PASS VIEW ON WHEN LIFE BEGINS AND ABORTION

Understanding our view on abortion must be preceded by understanding our view of when human life begins.  Many people, including religious and political leaders create their own definitions for life.  Personal or corporate views on life and abortion often advance a particular ideology disregarding truth in favor or promoting a belief or philosophy.  Opinions without understanding facts can cloud life and abortion issues. 

We define the beginning of human life both as evidenced in the 66 books of the Bible and in accordance with medically accurate definitions.  While the Bible does not describe nor was it intended to define the medical knowledge we have today, both the Bible and today’s medical knowledge harmoniously agree that human life begins at conception. 

Medically, conception is the instant the egg and sperm unite.  Human life begins when 23 chromosomes from the male sperm combine with 23 chromosomes from the female egg totaling 46 chromosomes.  The medical term zygote describes life immediately after the sperm fertilizes the egg.  The zygote may take 3 - 4 days to adhere to the mother's uterine wall for further development and sustenance. Following the zygote stage, the medical term embryo describes life from conception and implantation in the uterus through the eighth week of development. 

Abortion is the term describing the discontinuation of life inside the womb regardless of time that life is in the womb.  It is our view that a medical or surgical abortion is an intentional termination and death of an innocent human life.  

It is our view to provide truth to protect child, mother, and father from the effects of an abortion choice. Physical, emotional, mental, social, moral, and spiritual consequences of terminating life in the womb are life long and unavoidable. 

It is our view that human life in the womb is sacred and to be protected.

Rev. Rick Ligthart

* See Client Services section 3