The beginnings of life and the beliefs people may have about it, along with the actions they may take as a result of those beliefs.
It has been argued by the pro choice constituents that a human embryo cannot have a soul at the moment of conception because of the fact that when identical twins are formed, the one fertilized egg cell splits into two embryos and that the soul, if given at the moment of conception, could not be divided. Genesis 2:7 tells us that at the moment of creation, God breathed the breath of life (the life-spirit) into His creation and it became a living soul. But what of the human embryos which have not yet drawn the breath of life? Science has shown that they have a heartbeat and brain waves at around three weeks of gestation. Science has also shown us that by the time most abortions take place their central nervous system (sensing mechanisms) is functioning. It is clear that they are living beings, yet they have not yet breathed the breath of life on their own. They are a separate entity from their mother, and yet they still have their life in and through her. So the question is, at what point in the creative process of life, does an embryo receive the essence of its personhood (its vital principle). In order to answer this question, we must define the boundaries of the vital principle.
We know that our genetic codes are present in the egg and sperm cells, before the fertilized egg begins the creative process. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that before we are formed in the womb, God knows us and that before we are born, his chosen ones are set apart. If God knows us before we are formed, then the essence of who we are (our vital principle) is clearly present. And yet scripture does not contradict itself, when saying that the breath of life makes a human being a living soul. The essence of who we are is in place before we draw our first breath and become a living soul, just as Adam was first created and then given his first life giving breath. That essence is our immortal spirit. Adam was no less valuable to God before he took his first breath, than a child is before its birth.
Most Christians understand the words, soul and spirit to be synonymous, but the Apostle Paul writes of a division of man's innermost being. In Hebrews 4:12, he speaks of the division of soul (sentient principle) and spirit(immortal vital principle) by the word of God, which also discerns “the thoughts(mental deliberations) and intents(moral understanding), and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). This passage can be understood to divide the physical man (strength) with a tri-une nature of the inner man (Heart-the center of one's being, soul-life force,understanding). If these can be distinguished as interdependent segments of the psychological realm, as Christ apparently does in this passage, then it is the Christian responsibility to discern how these aspects of man's inner person fits each section and how they relate human beings, who were made in the image of the Trinitarian God, to our Creator. of the heart.” And yet, God and Christ in the Christian Scripture seem to be aware of a tri-une psychological nature of man much like modern psychology is viewed. The first commandment God gave to mankind recognized this tri-fold nature. St. Mark quotes Jesus repeating the great commandment, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind mind-
The first aspect of the psychological nature is a human being's subconscious innermost conscience and God consciousness, that which the Apostle Paul would equate with our spirit. The heart, which seems to be synonymous with spirit in this passage, involves the spiritual consciousness, the innate desire to commune with God. It is the seat of our emotions, our immortal vital principle. This God consciousness may be written into our genetic code. The second aspect of the psychological nature is the soul, or what Paul would call man's carnal nature, which is the seat of his senses, his instinctive drives. I Corinthians 15: 45-46 equates the living soul with that which is natural. The soul is that part of man's inner being that animates the mind, bringing about the unconscious drives of the flesh. The third aspect of the psychological nature is the conscious mind, or acquired knowledge. The mind is the seat of the intellect and will, which is involved in the choices of conscious decisions.
One way to view this tri-une aspect of man's psychological being is to equate the body with an object containing a battery. The battery runs the inner-workings of the object to activate it. The soul is the battery, which comes from outside the physical body, but is placed within in it for the life of the battery. The inner-workings would be the mind (brain) of the body, which is run by the battery. The electrical impulses of the brain activate our body, but something foreign to the body gives it life, and that is the soul. But the soul (or battery power) must also receive its electrical charge from a greater source. That source is the spirit of a human being, which is empowered by the Spirit of God, who made us in God's own image. So then, the spirit is our immortal vital principle, given by God, which empowers the mortal soul, and in turn empowers the mind, which animates the body.
Returning to our original question, which was at what point in the creative process of life, does an embryo receive the essence of its personhood (vital principle); God tells us in Jeremiah that it is before we are formed in the womb. The spirit of the child is there before any formation takes place, which likely means before or at conception. We know that very young embryos have all the components of life in the womb. They have a heart, brain, and nervous system that reacts whenever they feel painand makes them recoil from the abortionists' tools. They also have the will to choose to suck their thumb when calm, or to struggle when faced with that horrible immanent death of abortion. Concerning the question of twins, if God, with His infinite wisdom, can place one spirit in the genetic code or in a fertilized egg cell, then who are we to say that He can't place two spirits there before cell division begins. Just maybe that's the unknown factor that makes the cells separate into two embryos. Just because we don't understand it all, doesn't mean that it is impossible for God to perform it. So I end with this. God's word tells us in Deut. 30:19, Today, I set before you life and death, blessings and curses, calling heaven and earth as witnesses of the choice you make. Therefore, choose life.
Awake
Awake and do rightful acts, for some of us do not have an understanding of God. I tell you this to your shame! (I Corinthians 15:34) Awake, you who sleep, arise from the deadness of sin, and Christ will enlighten your spirit. See that you walk carefully, not foolishly, but wisely, buying the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:14-16). It is high time to awake out of sleep: for now our salvation is nearer than when we once believed it was. The night is almost over and the day is at hand: let us throw off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in sensuality and loose living, not in strife and envying, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for physical desires gratifying its lusts (Romans 13:11-14).
