How Should Christians Respond to Abortion?
The topic of abortion is a volatile issue. While traditionally, Christians have been strongly on the anti-abortion or pro-life side, over the past decade more and more Christians have taken a passive view on this subject. This subject has become divisive even among Christians. Many of the younger generations have no idea what the Bible and science teach on the subject and make their opinion accordingly.
Before we get started, we must recognize that finding out that you are pregnant can be a scary process. Any decision made concerning the life of a baby is not an easy decision and can be a lonely one, filled with fear, questions, and uncertainty. My heart hurts for each person who finds themselves having to make this kind of decision would find the help and hope.
In light of that, I want to share with you some research, biblical references and reason in regards to abortion. The approach may at times seem a bit sterile but I want you as a reader to read post and see the reasons rather than turn me off because I presented something in a way you do not like.
My desire is to present this subject to you with love and truth. In a nutshell, we will start with what the Bible says, then tackle some of the questions that come up, followed by some scientific facts, lastly dive into what our response should be and how our hope is in Christ. Before we begin here are some basic stats.
42 Million abortions occur every year worldwide/ 115,000 a Day
Since 1973 there have been over 60 million abortions in the USA
Those children would be would be 45 yrs. old
Some of these people could have been your classmates, significant other, best friend or leader. This is almost a whole generation of people who are missing from our nation.
The following verses could be made into blog posts or message series by themselves, so I am not planning on diving into each one but rather will provide a brief explanation on how it applies to the topic of abortion. Let’s dive right in.
Biblical Basis
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
You might be wondering why I am leading off with this verse. Simply, everything starts and ends with God. He is the creator of all things and He provided salvation to those who believe for us all through Jesus. He is good, He is just, He gives grace and mercy, He looks out for the widow and orphan, He is truth.
He is the very standard of absolute morality and the Bible states that in Him there is no sin. If we are to dive into this subject we must do so by acknowledging God.
Without God, there is no standard for morality or truth. Truth, justice, and morality become whatever feels good at that moment. God sets what morality is, along with the consequences for one’s actions. God provides accountability and God brings accountability towards our actions, even with abortion.
Genesis 1:26-28
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God created us in His image. This means that as humans some of the ways we are created in God’s image is that we were: created with a soul, a conscience and ability to reason among others. God created all mankind as equals and cares for all of us.
God created all races, not just white, or just black, but every shade. And what He created, he said was VERY good. I cannot overstate this verse. No matter the age, size, color, wealth, or gender, God created all in His image and gave that to each of us. We are PRECIOUS to Him because of that.
Genesis 9:6
Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans, his blood will be shed,
for God made humans in his image.
In this verse God has made a covenant with mankind after Noah and the flood (Genesis 6-9). God shows how much he values humans by stating how murder is against God and His image.
“In the image of God made he man; so that murder is not only an offense against man, but also an injury to God, and a contempt of that image of God which all men are obliged to reverence and maintain.”
Matthew Poole – Bible Commentary Writer
We are defacing God when we murder. So not only are people who have an abortion destroying a human being but those who are having an abortion are injuring God. This shows the value of every human life since we are created in the image of God.
Exodus 20:13
“Do not murder.” – 6th Commandment
Luke 1:41-44
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary [the Mother of Jesus], the baby [John the Baptist] leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
This shows is showing that they have actions, emotion and are already responding to the people of their surroundings. Studies have shown that babies in the womb can recognize voices, move and respond to others.
Each of our pregnancies has been special. One of the coolest feelings in the world was feeling them move. It would always crack my wife up when our children would be active and I would place my hand on her stomach to feel them. It never failed that as soon as that happened, they calmed down. You could tell they knew my voice. When they were born, they would look to see where my voice was coming from.
Genesis 25:22-23
22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the older shall serve the younger.”
The second passage shows how God often communicated that he had plans for a child while that child was in their mother’s womb.
Moses [Read Exodus 1-2]
Moses was born during a time of mass killings of all baby boys right out of the womb. But the midwives feared God more than man and kept the boys alive and God blessed them. Pharaoh had commanded all the Israelite boys to be killed immediately when they were born. God blessed the midwives for doing what was right.
Job 10:8a
“Your hands shaped me and formed me.
The story of Job is fascinating. He was an incredible follower of God and this was written about his life as it was falling apart. After this time past, God blessed him again. He contemplated why he was even born. Unfortunately, this is a topic that many people ask. Job’s response was to remember that God had shaped him in the womb.
Job 31:15
Did not the one who made me in the womb also make them?Did not the same God form us both in the womb?
This echoes in a different way that God makes us unique and special while we are still growing in our mother’s womb.
Psalms 139: 13-16
For it was you who created my inward parts;you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from you
when I was made in secret
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in your book and planned
before a single one of them began.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Seeing a little baby firsthand with my own children, you can see how perfectly each baby is made. Each person is different and unique. God cares for each person. In light of these facts about how God was involved in human life, we should be moved to see the precious value of each life.
Jeremiah 1:5
I chose you before I formed you in the womb;I set you apart before you were born.
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
While this verse does not directly apply to us as it was directed at Jeremiah, it still refers to God forming babies and how He has a plan for people. God has a special plan and direction for each life. So, why end a life before it begins? It is impossible to calculate the damage done to our society by the loss of so many lives. These babies would have been teachers, doctors, scientist or leaders. And now, our nation and world are without them.
Galatians 1:15
15 But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace
This was written by the apostle Paul. Just as God set Paul apart to share Christ with others, He also sets us apart even while in our mother’s womb.
Isaiah 49:1 – God Gives us our name
Coasts and islands, listen to me;distant peoples, pay attention.
The Lord called me before I was born.
He named me while I was in my mother’s womb.
This is not the first time that God had called a child by name before they were born. He did that with Samson, John the Baptist, Jesus and others. This shows that God knows us before we were even born and knows our name.
Romans 2:6 – God is the Ultimate Judge
6 He will render to each one according to his works:
Each person is judged on their actions, whether the judgment comes in this life or after death, we will all face the consequences for our actions. As a Christian, we have been washed clean from our sin by His Grace, but we are still left with the consequences of our actions both good and bad (Children are a HUGE blessing and gift from God and are the positive consequences for sex [even if the child was not conceived by choice]). There is no escape from consequences. This is one reason why I believe so many people are holding on vehemently to the “Right to Choose.” People do not want to be held to a higher standard of morality (See Genesis 1:1 and Exodus 20:14).
No matter how much people want to avoid consequences for their actions, there will always be consequences.
Biblical Response to Questions on Abortion
This section covers some of the questions that I have heard regarding abortion.
What if your child would be born with a disability?
This is the reason given for 3% of all who have an abortion. But the Bible does deal with the topic of children born with a disability.
As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.
In this story, Jesus walks by this blind man and people ask Jesus why this man was born blind. Jesus responded that it was for God’s glory. That might be hard to understand or to stomach but Jesus made it clear that God had a purpose in the disability. In this case, it was for Jesus to heal the man and to show that he was who he said he was.
“Randy Alcorn quotes an example of a medical school professor who told about the following case study and asked students what they would do:
The father had syphilis and the mother had tuberculosis. Of four previous children, the first was blind, the second died, the third was both deaf and dumb, and the fourth had tuberculosis. What would you advise the woman to do when she finds she is pregnant again? One student answered, “I would advise an abortion.” Then the professor said, “Congratulations…. You have just killed Beethoven.”
Randy Alcorn
During our last pregnancy, we were told that our baby only had a two-vessel cord instead of three-vessel cord that most babies have. And that this could lead to some genetic disabilities or problems with the heart. We were sent to a specialist to have them take a look at our unborn child to make sure everything was good. We decided to pray and let God do the rest.
Each time we went to the doctor, we were told that everything looks good. Our daughter is now almost 7 months old and is a BEAUTIFUL lively baby girl.
What about if the baby would be born into poverty or an abusive home?
Genesis 50:20
20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.
The context of this verse is the story of Joseph. Joseph’s brothers threw him in a pit and sold him Potipher (The Captain of the Guard in Egypt) as a slave. Despite his new situation, he rose to become manager over his master’s house. Potiphar’s wife tries to pursue Joseph to have an affair with her while trying to flee from her one day, he fled so quickly that he left his cloak. Potiphar’s wife uses this cloak to accuse him of sexual assault and he gets thrown into prison. While there, God used circumstances to allow Joseph to become second in control over the whole nation of Egypt.
His brothers end up turning to Joseph for help and God is able to use Joseph to save them. They end up pleading for their life to Joseph thinking he was going to kill them for what they had done. Instead, the verse above is how Joseph responds.
Now to apply this to the topic of abortion. Despite hardships or evil that is done to us, God can still use something horrible for good and to do great things. It does not matter if an unborn baby has horrible life circumstances surrounding them. God can still work doing something great and powerful in their life. Do not shortchange God. God can do the impossible.
Romans 8:28-30
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
God can use any situation and turn it into something good. We often do not know what that good is but God does.
What about in the case of rape or incest
This is the case for less than .5% of all abortions. This argument is used to defend women’s rights to abort their children. If we are going to examine abortion we must tackle this question.
Before we get into this, I must say that these things are absolutely horrible and should never be done to anyone. My heart goes out to anyone who has gone through these atrocities.
Deuteronomy 24:16
16 “Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.
This verse states a few things – Children are not be punished for the sins of their parents and in this case, fathers. Meaning, just because the father did something terrible does not mean that the unborn child deserves to die.
As Christians, we must recognize the victim’s pain and hardship and seek to serve and love them. They are going through unfathomable circumstances and we cannot pretend that we can understand what they are going through. But we do know the hope that Christ gives to the most hopeless situations and we can walk with them through the healing process and help them through these unwanted pregnancies.
For as giant of an argument that pro-choice people say this is, it actually consists of less than 1% of all abortions.
What about to save the life of a mother?
This consists of less than .118% of all abortions.
Most of the time the baby stuck in the Fallopian Tube (meaning the baby does not make it to the birth canal) in an ectopic pregnancy or a tubal pregnancy.
This should be a cut-and-dry situation but it is not. Sometimes these circumstances work themselves out and the baby and mother are fine. If someone has a complicated pregnancy like this, I would encourage you to seek medical counsel, and pastoral counsel to process through what to do. Each situation is different and should be handled differently.
Scientific Basis
At the moment of conception, each baby has about 46 Chromosomes – Which is the number that a human being at any stage of life has—which means they are completely human.
The heart starts beating between 18-21 days of life.
At the 8th week, 90% of a human’s structure and functions are in place.
Babies can hear and become familiar with parents/ grandparents and other voices while inside the womb.
I have witnessed this first hand with each of my children. It is remarkable to see how they develop. These are not just clumps of cells but are human beings.
If you want to see some more facts take a look at this resource – https://www.lifesitenews.com/resources/abortion/fetal-development
Is there Grace for someone who has an abortion?
This is the good news. That Christ died for our sins, He was buried and rose again on the third day so that we can be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life.
Psalms 103:11-12
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
Romans 8:1
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Peter 2:24
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Christ paid the price for our sins and when we ask Him to forgive us, He forgives our sins. So, no matter what your sin may be. Through salvation, Christ offers us forgiveness and hope. God can take any person and save them from their sins and give them a new life. Just turn to Him and let Him save you from your sins and give you hope.
Our Response To Abortion
So, what can we do? We need to understand that our views reflect our view of God and his design, purposes, and plans for everyone’s life. You cannot separate your beliefs from how you act, respond or even vote. People say that Christians should not force their beliefs on others, but when it comes to morality it affects everyone.
Learn and be able to defend your position. Take a look at the resources below. Learn the Biblical positions, sciences, and reasons why abortion should be illegal. So, learn how to articulate your position.
Speak out
We cannot be silent and let only a few people speak out. We must speak out for the unborn that cannot speak for themselves. Here are a few verses that speak to that.
Ephesians 5:7-11
7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Proverbs 24:10-12 Rescue them and speak out
If you faint in the day of adversity,your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man according to his work?
Proverbs 31:8
8 Speak up for those who have no voice,
for the justice of all who are dispossessed
Randy Alcorn has written a lot on the subject of abortion and he states:
“To endorse or even to be neutral about killing innocent children created in God’s image is unthinkable in the scriptures, was unthinkable to Christians in church history, and should be unthinkable to Christians today.”
Randy Alcorn
You can read more from Randy Alcorn here – https://www.lifesitenews.com/resources/abortion/pro-life-101-the-ultimate-guide-to-why-abortion-is-wrong-and-how-to-fight-for-life.
Some people argue that voting Pro-life will never make a difference.
The path to making abortion illegal is long and complicated. It not only has to be overturned at the Supreme Court level but also at each state level. This requires for things to go just right and all the right people to be in the right place at the right time. While there have been many strides forward over the past few years, there has also been steps back. This should not stop people from voting pro-life as this only helps the journey to overturn the mass murdering of innocent children. I wish this was an easy switch to make but it is not. It is a long drawn out process but one that is worth fighting.
You can read a little bit about this here. https://www.nrlc.org/uploads/factsheets/FS05SupremeCourt.pdf
The fetus may be human, but it isn’t a person
I have heard this argument MANY times. But, there are a LOT of inconsistencies with that argument. Here is a detailed look at this argument and a response to it.
I would argue, what qualifies a person to be a human. By definition, life begins at the moment of conception. But if one makes the argument of personhood then when is someone a person or not. To be consistent with this line of reasoning you must also apply the logic to someone who elderly, in a coma, disabled etc… This logic opens the door for euthanasia and never sets a standard for what makes someone human.
There must be a standard, and is, scientifically and rationally, life begins at conception. Anything other than that is to disqualify people from being human. We are all human being created in the image of God and each person has value no matter what their dependence on someone else.
Some people say that pro-life people only care for the lives of the unborn before birth and not after.
For the many pro-life people that I know, this cannot be further from the truth. The people I know want to help and serve those that are pregnant and help provide care after birth.
Each year there are more and more organizations that are started to help and to serve people in need. As Christians, we should strive to find ways to get involved in organizations to serve others. Christian organizations lead in disaster relief, aid to immigrants, aid to refugees, providing clean water, providing free health clinics and much more. As Christians, we need to look for ways to serve those in need. This might be with an established church or ministry.
How can we serve those that have an unwanted pregnancy?
Many of these ladies (and some men who are walking through this journey) are hurting and searching for answers. Many need financial help and logistics to finish education and more so that they can provide for their children. Look for ways to serve them and ministries who work with unwed parents.
In some cases, putting a child up for adoption is a great option. There are many couples who are wanting to adopt.
My twin brother has adopted 2 children and my brother-in-law has adopted 2 children through adoption agencies as well and we are so grateful for these precious nieces and nephews.
Look for a Hope Center or a pregnancy care center. Thrive is another organization that can provide care and counseling to young mothers. Look for ways to volunteer or give to help them.
We should not look down on an unwed mother but seek to point them to Christ and help meet any needs that they have.
Adoption is a great alternative with many families who want to adopt.
We need to love people no matter what. We need to love them as Jesus would. Realizing that we are not better than them but we are all sinners saved by grace.
Stay firm in what you believe but do so in love so that we can point people to the hope and forgiveness that comes through Christ.
Support alternative choices such as adoption agency.
If someone chooses to keep the baby and not place them up for adoption, we should offer our love, financial and physical support. They should know that someone cares for them
Research
https://www.lifesitenews.com/resources/abortion/fetal-development
https://www.lifesitenews.com/resources/abortion/pro-life-101-the-ultimate-guide-to-why-abortion-is-wrong-and-how-to-fight-for-life
https://www.nrlc.org/uploads/WhenTheySayPacket.pdf
https://www.nrlc.org/uploads/factsheets/FS05SupremeCourt.pdf
https://www.lifesitenews.com/resources/abortion
https://www.nrlc.org/site
Justice for All
Abort73.com
https://abort73.com/abortion_facts/us_abortion_statistics/
https://abort73.com/end_abortion/is_abortion_ever_justified/
