When does human life begin?
This is an essential question in the abortion debate.
The biological answer is that life begins at fertilization. When the male sperm fertilizes the female egg, their genetic material combines and a new human being is formed.
At this early stage of development we call them zygotes, but from the moment of fertilization even these undeniably human zygotes are distinct from both mother and father.
They are individual, unique human beings, created in the image of God.
The question of when life begins is not usually a biological one. The biology is very clear.
In spite of that, many people want to define the beginning of life as being some other point in human development than at the moment of fertilization.
When I say that human life begins at fertilization and that we should provide the equal protection of the laws to all human beings even at this early stage of development, I get all kinds of objections.
Is life in the blood?
One of those objections is that, life is in the blood so human beings aren’t really alive until they have blood.
Though it may sound like it on the surface, this is not a biological argument. It is an argument that some claim is found in the Bible.
They base their argument that life begins with the blood on Leviticus 17:10-14,
And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’
“Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust; for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.’
On first glance it may seem like they have a point. This passage does talk about life being in the blood. But if we take a closer look we can see serious problems with this line of thinking.
These are a few of the problems with using Leviticus 17 to teach that life does not begin until a person has blood.
- This portion of Leviticus is talking about the sacrificial system, not when life begins.
- Even if it is talking about life, it isn’t talking about human life. It is referring to animals.
- If it is teaching anything about physical life, it is teaching about when life ends (when the blood goes out), not when it begins.
- If it is talking about when life begins, then it is teaching that when an animal doesn’t have blood it doesn’t have life. What about living creatures that do not have blood at all like jellyfish or amoebas?
- Leviticus is describing something symbolic. God informs us that the blood of sacrifice makes atonement because by losing it the sacrifice dies. He is describing the meaning or the symbolic nature of the sacrificial system.
This is one of the reasons why reading our Bibles is important for every Christian. We must know our Bibles well in order to discern the truth.
Bible verses are often thrown around to support all kinds of things. Sometimes those things are actually in opposition to God and His commands.
When biblical arguments aren’t biblical
This happens more often than many people realize. Not too long ago we saw the Governor of California run billboards right here in Texas to invite Texas women to go to California for their abortions. He had the audacity to include Bible verses on his signs to communicate the message that helping women kill their babies is being obedient to God’s command to love your neighbor as yourself.[1]
That example is a little easier for us to see through.
But no matter what argument comes at us for abortion at any stage of development, we should be ready to give a biblical answer.
As you can see from the video above, the argument from Leviticus that life doesn’t begin until a living organism has blood doesn’t stand up very well.
God says that he forms life in the womb and that every human being is created in the image of God—from conception.
That’s why AATX has always fought for the lives of ALL human beings from the moment of fertilization. And that’s what we will continue to fight for.
For life, for justice, and for the glory of God,
Bradley Pierce
President
Abolish Abortion Texas
Foundation to Abolish Abortion
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1. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/09/15/californias-governor-touts-abortion-access-on-texas-billboards/