Abortion FB Post

In light of the recent leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion on Roe vs. Wade I wanted to answer some basic questions on the difficult issue of abortion in hopes to give some basic clarity to why Biblical Christians are against abortion.

Why do Biblical Christ Followers and Southern Baptists believe that abortion is wrong?

Is there a source of moral truth truth that does not change?

We believe the Bible is true and authoritative over the life of both the believer and unbeliever. We believe that that every single word of scripture is true, given by God without error, and that it is the guide and rule of our life. The bible tells us what is right and wrong. What is sinful and what is holy. We know what God thinks and values by what He has revealed to us in the Bible. God is our final authority in life and He leads us through what He has revealed to us in the scriptures.

God has authority over life and death.

The Biblical Christ Follower believes that it is God who gives life and that only God has the authority to take life. While God has given the authority to governments to allow the taking of life in the instances of war, self defense, the life of the mother, and capital punishment, God has not given any individual the authority to indiscriminately take the life of another human being. To do so is murder (Exodus 20:13).

Deuteronomy 32:39

‘See now that I, I am He,

And there is no god besides Me;

It is I who put to death and give life.

1 Samuel 2:6

6 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

When does life begin?

Life begins at conception. Some would argue that a child in the womb is an individual with value and rights only when the baby is viable and can survive outside the womb on his/her own. This view is incorrect. It is biblically wrong. God values all human life. Human life is precious and sacred to God. He created human life in the womb with a soul. To take this life indiscriminately is murder.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Psalm 139:13-16 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Jeremiah 1:4-5 “Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.””

“It is my body and I have the right to do with it what I want.”

This is a statement of both arrogance and ignorance. This statement wrongly assumes that a person’s body is in that persons ownership, it is not. We are stewards of the body we have been given. This statement also assumes that I can morally do with my body what I want. That I am god of my own morality. This statement dangerously declares that the individual is his/her own little “g” god. The God of the bible is Lord of the earth and everyone who lives on the earth. Our bodies are not our own, they are God’s in ownership, authority, and morality.

Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,”

I Cor 6:15, 20 “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? … for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Why mention Southern Baptists?

The Southern Baptist Denomination gives high value to the pursuit of its members being Biblical Christ Followers. We hold a high view of Scripture and the Gospel. We believe the Bible is our final authority in life and godliness. The Bible informs us authoritatively on what we believe about God, humankind, life in the womb, and many other issues. There are other more liberal denominations that do not hold to a strict biblical teachings on issues such as abortion, family, gender, homosexuality, and a host of other issues.

When you give to the general offering at church on Sunday, a percentage of that offering goes to support State and and National Ministries. One of those ministries focuses on representing Southern Baptist values at the Atlanta Capitol and in Washington D.C. where Southern Baptists take a Pro-Life Stance.

Biblical or Political?

As a Biblical Christ Follower we must recognize that the issue of life in the womb and abortion is not primarily a political issue. Life in the womb and abortion is first a biblical issue. It is an issue that is important to God. The issue of abortion is secondarily political because that is where we see it play out in our laws and in the courts.

What if I have had an abortion?

Please understand that if you have had an abortion to “save the life of the mother” you have done nothing wrong at all. This is very much allowed by God. There is no shame or guilt on someone who had to make this impossibly difficult decision.

However, if you have had an abortion and acted wrongly there is great hope for you. In God’s immense kindness and mercy He can and will forgive you. Confess your sin to Him. Seek His forgiveness and He will generously and lovingly give it to you. You are not a second class citizen in the body of Christ. You are dearly loved and have great value to God and in the community of believers. If you ever have the desire to discuss your abortion, your pastor would love to counsel you, encourage you, hear your story, and pray with you.