A Question of Life and Death

Abortion. The very word brings with it a toxic mix of views. Some people are pro-choice, believing that a mother should have the right to determine whether or not to end her pregnancy before a certain time. Others believe that no mother should be allowed to terminate a pregnancy—ever. Which view is right? Here are a few things to consider.

Prenatal human life is a gift from God. When God created Adam and Eve, at the end of the creation week, He “blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Gen. 1:28). There was not a hint of death anywhere. God never designed human life to end, and certainly not the lives of infants in the womb.

Abortion is the result of humanity’s fallen condition. When Adam and Eve sinned in disobeying God, they brought a scourge upon the human race from which only God can deliver us (Gen. 3). Abortion is one by-product of our sinful condition. Whether a woman chooses to abort as a means of birth control, or because of rape, incest, or severe congenital defects diagnosed in the fetus, all abortions—no matter the reason—are the result of sin.

Christians value above all else personal responsibility and accountability to God. The power of choice given by God to Adam and Eve in Eden—the right to choose whether or not to eat of the forbidden tree—underscored how important choice is to God. What kind of created beings would we be, other than robots, if we could never choose to disobey God? How could He be sure that our allegiance to Him was the result of loving obedience? This idea is at the heart of the Christian’s response to the issue of abortion. God is the only Being qualified to judge such a decision, and He will one day soon (Eccles. 12:14).

When dealing with issues of abortion, we must exemplify the love of Christ. Jesus declared to His disciples, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). People who claim to be followers of Jesus do not condone sin in any form, but they do love people in such a way that their connection with the Savior is clearly seen. We do not act as a conscience for individuals caught in the grip of difficult moral and ethical dilemmas such as abortion; we can, though, offer them spiritual guidance, accurate information, and ongoing support during a challenging moment in their lives.

In an ideal world, no abortions would occur. We do not live in an ideal world, but we are called as followers of Jesus to serve and to bless others. Such selfless service can spare the world much pain, including the pain of abortion.

For a deeper understanding of the issue involved, we suggest people go to the following link: https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/guidelines/article/go/-/abortion/