Question:
What should I know about abortion?
Answer:
Abortion is a difficult topic that’s sensitive, emotionally charged and with a lot of “what if’s” attached. Right up front I will say this: I am against abortion, at any time and for any reason. I will explain why as we move on. First, the Bible does not specifically use the terms abortion, pro-life, pro-choice, etc.
All of those words are recent terms (recent as in the last 100 years). The Bible does, however, say things about God’s relationship with us from conception, two in particular stand out:
Jeremiah 1:4-5 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Luke 1:41-42; 44 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit… As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
God planned Jeremiah’s life before he was even a thought to his parents. God had a plan for him before he was conceived. God has plans for all of us, He has seen the days of our lives before we ever take our first breath (Psalm 139:13-16).
In the verse from Luke, Elizabeth’s baby (John the Baptist) reacts to Mary’s voice before he’s born. We don’t know exactly how long Elizabeth had been pregnant at this time, but she was probably about six months pregnant. The important thing here is that an unborn child reacted to something important happening outside of his mother’s womb.
Scientifically speaking, “all genetic information (gender, eye & hair color, facial features and the influencing of intelligence and personality) is transferred to the baby immediately once the egg is fertilized” at conception (James Agresti). The baby might be microscopic but it already has the beginnings of intelligence and personality traits.
Let’s answer some “what if” questions, shall we?
What if I got pregnant on accident? – Did you accidentally have sex? I don’t mean that to sound harsh, but there are consequences for the decisions we make and the actions we take. Pregnancy can be a result of sex. Birth control and condoms are not 100% protection. If you have sex, pregnancy may be a result and a baby should not pay the price for a mistake that was not their fault.
What if I don’t want the baby? – One word: Adoption. There are literally thousands of families who want a baby to love and care for. If you don’t want your baby, I promise you there is someone who does.
What if I was abused or assaulted? – Please report it and get help. You do not deserve what happened to you and it’s not your fault. It’s also not the fault of the baby now inside you. Please tell someone what happened to you.
I said I would explain my point of view so here it is: My husband David and I have been married for eight years and we have tried to get pregnant with no success. In our hearts, we would desperately love to have a child, but it does not seem to be the Lord’s time for us yet. Even seeing my friends become pregnant is hard for me. I rejoice with them, but my heart is also sad because I wonder when it will be time for us. I am against abortion because it’s against the Lord’s plan but also because there are so many couples who would love a baby – conceived or adopted.
Please read Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel Chapter 1.
Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. — Psalm 139:16
Source: Agresti, James D. Abortion Facts. 5 November 2010. 29 August 2011 <http://www.justfacts.com/abortion.asp>.
Written by Jenn Arman
