Abortion - Seventh-day Adventism is Pro-Choice
Seventh-day Adventists take the popular "pro-choice" position that the decision to terminate the life of a baby "should be made by the pregnant woman."1 SDA women who terminate their babies prior to birth face no censure from the sect. In fact, many SDA hospitals perform abortions on a regular basis.
Historical Position on AbortionWhen the SDA Church started out, Adventists were staunchly pro-life. Early SDA leaders such as James White, J.N. Andrews, Dr. J.H. Kellogg, and other SDA pioneers all denounced abortion in the strongest terms:
The SDA Church did not even permit abortions until 1970.
Shift on Abortion Position in 1970The SDA position on abortion changed in 1970, when an SDA hospital in Hawaii (Castle Memorial Hospital) began permitting abortions reportedly because they were afraid of losing patients who would go to other hospitals to get abortions! In the early 1970s, the SDA Church developed two pairs of "guidelines" about abortion. One contained strict guidelines, and was for the PUBLIC to see. The other was much more liberal, and it was released privately to the hospitals. The PRIVATE version allowed physicians to perform ANY type of abortion-on-demand. (See SDA Church engaging in deceptive practices) SDA Evangelist Kevin Paulson defends Abortion claiming, "Seventh-day Adventists have a time-tested heritage of adhering strictly to the Bible in matters of faith and morality." Apparently he believes abortion is consistent with the Bible's teachings. Ironically, he then unleashes a tirade against non-Adventist pro-life Christian leaders who he denounces as not having the "truth": "Many are forming opinions about abortion, not from the study of Scripture or the Spirit of Prophecy [Ellen White's] writings, but from listening to popular Christian leaders like James Dobson, Tim LaHaye, Franky Schaeffer, and Bill Gothard. Sincere though they may be, these men espouse many theological errors and have no understanding of God's truth for this time. Seventh-day Adventists should listen to such persons with extreme care and discriminating judgment."6 Apparently if a Christian ignores Adventist "truth" and wears a wedding ring, ignores the Sabbath, or eats meat, anything he says about the Bible is suspect.
How Many Babies are Adventists Killing?Wrapped in secrecy, it is difficult to obtain exact figures on who is performing abortions, but there is some evidence to indicate Adventists are one of the largest performers of abortions in the USA (that includes both official SDA institutions and those operated independently by Seventh-day Adventist individuals). Here are some facts:
Biblical View of AbortionSDA Evangelist Kevin Paulson claims "the writings of Inspiration say nothing about" the "issue" of abortion.10 Is that true? While Scripture does not use the word "abortion", neither does Scripture use the words "drugs" or "tobacco" or "gambling," all of which the SDA Church condemns. Therefore, it is ludicrous for SDA corporate leaders to insinuate there is no moral teaching regarding the sanctity of human life in the womb simply because the word "abortion" does not appear in Scripture. The truth is that Scripture has a great deal to say about the sacredness of life inside the womb.11 1. Children are a gift from the Lord
2. The child in the womb is alive, is human, and can have a relationship with the Lord The same Greek word is used for the child before and after birth (Brephos, that is, "infant," is used in Luke 1:41 and Luke 18:15.) God knows the preborn child: "You knit me in my mother's womb . . . nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret." (Psalm 139:13,15) God also helps and calls the pre-born child: "You have been my guide since I was first formed . . . from my mother's womb you are my God" (Psalm 22:10-11). "God from my mother's womb had set me apart and called me through his grace." (Paul to the Galatians 1:15) 3. Scripture repeatedly condemns shedding of "innocent blood" (Jer. 7:6) "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17). Jesus reaffirms it in Matthew 19:18. Revelation affirms that (unrepentant) murderers cannot enter the kingdom of heaven (Revelation 22:15). 4. The Torah considers the pre-born child a living being If an unborn child was killed during a fight, the one who caused the death must pay with his life:
5. God forms us in the womb
6. It is contrary to the Golden Rule
7. God will not hear the prayers of those with blood on their hands
8. Those who murder others belong to Satan
ConclusionWhile giving lip service to respecting life, the leadership of the SDA Corporation continues to permit abortions in its institutions and by its physicians. The SDA Church insists their followers abstain from eating pork, having a glass of wine, or engaging in "secret vice" because the "body is a temple of the Holy Spirt" (1 Cor. 6:19). Yet they seemingly have no qualms whatsoever about allowing a murder to take place within that same temple. They even go so far as to employ SDA physicians working at SDA institutions "of healing" to perform those temple killings and then profit from the shedding of innocent blood! For a people so focused on the Ten Commandments, it is ironic to find them allowing their institutions and members to break the sixth commandment: "Thou shalt not kill".
Citations1. "Official Statement Guidelines" of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on "Abortion". October 12, 1992. http://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/guidelines/article/go/0/abortion/ 2. James White, editor. Solemn Appeal (Battle Creek, Michigan: Stem Press, 1870), p. 100. 3. J.H. Kellogg. Man the Masterpiece (Battle Creek, Michigan: Modern Medicine Publishing Co., 1894), pp. 424-425. 4. J.N. Andrews, editor. ?"A Few Words Concerning a Great Sin,"?Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Nov. 30, 1869. 5. Ellen White, Ministry of Healing, p. 373. 6. Kevin D. Paulson, "SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS AND THE ABORTION QUESTION: WHERE SHOULD WE STAND?", http://adventistlaymen.com/Documents/SEVENTH-DAY%20ADVENTISTS%20AND%20THE%20ABORTION%20QUESTION.htm, extracted July 13, 2014. 7. Christian Newswire, Mar. 24, 2009. 8. Richard Fredericks, Ph.D., Proclamation, Jan/Feb 2003. 9. Teresa Beem, http://arthurandteresabeem.blogspot.com/2009/05/ten-commandments-and-abortion.html. 10. Paulson. 11. Some of the points in this section are abridged from Fr. Frank Pavone, "The Bible's Teaching Against Abortion", April 8, 2009. http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/4376-the-bibles-teaching-against-abortion. Brother Anderson notes: "How ironic that Catholicism--a religion which Seventh-day Adventism decries as 'The Whore of Revelation 17'-- has more Biblical clarity on this subject than those who supposedly have 'the truth for this hour.'"
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