Why Abortion is More than a Political Issue
Unless you have paid no attention to the media this week, you probably have heard that the Supreme Court seems to be on the cusp of overturning Roe v. Wade. Why would Christians care about matters like this?
Before we answer that, we should provide some historical context. In 1973, the Supreme Court issued the 7-2 ruling intended to settle the issue of abortion in the United States. The political left has lionized Roe v. Wade as a triumph of personal liberty and the right to privacy. In that opinion, the majority cited the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution as the basis for their ruling which states: “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law….” The ruling also applied a trimester framework to the matter of abortion. In the first trimester a woman could pursue an abortion without any state interference. During the second trimester the state may regulate abortion in ways related to the mother’s health. Finally, during the third trimester the state may regulate and even forbid abortion except for the preservation of the life of the mother. Recently, many states have moved to enact legislation restricting abortion or essentially outlawing it. Presumably these efforts have been undertaken in order to provoke a legal challenge before the Supreme Court, which is what we have in the case called Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Now that we have the historical background in place, we can consider the question before us. Why should Christians would care about this? Christians care about abortion for several biblical and theological reasons.
First, Christians care because of the nature of human sexuality. God designed sex to be expressed in the context of marriage. In addition, God designed sex, at least in part, to be the means whereby human reproduction occurs: “God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply…” (Genesis 1:28). Modern humanity rejects this design on both counts. We have separated sex from marriage. The sexual revolution preached that you should be able to have sex with anyone you desire. We have separated sex and procreation; we have made procreation to be the unwanted and undesirable result of sex. Abortion originates from a desire to experience sex without commitment or consequences. Christians care about abortion because abortion is a tool whereby human sexuality is turned away from God’s design.
Second, we must consider what it is in the womb. A ruling like Roe v. Wade differentiated human personhood from biological life. You might have a life, but he or she really isn’t a person yet. Roe majored on viability outside the womb. At the third trimester, personhood was conveyed on the baby in the womb and at that point was considered more of a human life. Scientific breakthroughs of the last few decades have given us insight into this hypothesis. Being able to see into the womb through an ultrasound certainly helps us understand what we are dealing with. This is not some mass of tissue. This is a human life, unique from and equally as human and valuable as the mother. Scripture teaches the full humanity and personhood of all human life, whether born or unborn.
“For You formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in your book were all written the days ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them” Psalm 139:13-16.
God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah and said this about him: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God Himself is active in our lives before we are ever born.
That leads us to a third consideration. We must understand what exactly is being done in an abortion. Because this is a human, who is made in God’s imagine, to take such a life is no different than taking the life of any other person outside of the womb. Legal or not, abortion is the taking of a life and therefore is murder. God has forbidden murder precisely because each person is created in God’s image (Ex. 20:13). The value of a human life is greater than personal aspirations or conveniences.
Finally, we must understand abortion from the perspective of justice. An infant in the womb is absolutely helpless and has no advocate. As Christians we defend the rights of the smallest and weakest individuals: “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). When Christians speak against abortion we are advocating against an unjust and immoral practice that should be eliminated. As others have said, we long for the day when abortion is not only illegal but unthinkable.
But in a world where abortion exists what are Christians to do? First, we must make it clear that while abortion is sinful, God offers forgiveness. As believers our primary message is not that abortion is sinful, our primary message is that God has a plan of salvation through Jesus. We strive to make that known. Second, we must bring hope and practical help to those who feel that abortion is their only option. Today there are so many wonderful ministries that do this. Finally, we must model and teach about God’s good design for sex, marriage and the family. Yes, we are against abortion but more than that we are for God’s good design!