Columbo letter

Dear Friends,

I am apparently having a problem understanding God's word, so I am writing to ask for your advice. Please help me.

I don't mean to be a burden to you, but I am seeking your advice because you appear to be very knowledgeable regarding the Bible. I have thought that I should support the stand against abortion, but I find some conflicts in the Scripture that confuse me. I'll write them below, and, if you would be so kind as to assist me, please offer the correct interpretation. I would be grateful for whatever clarity you can contribute.

Genesis 2:7

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

Ecclesiastes 11:5, RSV

"As you do not know how the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of the woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.”

Mark 9:42

“And whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believes in me to stumble, it is better for him that an ass’s millstone were hanged on his neck, and that he were thrown into the sea.”

What follows is my understanding of these passages. Please tell me where I am in error.

In Genesis 2:7, God states that life as a human being begins at first breath and not at conception. In fact, I can't find anywhere in the bible where it says that God creates a brand new human being every time a human egg and sperm unite. In addition, the statement that breath is the point where God gives life is supported by several other Biblical passages such as Job 33:4 and Ezekiel 37:1-10. Consequently, it looks to me as if the Bible says that an independent human life begins with the breath and not with conception.

In Ecclesiastes 11:5, RSV, God distinguishes between the body and the spirit; He says that humans don’t know when the spirit enters the physical form. Most significantly, He states that humans do not know how God works. And again in Ecclesiastes 3:11 God says that humans do not know how He works.

In Mark 10:19, God condemns lying and committing fraud. He does not distinguish between deception by telling a lie and deception by intentionally not stating something one knows to be true.

And Mark 9:42 is the scariest of all. Here God warns humans of the dire consequences of intentionally deceiving His followers. I sure don't want an ass’s millstone hung on my neck and then be thrown into the sea. And I don't want to burn for eternity in Satan's hell, either. So if I’m wrong, I really need to know. Please help me.

I’ve prayed repeatedly about this. Below, I’ve written the answers I've received. Please tell me where I am in error.

1) It's a lie to not tell about Genesis 2:7 where God says life begins at first breath because intentionally withholding the truth is a lie of omission and is equally as sinful as telling a false story.

2) It's a lie to claim that life begins at conception because there is absolutely no Biblical support for such a claim. It contradicts God's own words in Genesis 2:7. Nobody is able to tell me where this belief comes from. And according to the U.S. Supreme Court, there isn't any scientific evidence to support it either.

3) It's a lie to say I know what God wants someone else to do because God clearly and specifically says in Ecclesiastes 11:5, RSV, that we, as humans, don't know how He works.

4) To tell these lies would violate God's law as written in Mark 9:42. I would be causing people who believe in God to stumble.

and

5) By telling these lies I would actually be condemning myself to burn in hell forever.

Please respond as soon as you can and tell me if and how I am misunderstanding these scriptures.

Thank you,

R. Robin Cote

8335 Winnetka Ave, # 107

Canoga Park, CA 91306

P.S.

Also, in several Scriptures, such as in Ecclesiastes 11:5, God makes a distinction between the earthly human body and what is referred to as "spirit." Please advise me: What is this spirit that the Bible so often refers to? How does it relate to the physical body? I've heard people say that humans have been eternal spirits since before the beginning of time.

How do you know that I am my physical body? Is it possible that I am a “spirit” which God says enters a body with the breath and then goes back to God at death? How can I know which I am? If humans are eternal spirits and not their physical bodies, then that completely changes the meaning and significance of abortion.

             If a woman aborts a human embryo,
             is she killing a person or is she simply saying:
            "Spirit, I'm not ready to be a mother, so I'm not going to build a body for
             your to come into.   Perhaps at some later time we can get together."?

How do you know for sure which one she would be doing? Please help me resolve this dilemma.

When I’m being wrong, I don’t know that I’m being wrong. Have you ever been wrong? Is it possible that you could be wrong about something right now? Please tell me how I can know when I’m being wrong?

And one other thing, can you please tell me where the story came from that God creates a brand new human being every time a human egg and sperm unite?

Again, thank you in advance for responding to my questions.