Theological Paper

     Greetings to you in the name of Christ Jesus.  I had an amazing weekend with the Kyle clan.  Erin's parents were in town for the weekend.  We went to the Cardinal's game yesterday, it was perfect weather out for it, and the Cards won.  I think I survived with a passing grade, and they definitely are cool in my book.  Of course, they raised Erin and I think she is pretty neat.  I also got to see some old college friends who were in town for the game today.  We spent a good half hour reminiscing about the old days in Seward.  Memories from freshman year made us laugh and feel old all at the same time.  Aaron Sailor, one of the two guys, gets a special shout out because he told me he was still a faithful blog follower, which made my day.  All of you who read this do mean a lot to me, hence why I take the time to keep writing, but it put it in a more personal perspective to hear him tell me he still reads it.  Thank you for that Aaron.
    Speaking of thinking Erin is pretty neat, we celebrated our six month anniversary today.  It has actual been longer since we met and first started talking, but we made up an "official date" to go by.  She has been wanting to learn to play the guitar for quite some time and since her birthday is not until October and we only have a short time together left, I took her to pick out a guitar.  She picked out a good starter one that fit her well and is already working on learning to play it.  Today we were running errands and she told me she wanted to go to Golf Galaxy.  We went and she told me to pick out the wedge I have been wanting for some time now and she got it for me.  I got the Titleist Vokey Spin-milled 54 degree wedge.  She is definitely a keeper.  The funny part was she found it funny that when she said she wanted to go to Golf Galaxy I never questioned why.  I told her a golf or hunting store will never be questioned simply visited as quickly as possible.  She did not find it as funny as I did when we got back out to the car and I told her to get in back so my wedge could be buckled in up front.  We also went out for dinner this evening and it was a great day together.  I cannot believe it has been six months already, but only because it has been such an amazing six months.
      I told you I would post my theological paper on here when it was done.  It was done on Thursday, but I just have not had time to put it up yet.  However, here it is.  Again, the issue is trying to show that a fetus is a human being, only this time was all theological reasons.  I have not gotten either one back yet or graded so if I do and they are wrong, I will let you know.  Otherwise enjoy:

           The entire argument for the abortion controversy comes down to one issue, if the fetus is a human being, then abortion is murder, but if the fetus is not a human being then abortion is not murder.  When looking at God’s Word in the scriptures it is almost undeniable that a fetus is a human being.  There are multiple examples of the fetus being a human being, and there are multiple ways the Bible speaks of this idea.  This makes it very hard to see the fetus as anything other than a life given by God to the parents. 

             The first way the Bible talks about life before birth is through the idea that God actually forms the fetus in the womb of the mother.  The most well known scripture that speaks this way is in Psalm 139:13 which reads, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”  The imagery of God “knitting” us together inside the womb actually works quite well.  We know it takes a sperm cell to fertilize an ovum cell, but we still do not know exactly how these two cells coming together is able to begin a new life that will develop and grow into an infant that will grow and develop into an adult.  I am six feet tall and weigh 280 pounds, and yet at the point of conception I was a single cell that only a microscope could see.  God “knits” that single cell into a living being that is able to grow and develop into the man I am today.  Another place the Bible speaks this way is in Isaiah 44:2 where he says, “This is what the Lord says- he who made you, who formed you in the womb.”  Again in Isaiah 49:5 he says, “And now the Lord says- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant.” Isaiah is stating that the Lord expressed to him, that it is God’s work that is able to form the fetus which starts as a single cell, into the fetus that will be the infant that is born.  The fetus is formed by God and is a living human being in the womb.  The other well known Bible verse that fits in this category is Jeremiah 1:5 which reads, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”  This shows us God knew us before He formed us.  Even as a single cell fetus, that does not look like a human and is much smaller than a human, God knew us and knew He would continue to form us in the womb.  So these verses show us that God is the one who forms the fetus in the womb, making it a human being well before it is actually born. 

            However, this still does not answer the question of exactly at what point is the fetus a human being.  The second way the Bible speaks about this topic is by connecting the life of the child to starting at conception.  In Genesis 29 and 30, when Jacob is having his twelve sons through Leah and Rachel, each time a new son is born it uses the same phrase of “she conceived and gave birth to a son.”  Each time a new child is born, it always includes conception, showing that the life of the child began at conception.  This same phrase is used throughout the Bible.  Isaiah 8:3 again includes “she conceived and gave birth to a son,” when Isaiah made love to the prophetess.  In Hosea 1 it is Gomer who conceives and gives birth to a son.  And this is true for daughters too.  In Hosea 1, Gomer again conceives and gives birth to a daughter.  Then of course the most obvious use of this phrase is when Jesus is born of the Virgin Mary.  In Isaiah 7, he prophesies that the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son.  Then in Matthew 1, the angel who comes to Joseph tells him what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  Then Matthew writes that this was so in order to fulfill Isaiah 7.  In Luke 1, the angel tells Mary she will conceive and give birth to a son.  Even Jesus, who was born of a virgin, is still conceived showing that life truly begins at the point of conception. So we know God is the one who forms us in the womb starting at conception.  We are His precious creatures that He gives to our parents as a blessed gift.  With this being the way the Bible speaks about life before birth, it makes is clear a fetus is indeed a human being.  

     Happy Mother's Day to all mothers.  I especially thank my mom for successfully raising four children, (including me which is saying a lot).  You may drive us crazy at times, but it is only because you do everything you can to make sure we are safe, healthy, and in the true faith.   

      My prayers are with all pregnant woman who are not sure about being a mother and also to all woman desiring but struggling to be mothers.  Put your trust in the Lord at all times and know He is in control of all things. 

Dear Heavenly Father, 

We pray a prayer of thanksgiving for all the wonderful mothers who have raised us and taught us to live in your faith.  We pray that You be with all woman who are mothers of unborn children.  Please be with them, give them Your strength to bring their child safely into this world, letting them put their trust in You knowing that with You all things are possible.  We also pray that You be with all woman who wish to be a mother and are having difficulties.  Keep their hearts bold in You, that they know it is Your timing and will that is best.  Give them comfort and peace as they continue to cling to You as the giver of all life.  Keep us all in the one true faith that we may live our lives in a way that is pleasing in Your sight.  Through the name of Your Son we pray. Amen.