Life And Death: Presbyterian, Con’t

SAT., MAY 6, 1995, 10:13 AM
FARM, STUDY

The selah at the close of yesterday’s Teaching indicated that I would be back soon with more to say on this theme. As you reread that Teaching you noted that while I usually mean you, personally, when I use the word “you,” in most of that the “you” referred to Presbyterians in general, of which you are not a very relevant example, on this theme. In this one I may mix them somewhat, which might require some “translation” to other people. I’m sure you’ll understand the uses quite well. Write on!

Presbyterians are mixed on the matter of abortion. Those in the two extremes can feel strongly, with quite different reasoning and assumptions. Those who could be called pro-life hold that each conception has been blessed and is a life that should not be terminated. There isn’t much talk, generally, about the presence of a soul that will live eternally, but most pro-life Christians would assume this. (They don’t dwell on the fact that it’s pretty hard for an unborn fetus to sin, and that it will live on for eternity with Me, without the necessity of an earth life. Whatever the length of bodily life it certainly is much shorter than eternity.)

Those of you who are pro-choice focus on the pregnant woman’s desire not to carry the child to full term and her right not to have her body “used” in a way she does not want. Further, there is credence given to the fact that for a fair chance at a good life a child should be wanted and loved, and there should be a family ready and able to provide for her or him. Again, there is not much attention given to when the soul is part, the essential part, of this “potential human.” There are no direct Scriptural passages that tell this in a clear way.

You know that I have told you (personally, through these Teachings) that the soul doesn’t enter the developing fetus until quite late in the pregnancy, on a “permanent basis.” This is so the soul has a rather accurate sense of what its strengths, weaknesses, and challenges are likely to be, as this human person. There is a certain amount of choice in how a life is likely to develop, and some of this may be affected by events in and surrounding the pregnancy.