On June 24th, 2022, the United States Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision. This essentially pushes abortion legislation back to the States. This monumental reversal has rekindled the fierce debates on women’s rights, the morality of abortions, and the nature and extent of “choice” in the free world. The nation stands thoroughly divided on this issue. Paradoxically, this divide is as present in the Church as it is anywhere else in the world. It’s surprising in one sense, since historically the Church has generally always unanimously opposed abortion. On the other hand, the drift towards theological liberalism over the last couple centuries by many mainstream groups within the pale of Christendom (along with other factors) has brought to light many disagreements — political differences NOT being the exception. Yet, as it stands today, some Christians were extremely thankful for yesterday’s Supreme Court decision while others were very disappointed to say the least.
As many will be expressing their opinions on this issue in the coming weeks (and potentially years), I’ve seen that the conversations are already sounding like the DJ just restarted the playlist from the first song. All sides are saying the same things they always say when these issues arise. Pro-lifers are saying things like, “Finally, women can’t kill their babies anymore.” Pro-choice advocates are furious, supposing the SC Justices have stripped women of certain rights. Others in between are either saying, “Now the pro-lifers need to adopt all the foster kids in the world,” or that, “Women will still be getting abortions. It will just be harder and more dangerous for them.” You also have the Abolitionists saying, “This was barely a win; abolition is the only right answer.” Though I have my position on the issue, I will not pretend to have all the answers or imagine that this blog post will settle the debate once and for all. However, I would like to make a few points from my Christian perspective that I hope will at least contribute to the conversation and promote fair, thoughtful engagement on this VERY hot topic.
Christians need to be better when we talk about these issues. People’s view on abortion are extremely sensitive and discussions on the subject are often emotionally and politically charged. This makes productive dialogue very difficult and many times proves to be near impossible. It’s completely acceptable to have strong opinions on abortion; I am a stark pro-lifer — borderline Abolitonist, in fact. But, we have to remember that when we have these discussions, we are dealing with people — real people — not just the ideas. Christians are far too often ready to follow the Christ who flipped tables and called the Pharisees, “Ye, hypocrites!”, yet seem oblivious of the Christ who “would not break a bruised reed nor snuff out a smoldering wick.” (Is. 42:3) There are many unbelievers out there that might completely agree with our stance on abortion yet are entirely turned off by the way they see some Christians treating others in these conversations. So yeah, it’d probably be a good idea to quit calling those who disagree with you idiots, morons, and brainless buffoons all the time. We are called to be salt, not tequila.
Christians must remember that it's impossible to legislate personal morality. For us, this is certainly a moral issue (taking the life of an innocent, albeit unborn, baby). For 2,000 years Christians have imagined that if we could just gain the right amount of political power, if we could just pass enough laws, that somehow people would finally become good, love their neighbor, and we could create the ultimate Christian society. It ain’t happening folks. Sin (and yes, aborting babies is sinful) is a heart issue. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, [etc.]…” (Matthew 15:19). Though I praise God every time a law is passed that upholds God’s standard of righteousness laid out in Scripture, I cannot be so naive to think that even if America adopted God’s law as its rule of law and order that all people would willingly lay down their guns and become converted. I believe Christians should do everything in our power to push for God-honoring, righteous laws through voting, running for office, and speaking up. We do believe that human societies flourish when they live by the guidebook provided by man’s Creator. But the law — even God’s Law— has not and will not ever change a man’s heart.
Christians should not be divided on this issue. Let me be clear about what I mean here. What I am not saying is, “Every Christian needs to agree with me because I am right. Therefore, anyone who disagrees with me is wrong.” I’m not even suggesting that we all need to agree on the proper solutions for this matter. But as Christians, people who claim to be led by the Spirit of Truth, we ought to be all the more careful that we deal with the real issues in this debate. Abortion rights are not about women’s rights though they are connected. Christians should be strong advocates for equal and just rights for women — who were, like men, created in the image of God. This debate is not ultimately about the welfare of the child post-birth though it is a big part of the conversation. Again, Christians should be (and historically always have been) immensely concerned with the welfare of children. Christians have always been leaders in adopting, fostering, and donating to meet the needs of children. We cannot allow the conversation to get derailed at these secondary components of the debate without ever going on to the primary issue, which is: Is that fetus a human being? If it is, then the debate is over — especially for Christians. Do we believe, as the Bible declares, that God forms the baby in the womb of its mother? That God gives life? Under no circumstance will it ever be permissible, then, for a Christian to support the termination of an innocent, God-given life, regardless of the “developmental stage” that that human exists within. We may disagree on the best ways to help women and children and families and many other things, but on this primary point, Christians should be united.
Which brings me to my final question:
Whose body, whose choice? The most frequent argument made for the pro-choice position is that anti-abortion laws limit or take away women’s rights to do as they choose with their bodies. That argument has force with everyone, especially those who live in the “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.” Americans take the issue of personal liberty very seriously as do many people across a wide spectrum of cultures and societies in the modern world. Pro-lifers are not seeking to strip rights away from women to choose how to live their lives. But we do ask that women AND MEN take responsibility for the choices they have already made. If a couple chooses to engage in sexual relations and a child is conceived, there now exists a third person in the group. That person cannot be killed due to the inconveniences his or her life would impose upon the lives of the parents. Again, this applies to the fathers just as much as it does to the mothers. It’s a great tragedy that the responsibilities of parenthood are often pushed solely on the mothers in these circumstances; THAT should be illegal. Men should be held accountable for neglecting their families. But even now, I’m drifting from the main point again: Is the fetus a human? Scientific advances over the past few decades have only further confirmed and reinforced the Christian proposition that life begins at conception. Therefore, all the other aspects of this whole debate should not sideline that main point. Whose body are we talking about? If it’s the baby’s, then no one has the choice to kill it. What about when a women is raped and conceives their rapists child? What if a child is conceived in incestous relations against the will of the mother? As a human and as a Christian, I absolutely detest these abhorrent, wicked, cruel, evil acts. I thank God I know that even if these wicked men escape judgement for their actions in this life that the Judge of the earth will judge rightly in the end. They will receive the recompense for their unrepentant actions. But… the life of the child cannot be taken away by the sins of the parent. He or she didn’t have the choice for how they would be conceived and we do not have the choice to end their life.
So What? My pastor always ends his Wednesday Night Bible Study out with that question. The idea is, “So what now? What do we do with this information? How do we move forward and live according to what this passage told us?” This blog post expresses some of my own personal opinions and thoughts; it will definitely not solve all of the problems, nor is it meant to do that. But we, as Christians especially, need to deal with this whole issue with some tenderness and solemnity. We’ve got to listen to others from different perspectives. It’s not as though these women just want to kill babies. That’s absurd. If we will listen, we might hear that the deep concern is the lack of resources available for the woman who’s just found out she is pregnant. We can fix that together. It may be that she wanted to have kids someday but is not in a position that she can care for one now. We, together, can fix that. For the most part, Christians are some of the most charitable, giving, caring people in the world. That’s certainly what we are called to be, though I know and understand that we are not always those things. Even when we’re not, the desire and commission from our Lord is there. Let’s get busy, Church. Seek to see needs and do everything in your power to find solutions. “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35). When Jesus told a group of listeners to love their neighbors as themselves, He was asked the question, “Who is my neighbor?” He answers in the parable of the Good Samaritan that your neighbor is the one in need around you. Due to the decision made by the US Supreme Court yesterday, there will be many women and children in need moving forward. Be there, Christian!
Soli Deo Gloria
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