Abortion Rate Rises In Nebraska

Since the legalization of abortion throughout the U.S. in 1973, abortion services have become more widely accessible and knowledgeabe. The overwhelming majority of abortions are performed every year.

After a decade of falling abortion rates, the number of abortions performed in Nebraska rose in 2003. There were 215 more abortions performed in Nebraska last year than in the year before, reported by the Nebraska Health and Human Services System Thursday. The number of abortions increased 5.7 percent, from 3,775 in 2002 to 3,990 in 2003.

The largest increase occurred among women in their 20s. Abortions among teens increased approximately 1 percent. The average age for women seeking abortions in 2003 was 25.4.

Within the Christian Church there is generally a keen desire to follow and apply the teachings of the Bible.

Christians who seek to argue against abortion on the basis of Scripture (the Bible) use a number of verses that seem to teach that God knows and plans the life of a person before they are born. In the Psalms David wrote:

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:13-16 NIV)

The Prophet Jeremiah spoke similar words: 'The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you' (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV). Even Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that God had a plan for the baby (Jesus) she was going to have ('He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High' (Luke 1:32 NIV)) and
John 'lept in the womb' when Mary came to visit Elizabeth (his mother - Luke 1:41).

From this it is argued that God knows each human and has a plan for each of us that is shaped and formed in the mind of God even before we are born. Human life begins at conception so abortion is wrong.

The strongest biblical evidence used against abortion is the prohibition to commit murder (Exodus 20:13). Christians against abortion believe the embryo/foetus is human and should be give full human rights. Anyone taking away its life is committing a grievous act of disobedience against God (they are committing murder) and are putting themselves on a level with God who alone gives life and takes it away.