Biblical Family Advocates
Circa 2004 - 2007

 


From 2004 - 2007 this was the website for Biblical Family Advocates, a Christian pro family ministry.
Content is from the site's archived pages offering a small sample of what this site offered its visitors.
Whether you agree with the site's pro-life/pro-family message or not, please view the content from a historical perspective.

Phil Magnan is the director of Biblical Family Advocates, a Christian pro family ministry. Phil has been active in the pro-life/pro-family movement for nearly 20 years. Through speaking and teaching in churches and in the community, and interviews on radio and TV, he has advocated biblical pro-family issues in many States throughout the U.S. and in Europe. He is indeed a missionary to his own country, challenging the culture with the mandates and truths of Scripture and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Phil and Diane Magnan, have been married for over 25 years. They have 3 daughters and 4 granddaughters. Phil has been involved in the leadership of his church for many years.

 

Mission Statement

The mission of Biblical Family Advocates (BFA) is to make known the principles and truths of God’s Word in regards to the proper operation of the family in the church and in the community. We shall promote the righteousness of God, His gospel of grace, and His reign in the community and the church. We also endeavor to take advantage of the wide variety of apologetics and scientific study that show the veracity of the Word of God and the application of those conclusions. We shall make known to the  church and the community a defense for the protection of the unborn, as well as a condemnation of abortion and infanticide, whether the unborn are deformed,  conceived by rape or incest. We shall make known the dangers and pitfalls of birth control, as well as make known the blessings of having children. We shall also endeavor to reveal to the church and to the public the moral and spiritual positions as it pertains to the family of those in political office and those who seek office. It is also one of our goals to make known the blessings of abstinence and obedience to God before marriage and the unaltered support of faithful heterosexual marriage between a man and a woman. We shall condemn homosexual activity,  as with all immoral behavior, but will also strive to find avenues to reach out to the homosexual community with genuine concern and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We shall also denounce euthanasia as a means to treat the infirmed. As well as uphold the dignity of those conceived by cloning or IVF, and a condemnation of all embryonic stem cell research. We shall challenge the church of Jesus Christ to live according to the Holy Scriptures and to renounce the influence of the world, the flesh and the devil, to the glory of our blessed Savior Jesus Christ, through sermons, training, calls for repentance and prayer. Any societal action that cripples or tears down the integrity of the family will be of interest to BFA to address and correct.

 

 

POSTS

America’s Worst Enemy, Itself’

The Speeding Train and the Foolish Driver

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  It isn’t as though we are unfamiliar with the concept of the speeding train and the foolish driver who believes that they can outrun that train across the tracks; only to be crushed beyond recognition. But when you look at America, some Americans are wondering if we are in a similar race for our very own existence. Of course any person can point out some of the top dangers to America, whether it’s bio-terrorism, illegal immigration or nuclear war. But the maddening reality is that we do not understand that WE are our own worst enemies. Here are a few examples that should make us begin to wonder if we are the largest group of lemmings to commit collective suicide. In spite of the dangers of drunk driving, how many of us disregard the danger to ourselves and others after a night out? How many excuse overindulgence as a petty problem when in fact it is a deadly menace to everyone on the road? Alcohol is legal, and so many find no problem with abuse as long as it's contained or hidden from view. If you find yourself a slave to drink, you might think there's and easy way out by using alcohol withdrawal medication to curb your urge, rather than using your God given will power to do the right thing. Having a drink has become a habit and then an addiction, and then a medical issue for many of us. We want to protect ourselves from the onslaught of illegal immigrants and yet we have created the demand for cheap labor by having cheap abortion which kills millions of pre born Americans.  Additionally, millions of Baby Boomers have looked forward to their retirement and yet they have promoted the aborting of millions of children who could have financially supported the now failing social security system. To add injury to insult, many children who did survive this abortion holocaust have been taught by their parents that it is acceptable to get rid of pre born babies if they are expensive and inconvenient. This widespread belief will make the case in the future, that Mom and Dad should also be euthanized if they are the same kind of burden to their children. In the interest of not offending anyone, the vast majority of Pastors will not speak on the issue of abortion from their pulpits.  Yet these same Pastors will wonder why their churches are not filled with the youthful voices of children, who might have brought the gospel to their community.

We have clearly patted ourselves on the back for being so tolerant of homosexuals, the co habitation of heterosexuals and no fault divorce; when all the while destroying the very institution that is meant to keep our society stable; a godly marriage. But in typical hypocrisy we will continue to pity the broken home and the single parent family when we ourselves have encouraged it to continue by tolerating immoral relationships. Public schools are teaching promiscuity and homosexuality and are trying to figure out why so many young people have STD’s and HIV. Even Police officers across the land will risk life and limb to protect children from harm and yet the very same officers will march in gay pride parades which encourage children to participate in the destructive lifestyle of homosexuality.

We are so rightfully concerned about the environment, when the environment of our soul is so stagnant with hedonism, pride and materialism. With this kind of spiritual wasteland, we simply cannot offer the spring water of Christ to those who need it. It also seems rather strange that most environmentalists are very silent about our waterways being filled with the waste water of chemical abortifacient drugs that are destroying the very sexual makeup of ponds and rivers. They also seem very silent on the environment of the womb being destroyed by abortion and multiple sex partners. When will they actually care about pre born children as much as they care about baby seals?

We invite people to come to our country to become citizens and yet we fall all over ourselves to accommodate their culture and their ways, instead of demanding that they become real Americans. We have somehow forgotten that they have come to our country because of the value of what we are as a nation. We should never replace that with the very culture that people flee. To make matters worse, we invite the people of Islam who are religiously bound to overthrow the countries they live in, whether by law or sword to come to our beloved country, living among us, giving sanctuary to those who want to destroy us.

Remarkably we go all over the world to teach countries about representative government and yet Americans are seldom represented by their elected officials. Their parties prop up people that do not represent our best and brightest, but rather many wealthy, power hungry elitists. Most parties play both sides of the political fence thus misrepresenting their own party platform. Many of us are still waiting for real statesmen who fear God and obey His Word. It would be refreshing to have leaders who are not afraid to utter the words, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord” and “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”, and actually mean it.

We had such great disdain for being under the tyrants of Britain and were willing to pay the ultimate price to be free. But now we cower before the Federal government as though we no longer were a land ‘for and by the people’. States have given up their constitutional sovereignty and instead wait in line to be blessed once again, by the kings of Washington DC. Our representatives are enamored with taxes and spending without restraint as they continue to create departments and programs outside of their God given authority and outside of the U.S. Constitution. Many times law enforcement, government leaders and judges punish the righteous, while funding and praising those who do evil.

The godly prophets are considered fools and yet the fools are proclaimed wise. The profane is now called holy and evil is called good. We are certainly in trouble. Though I am very worried about bioterrorism, illegal immigration and nuclear war; the most frightful and troubling thought is that we are not only driving that car in a race with the train, but most Americans seem indifferent to the real coming train wreck of America.  It appears that few are trying to stop and consider whether it worth losing such a race; but then again, we might either offend someone or be accused of being hateful. But shouldn’t we be recapturing what it means to really love God, our neighbor and even ourselves?

 

 Phil Magnan, Director

Biblical Family Advocates

619-962-0659

 

Biblical Family Advocates is a Christian pro family organization protecting and promoting the moral and spiritual interests of millions of  families and churches throughout the U.S. and around the world

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Abortion, an open letter to Pastors and ChristiansPlease Just Close the Church Doors ...

By Phil Magnan   

I read an editorial in a Christian newspaper, that was a well intentioned constructive criticism of my article Pastoral Censor of the Pro Life Message. Some of her suggestions were very good and some were the very same ideas that I have espoused for many years. But there were shock waves in my mind as I considered the way that we have tried to win the churches to be pro life.

For so many years I have tried to believe the notion that we have to take the time to win churches and pastors to our pro life stance. You know ...over time we'll convince the Christians to not kill their own children. But the lives of so many children have been lost in that process, and you might ask why? Long term plans should produce long term results. To be sure there are churches out there who are awesomely pro life and active, but that is not the norm, it's the exception. Sadly in most churches it's too late. I really mean it, it's too late. It is time for mourning the loss of truth, justice and righteousness in the church. At this point you may be saying that I'm playing the blame game...you're right! It is time that we the church take the blame for being weak in our condemnation of the horrific promotion of child killing in the church. It is time for pastors to weep because they must take responsibility for the deaths of so many unborn children in their flocks. God forbid, but perhaps our pastors love peace more than truth and fear their flocks more than God.

It makes me wonder what Jesus would say to the church community today if he had to rebuke us as he did the Pharisees. Also, would we hate Him like the Pharisees and end up crucifying Him? Probably not, besides why would Jesus rebuke us? We're a lot better than those Pharisees or are we?

But what if Jesus were to say.... "Woe to you pastor's, hypocrites! Because you preach the love of your fellow man, but you have turned your backs on the most helpless members of your church, the unborn child!

Woe to you churches, you have said we have built wonderful churches for ourselves. So you admit that you have monuments to your indifference to the unborn child and pregnant woman in crisis! You have tithed for your own ease and status, but your use of tithes will witness against you as the neglecting of the weightier provisions of the Law, justice, mercy and faithfulness.

Woe to you body members, who sit idly by as the children in the womb are torn apart and you say I see nothing! (Proverbs 24:11-12) Woe to you Christians, for you expect the Christ to be your advocate at the moment of your death and have neglected to advocate for the least of these at the moment of their death. (Matthew 25:45)

Woe to you Pastors and Church members, who honor the government with your lips, but will not be part of it, saying its too political, and did not understand that it is a ministry of God. (Romans 13:1-4) It was I who gave you the authority to vote and run for office so that righteousness and justice would prevail, even for the unborn, but you have given the government to those who blaspheme my name. You will passionately demand justice for yourselves, but will not lift a finger for the unborn.

Woe to you pastor's, preachers of the Word! Hypocrites! You say that you rightly divide the word, but are afraid that you might lose your building, livelihood and church members, if you offend church members with the words "thou shalt not kill the unborn!"

Woe to you board members, committees! Blind guides! You will fund a missionary to travel land and sea to make one convert, but it is in your own churches that the pagan teaching of 'choice' and child killing prevail! Judgment must first start with the household of God!

Behold I am sending to you prophets and wise men and gentle warriors. Some of them you will ostracize in your churches and others you will forbid to speak out in defense of the "least of these", that upon you may fall the guilt of the pre born child's blood." If a church or pastor cannot feel the gravity of murder by abortion, then how can we say that the church is the pillar of truth?

How can we open the doors of our church saying that we love one another and not speak clearly that abortion is murder, even in cases of rape, incest, or deformity? We have no right to call ourselves Christians if we embrace murder. For we know that no murderer has eternal life. (1 John 3:15) How can we say that we hate the violence of the world while affirming a woman's right to kill her unborn child? The unborn child's blood has cried out to God each day. May that witness not be against us!

It is time for the whole church to mourn the loss of truth, righteousness and justice concerning the unborn. I am pleading for all Christians to weep and repent over the sickening condition of the church. It must not be business as usual in which we pat each other on the back about our so called God blessed ministries. It is a time for mourning the fact that so many are willing to defend and make excuses for their pastors lack of spiritual backbone to preach the truth about abortion. Any pastor who cannot openly and passionately condemn abortion has no right to be in the pulpit. This is not just another issue, it's murder. There are thousands of unborn children dying by the hand of church members each day! We can make all of the excuses in the world, but our actions speak louder than words.

If it is not natural for a church to tell the truth and defend the unborn, stop calling yourself a Christian church, you have no right or authority to do so, just close the church doors .... please!

 

 

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Birth Control and ProFertility

Natural Family Planning

Biblical Family Advocates does not agree with the vast majority of Birth Control and STD prevention techniques and methods as many of these can be ineffective and dangerous such as condoms and abortifacient birth control. Many of these methods have led millions into a promiscuous lifestyle, such as sex outside of marriage including adultery. We strongly encourage each person to be sexually abstinent before marriage as sex outside of marriage is a grave sin before God and is a provision for more immorality, abortion, STD's and children to be born out of wedlock. Consider 1 Corinthians 6:9-20

  Additionally, many birth control methods can abort a living human being at the earliest stages of development. Those birth control methods include, the Pill, RU486, Depo Provera, Norplant and the Morning After Pill as well as the IUD. We Biblically consider the child who is just conceived to be just as human as you or I. Job 3:3 and Luke 1:36

  Regrettably, the procreation of children is seen as cost prohibitive and inconvenient to a person who simply wants to embrace a hedonistic and self centered sexual lifestyle, not only outside of marriage, but within the confines of marriage. We challenge this notion in the light of Genesis 1:28 and Psalm 127:3-5 in which children are seen as a blessing and a gift that are to be multiplied, not shunned and aborted.

    We consider the rejection of having children, within the bonds of marriage, to be outside of God's natural order for the family. We also consider the having of children outside of marriage to be outside of God's order for the family. Though the child is not illegitimate, as they should be welcomed and loved, the relationship of their parents is illegitimate. We encourage those parents to marry. 1 Corinthians 7:1-2.8

   Of course there are situations where the forestalling or the limiting of children using Natural Family Planning is acceptable based on catastrophic poverty, unsafe ministry, marital abuse or the Life of the mother as well as other unusual circumstances.  Natural Family Planning can be very effective if used responsibly by both the Husband and the Wife. The added benefit is there is no opportunity to abort a living human being and it can be used to have more children.

    What most married couples should consider is their motives to reduce the size of their family. There are enormous societal pressures to pursue materialism and career over children as well as an unreasoned rationale for limiting their family, when the problem is not unwanted children. The question is "why" do couples not want children?

   Once again we challenge each couple to honestly evaluate their motives and plans for children in the light of God's Word and to avoid conforming ourselves to the "world". We should instead pursue a life of holiness, self control and self sacrifice on behalf of children. They are meant to be a "holy legacy" that carries on the work of Christ. Another work of Christ is the work that is done in our character when we raise children!

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TEN POWERFUL PRO LIFE SCRIPTURES

Some have said that the words “thou shalt not abort” are not in the Bible. This is very true, but neither is “thou shalt not nuke”. Let us be clear, abortion is just one of the many ways to take someone’s life.  So if we can see in God’s own Word, that He testifies that the child in the womb is a real person, do we really have the right to disobey God’s command of “thou shalt not kill”?

It is my hope that you will find encouragement and be blessed in these few scriptures that attest to the humanity of the child, even from conception. This should make us reconsider the use of embryonic stem cell research as well as those birth control drugs like the “pill” and RU486 in which millions of tiny people in the image of God are being destroyed. The two greatest commandments of God tell us to love God completely and to love our neighbor as our self. Let us rediscover the need to extend full dignity, justice and care to our tiny neighbors in the womb out of love for God and for each other.

1. "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed;   For in the image of God He made man.” Genesis 9:6.

These verses show the very basis as to why we are not to kill innocent people. They are made in the image of God. Truly, children in the womb were made in God’s image too. Being made in God’s image refers to our spiritual nature to live forever. It is our ability to appreciate beauty and justice. Being made in God’s image gives us many qualities; the ability to invent amazing things, to love, and to appreciate right and wrong are just a few of the traits we have inherited from God.

Who knows what good can come from allowing a person to live?  I see in that child in the womb the potential to cure HIV or rescue a teen considering suicide or a person who can give the good news of Jesus Christ.  I see a great deal of hope and potential for those who will allow God to work in their lives. By the Spirit and the love of Jesus Christ from above we can extend to others mercy and help. We would be able to have a love for truth and righteousness which promotes justice for the least of those in society. Who knows what spiritual healing can be wrought by people turning away from their sin and selfishness and loving their neighbor?

 

2.  “Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If all is well, why am I like this?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger", Genesis 25:21-23.

Did you see that? The Word of God calls these occupants of Rebekah’s womb, “children”. And even God goes on to declare that they are ‘people and nations’, not blobs of tissue or a fetus.

The Hebrew word ben  means “children or son” in this passage. This Hebrew word is used for children in the womb and out of the womb throughout the Old Testament, so we can begin to see that Bible makes no distinction between the child inside or out of the womb.

 

3.  "May the day perish on which I was born,  And the night in which it was said,  "A male child is conceived.' Job 3:3

Most translations say that this is a man-child who was conceived. The Hebrew word here is geber, which simply means a person or even a valiant man or warrior. There sure is a lot of humanity packed into that word.

4.  "Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?
 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
 For now I would have lain still and been quiet,  I would have been asleep;
Then I would have been at rest With kings and counselors of the earth,
Who built ruins for themselves, Or with princes who had gold, Who filled their  houses with silver; Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child,
 Like infants who never saw light? There the wicked cease from troubling,
And there the weary are at rest. There the prisoners rest together; They do not hear the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there, And the servant is free from his master. Job 3:11-19

Did you notice that the miscarried child ends up in the same resting place as full grown adults? If their life means nothing, why does Job even use the personal pro noun of “I” so many times? I would hope these verses might give hope to those mothers who have lost their children either by abortion or miscarriage.  In the first verse of this passage it says the word “perish” but in Hebrew language, the word there is “gava” to “breathe out” or literally “give up the ghost.” That would mean that the child in the womb already has a spirit. Of course we know that every human cannot survive without their spirit. (James 2:26)  He also refers to the still born child as a child. This is the same Hebrew word that is used in the phrase, “out of the mouths of babes.” So the Word here attests that the stillborn child is like an infant or baby. Consider what David said of his child that died as an infant. “I will go to him, but he will not return to Me." 2 Samuel 12:23”, referring to the hope of being able to see his loved one in the next life in heaven.

5.  "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine The soul who sins will die. Ezekiel 18:4

 And God does not miss one soul for all souls are His. The word “son” in this passage is the same word for those pre born children who were in the Genesis 25:21-23 passage, which affirms that they are indeed human. God has the ownership on all souls so it is not for us to ‘choose’ to take the life of a child, for they should not be treated as property to do with as we please. Even early 19th century feminist Elizabeth Stanton saw this injustice.

"When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit." Elizabeth Cady Stanton:   http://members.tripod.com/~danewe/

6. “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:4-5

GOD knew us before we were even in the womb! Jeremiah was sanctified, which means he was set apart for his prophetic ministry as a prophet before he was even born.

7.  “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.” Luke 1:15 

Here is another amazing passage that shows that a person is even anointed for ministry even before they are born. This passage is also saying that even before John the Baptist was born he already had the Holy Spirit of God.  God does not give His Spirit to a blob of tissue or to a non person. This too is an affirmation of his humanity in the womb.

8.  “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” Luke 1:41-44

The word for baby in the New Testament Greek language is brephos, and it is used in this passage.  This word is used for born and unborn children in the New Testament. You can see evidence of a born child using the same Greek word in Luke 2:16.

What is also amazing is that John the Baptist even leaps for joy while he is still in his mother’s womb. Additionally, Elizabeth says to Mary that she is the mother of her Lord, not going to be the mother of my Lord. This is an important point, as within traditional Christian teaching, Jesus Christ is “Immanuel” which means ‘God with us.” Jesus Christ is both God and man who came to earth to save sinners. (John 3:16) One might ask how this occurred. Jesus the God-man was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God in the womb of Mary, so He had to become this God-human even from conception. (Luke 1:35, 1Timothy 3:16)  He is called the Son of God and the Word of God in which everything was made through Him. (John 1:1-3, 10, 14)

9.  “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.” Luke 1:36

The word son in this passage is the same word used for son of Abraham or even Son of God. The passage clearly says a son is conceived. In other words a term for a full grown human male is attached to someone just conceived.

10.  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, And 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. 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. Psalm 139:13-16

You are very precious to God as you were made in His image. Enjoy the fact that God was the One who created you in your mother’s womb. In response to His kindness by sacrificing His life for you, give your heart to Christ and live a new life in Him.

 I thank God my mother chose life for me. I was her seventh child.

There are other amazing verses that also refer to the humanity of the child in the womb. Please go to our Cloning/Stem Cell page.

 

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Cloning, Embryonic Stem Cell Research and IVF from a Biblical Perspective

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By Phil Magnan

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

A Special Note to My Readers:

I would like to address Cloning, Stem Cell research and In Vitro Fertilization, (IVF) in a manner that is both readable and I hope will give you reasons why specific bio technologies should not be supported or funded.  We must pursue ethical medical cures in the light of the Holy Scripture, which calls us to love and holiness. If the scientific community wants to prevent past atrocities and injustices, they must also consider the necessity of submitting to a higher moral authority; the God of the Bible. This insures the greatest stability and civility for a society in its pursuit of curing the ravages of disease.

It is my hope that as you take an honest look at what science is producing and its pursuit of a not so brave new world, you will be astounded as to the frightening path we have already taken.  I also hope that this will give you vital information that will strengthen and challenge your morality to the core.

Sadly small humans and the dignity of humanity are at the center of this moral dilemma. Even if one cannot agree with me in the beginning of this premise, please to allow me the courtesy to explain my position.

 

PART IV:  What Does the Bible Say About ESCR?  What does the Bible have to say about embryos?

What Does the Bible Say About ESCR?

The book James speaks of some of the motivation behind a great deal of ESCR. Consider that he says that “You lust and do not have; so you commit murder.  You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.  You do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4:2).  So we see that within the passage of James is a good description of why the ESCR industry continues to work to produce thousands of clones as they cannot have, so they kill and steal what is another’s.

The passage in James clearly shows that there is a violating of many of the 10 Commandments, which God still holds us accountable to follow.

When we murder a person, we have broken the 6th commandment.  When we steal something that is another’s, especially their parts for our benefit, it violates the 8th commandment of “thou shall not steal.” We can also see that envy of a person’s property is considered to be coveting which violates the 10th commandment of God and according to the book of James, it leads to murder.

If anyone is offended that I would even use the 10 commandments because they are religious in nature, then one should be consistent and remove their own laws in the land that are like these “religious” laws. But I do not think that anyone wants to have widespread evil against their fellow neighbor, let alone against themselves. The highest form of morality and justice are to be described in the Word of God.

Jesus Christ said that what defiled a man was what came out of their hearts (Mark 7:21-23).  He lists the things defile a man as “evil thoughts, fornications, thefts and murders.”  These sins are the very things entrenched in IVF and ESCR.  In short, these industries, because of their “evil thoughts”, steal (kidnap) and kill the innocent human embryo.

When unmarried women seek children by IVF, they have committed a form of fornication by having children out of wedlock, whether they are lesbian or heterosexual.  They have violated the marriage bed which should be the domain of pro creating children.  Though their actions may have been well intentioned, it goes against what God originally desired for the sanctity of marriage and the stability of families.

I believe that everyone should take a very hard look at these industries and consider what Jesus said about “Knowing a tree by its fruit”.  Jesus said that He would reject those who do not produce good fruit, but practice lawlessness (Matthew 7:20-23).  ESCR commits lawlessness because it violates so many of God’s commands on how we are to treat the most vulnerable in our society. It is a sad commentary on a society that falls headlong toward a path of destroying and exploiting little unborn children.

Once again, the problem with IVF is that the IVF process is capable of producing more embryo’s than the woman can carry and thus the extra children who are in the womb or in the laboratory are either selectively aborted from the mothers womb or are put into cold storage to hold for the parents at a later time to produce more children. This practice of putting embryos into cold storage should be considered abusive and degrading.  There are also inherent risks in using IVF procedures as they may cause severe birth defects.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46967

Some times couples simply donate these extra embryos for research, which seems generous and yet these little tiny humans are killed in the process. So the IVF clinic which was meant to give promise to infertile couples are also greatly increasing the aborting and cloning to kill for research, the embryonic child.

Many will say that these extra children will be thrown away anyway and is it not better to allow life this saving research? Using that logic we could gather up small, unwanted poor children and use them for life saving research as well. I for myself refuse to benefit at the expense of the death or mutilation of another.

And to define some people as “extra” is a convenient euphemism for taking away a persons God given right to life.

What does the Bible have to say about embryos?

 Is a human embryo alive?  What makes an embryo alive?  What makes any of us alive? The Bible says it is our spirit that makes us alive (James 2:26).  When the little girl in the Gospel of Luke was dead, she became alive again by her spirit returning (Luke 8:55).  Therefore, the human embryo is also made alive by the spirit that God gives to them personally.  We are alive because God has placed a spirit in us to activate us from the moment we were conceived in our mother’s womb.

After 18-21 days the unborn child has a beating heart and 42 days after conception the unborn child has measurable brain waves.  By the time a mother finds out that she is pregnant, her child already has a beating heart and measurable brain waves.  How is this possible?  We are very complex beings even at these early stages of life and we have been given the very breath of God to live just as Adam was.  God did not breathe air into Adam.  It would have to be something very amazing and dynamic like the human spirit to make us alive.

I was once asked if I could prove from the scriptures if an embryo is a human. It was a good question, so please consider these scriptures.

Job 3:3 

“May the day perish on which I was born, and the night in which it was said, ‘A male child is conceived.’

Notice how the verse says that even at conception that they are called a male child.  In the Hebrew language it’s an even stronger term, like “a man child” or “valiant warrior.”

 Luke 1:36

Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.

Notice how the Bible does not call them clumps of cells, John the Baptist was conceived a son, which in the Greek is “uihos”, which is a son or child. This same word was used for a baby that was born as well as for Christ when He was an adult (Matthew 3:17).

James 2:26

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

We were given a human spirit at the moment of conception to give us the ability to live even into eternity

Psalm 139:13-16

“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”
At what point was God involved in making us? From the book of Psalms you can see that God was with us from the very beginning of life itself. God Himself saw our unformed substance as an embryo and sought to form us in our mothers womb. Should we not offer the same love and care we received and extend it to the unborn embryonic child?

Conclusion

We must stand for the ethical treatment of all human beings and enjoy the fact that God has given us ethical and godly treatments for us to use for the benefit of those who are suffering. We must also affirm that we are not entitled to another’s life to benefit our own regardless of the consequences to our own person or to those in our family, lest we are those who benefit by the shedding of innocent blood. True compassion considers not only the most workable solution, like Adult Stem Cell therapies, but what will affirm the dignity of all people regardless of their stage of development. I believe by taking the higher moral ground will not only insure better results, it will keep society from going down a very frightening and degrading path.



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