborn fetus lacks full personhood until birth. His argument is grounded in the notion that legal and moral personhood is established at birth, a view that is common in pro-choice advocacy.
- This belief often emphasizes a woman’s autonomy over her body and the fetus as dependent tissue until it can survive independently outside the womb. Viability and birth are seen as the markers of becoming a “baby” or person with full rights.
- Biblical View:
- The Bible presents a view of personhood that begins before birth, where the individual is formed by God and known to Him in a deeply personal way. God is described as intimately involved in the creation of life from conception, highlighting the sacredness of life in the womb.
- Scriptures like Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV) depict God’s active role in forming a person in the womb: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb…Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
Key Implications:
- Sanctity of Life: The biblical viewpoint affirms that life, identity, and purpose begin at conception, not birth. God’s knowledge and calling of individuals “from the womb” indicates that even in the earliest stages of development, the fetus is seen as fully human and sacred.
- Moral Responsibility: According to Scripture, human life is not a matter of personal definition or subject to societal norms about when personhood begins. If God knows and forms a person from the womb, then human beings are morally responsible to protect and honor life even before birth.
- Tension with Modern Thought: Dr. Parker’s position reflects a modern, secular worldview, emphasizing individual autonomy and defining personhood at birth. In contrast, the biblical worldview asserts that life’s value is inherent and bestowed by God from conception, which carries implications for how we approach issues like abortion, bioethics, and human dignity.
In summary, the contrast between Dr. Parker’s statement and God’s declaration in Scripture highlights a fundamental divide between secular and biblical views on when life begins. For believers who uphold the sanctity of life as revealed in the Bible, personhood and divine purpose are present even in the womb, challenging the notion that a fetus is not fully human until birth.
The narrative that a developing fetus is “nothing but a clump of cells” is often used to downplay the humanity of the unborn child, presenting it as a non-person or a mere biological entity that lacks significance. This idea suggests that the woman has no inherent emotional or moral connection to the life within her, thus reducing the ethical weight of decisions like abortion. However, this perspective stands in stark contrast to the biblical view, where life, even in its earliest stages, is portrayed as fully human, sacred, and intimately known by God.
Modern View: “A Clump of Cells”
The notion that a fetus is merely a “clump of cells” typically arises from a biological and reductionist viewpoint. In the early stages of development, the embryo is indeed a cluster of rapidly dividing cells. This fact is used to justify the idea that the fetus has not yet developed enough to be considered a person with moral rights or a connection to the mother. This perspective often disconnects the mother from the reality of the life growing inside her, making decisions like abortion seem less significant because the fetus is dehumanized.
- Dehumanization: Referring to the unborn child as a “clump of cells” strips away its personhood and identity. This language can lead women to feel detached from the life they are carrying, reinforcing the notion that it’s not a “baby” or a “life” yet, so they don’t need to feel guilty about ending it.
- Autonomy: In this framework, the focus shifts to the woman’s autonomy and control over her own body. If the life inside her is viewed as not yet human, it reinforces the belief that the woman has full authority over it, free from moral obligations to the developing child.
Biblical View: Life is Fully Human and Sacred
The biblical perspective challenges this reductionist view by affirming that life begins at conception and that this life is fully human, purposeful, and sacred from its earliest moments. God is described as intimately involved in the creation of life, and His care for the unborn child signifies a connection that exists between the mother, the child, and God.
- God’s Involvement in Creation: Verses like Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV) (“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you”) and Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV) (“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb”) show that God sees life as sacred from the moment of conception. The child is not a “clump of cells” but a life created with purpose, known and loved by God even before birth.
- Sanctity of Life: The Bible declares that all life is sacred because it is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27 (ESV)). From conception, every person bears the imprint of God’s image, meaning that life in the womb carries inherent value and worth. This sanctity transcends scientific definitions of life stages and viability.
Emotional and Spiritual Connection
The biblical view emphasizes not only the sacredness of the unborn child but also the profound connection between the mother and this life. By presenting the unborn child as fully human and known by God, Scripture encourages mothers to recognize the inherent connection they have with the life inside them.
- Emotional Bond: Pregnancy is more than a biological process; it is deeply emotional and spiritual. The reductionist view of the fetus as just a “clump of cells” can numb women to the reality of the child they are carrying. By recognizing that the unborn life is sacred and fully human, the Bible encourages a mother to nurture a sense of love, protection, and responsibility for her child from the earliest stages.
- Spiritual Responsibility: If the life in the womb is sacred and divinely created, a mother’s connection to it is not merely biological but spiritual. This affirms the moral responsibility to care for and protect that life, which is more than a physical part of her body—it is a new, individual life with its own identity, ordained by God.
Societal Impact
The “clump of cells” narrative has larger societal implications, as it can desensitize people to the moral and emotional weight of abortion. This perspective influences culture by normalizing abortion and stripping away the inherent connection between mother and child, leading to the devaluation of unborn life.
- Cultural Consequences: When society adopts the view that life in the womb is not fully human or significant, it contributes to a broader devaluation of human life, both before and after birth. This mindset not only affects views on abortion but also weakens society’s regard for the vulnerable, the elderly, and others who may be considered “less” human.
- Spiritual Disconnect: By ignoring the spiritual reality of life in the womb, this viewpoint creates a disconnection from God’s design for life. It suppresses the deeper truths about creation, motherhood, and the moral responsibility to honor and protect life at all stages.
The Call to Recognize Sacredness
For women being told that the life in their womb is “just a clump of cells,” the biblical response is an invitation to recognize the sacredness and value of that life. The Bible portrays pregnancy as a profound moment of creation where God is actively involved. Mothers are encouraged to see their role as co-creators with God, entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing and protecting this new life.
In conclusion, while modern society may promote the idea that there is no connection between a mother and the “clump of cells” in her womb, God declares that life in the womb is fully human, sacred, and intimately known by Him. The biblical view restores the profound emotional and spiritual connection between a mother and her unborn child, challenging the dehumanizing narrative and calling for a recognition of the sanctity of all human life.
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