ABORTION

Should we?

Should we not?

Our God says “YOU SHALL NOT KILL”

Do you love God? Do you love your fellow human being? Then our God who created us all says “you shall not kill”.

Abortion is an operation or other intervention to end a pregnancy by removing an embryo or foetus from the womb. Technically, the medical field considers miscarriage as abortion; reason why they talk of voluntary termination of pregnancy and involuntary termination of pregnancy. In general term and usage the word abortion whether used in our daily life or in a technical field such as computer science, aerospace or medicine, is an offensive term for something so badly done or made that is a complete failure. In this text, we shall mean voluntary termination of a pregnancy when we talk about abortion, and miscarriage when it concerns involuntary termination of a pregnancy. Abortion is not good in itself and it is a sin. We shall look at reasons why we stand on this claim from the Biblical and philosophical view point.

Biblical view of abortion

The biblical reasons why abortion is morally wrong and therefore a sin are based on the fact that we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; 9:6) and the fact that a baby in the womb is a person. Psalms 139:13-16 indicates to us that the unformed baby in the womb is a person as David noted that God knew and planned everything about him even when he was still in the womb. In Psalms 51:5 David notes in his repentance that he had the sinful nature even at his conception, so he had the image of God even at conception because he was an actual being at conception, and only actual people are sinful, with a soul in need of redemption.

The bible also tells us that abortion (intentional termination of pregnancy) is punishable as we see in Exodus 21:22-25, as it is related to the law of retaliation. The first verses are not talking about miscarriages as the words used here in Hebrew do not mean miscarriage, as seen in Genesis 31:38; Exodus 23:26; Job 2:10; and Hosea 9:14. So killing an unborn baby is same as killing a born baby. We learn from scripture that a baby in the womb can leap with human emotion and joy, so the baby in the womb is a person (Luke1:41, 44). The Bible also tells us that Jesus was conceived by the Holy spirit in the womb, so his incarnation began at conception (Matthew1:20). Jeremiah was called by God while in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5 ). This just shows that they were people in the womb, not a thing which anyone can do away with at will. From this rapid Biblical overview on abortion we learn that:

· The human being is made in the image of God

· The Baby in the womb has human emotions

· God called some of His prophets while in the womb hence considering them as complete humans

· So, a Baby in the womb is a person

· Killing an unborn baby is same as killing a born baby

Philosophical view of abortion

From the philosophical point of view an embryo is genetically unique from the point of conception and so is not part of the woman because the DNA of the embryo or foetus is different from that of the mother. This embryo, its foetus and the adult developed from the embryo are identical genetically. We did not come from embryos, or foetus, or babies; we were embryos, we were foetus, we were babies and so personhood starts at conception. Genetical uniqueness is a proof that a distinct individual exists but one must not be genetically unique to be a person; identical twins are not genetically unique but they are persons. So the question of “it is my baby” or “it is my body material” so I have the right to do away with it is very wrong because the baby conceived in you is not part of you and is a unique person. Some people think since we know when life begins it can give us a clue on when to abort. Years back life was considered to end when the heart stops beating and since medics have shown that at 18th day in the womb the heart starts beating; some think before 18 days they can abort.

In like manner some think because brain waves can be detected in a foetus at the 42nd day, and if life was considered to begin with the brain wave then it will reduce legal abortion. The location of the baby in the womb does not negate personhood. So ethically, if the baby can exist outside the womb then it should be allowed to live but it does not mean that the baby inside the womb is not a person. In another sense the fact that the person (baby) depends on the woman does not negate the personhood of the baby because viability alone does not determine personhood. The woman has no right to do away with the life of the baby. Even if the baby is part of her, she has no right to kill herself or to chop off part of herself because we know it is morally wrong. Even some adults are dependent on others for their care; and so the responsibilities of mothers are assumed. A poor quality of life does not negate personhood. So the fact that a child might have significant birth defect, or that the child will lack care, love, provision, etc does not give any reason to terminate a pregnancy because if the child is born no amount of these can justify the termination of the child’s life. Some say the baby in the womb has no personal consciousness as if what makes a person is his consciousness. A person in coma is still a person even though he/she has no consciousness, and so one has no right to kill any of them because they have no personal consciousness.

As a matter of fact babies have consciousness as the brain waves become active and self-awareness develops as time goes on; the baby can feel pressure, pain etc. An inability to be certain when life begins does not demand the legalization of abortion. The burden of proof in law is on the prosecution. The benefit of doubt is with the defense. This is also known as a presumption of innocence. So we should bury a body we are sure that is dead not that which we think may be dead. So the burden of proof regarding the personhood of the foetus rests with those who contemplate the termination of the pregnancy, with those who facilitate the termination of the pregnancy and with those who fail to oppose the legal termination of pregnancies. Some people say abortion solves unwanted pregnancies since unwanted babies are not to be born. What solves unwanted pregnancies is adoption, because the unwanted pregnancy becomes wanted children when born and many families would be happy to raise the children. The fact that we do not want a person does not give us any right to terminate the life of that person. From the philosophical view, we learn that:

· The child conceived in the woman is not part of the woman but a unique person since the child has his or her genetic composition which is purely different from that of the mother. So the mother has no right over the child’s life as if it is part of her body. You do not even have the right to kill yourself or chop off part of yourself.

· Is there a time limit when we can commit abortion? Some will say 18 days,42 days and so on. When does life begin? Who can tell when God gives life in a foetus?

· It is not because the baby depends on the woman that she can take away the child’s life. Some adults are dependent on others to live, should they be killed because they are dependent?

· A poor quality of life does not negate personhood and so you have no right to kill a baby because the child might have some birth defects, lack provisions or love, etc.

· Consciousness does not define a person. Just as we cannot decide on our own to end the life of an unconscious person or a person in comma, we have no right to terminate the life of e foetus.

· What solves unwanted pregnancy is not abortion but adoption because unwanted pregnancy becomes wanted children when born and many families will be happy to raise the children.

Our response to abortion should be persuasive not forceful because it is a problem of morality for those opposing abortion. We have to be prayerful asking God to change the hearts of the people concerned as we talk to them (Matthew 28:19-20) with grace, gentleness, and reverence (Colossians 4:5-6; 1Peter 3:15).

In the time of Jesus there was also abortion but Jesus and the apostles knew that their task was redemptive not political so they did not seek to moralize the unconverted but to convert the immoral; Christ did not make it their ministry to change the government laws or to revolt but to change the hearts of individuals, to change them from sin to faith in Jesus Christ. We are to reprove, rebuke and exhort, with great patience and instruction (2 Timothy 4:2); in order to express God’s love to his people, maturing them towards Christ’s righteousness. We as followers of Christ have to make the message of the forgiveness of sins known and received among the world.

Now to you who is taking or committing abortion, you have read and are aware of what you are doing. You know the consequence of sin is punishment and God will not be happy with anyone who despises His orders (DO NOT KILL). For you; who claims innocent and had already done it. Jesus has His hands open and He is asking you now to repent and move in the light because He is the light and He is the way. Withdraw from your thought and be transformed! DO NOT MAKE A MISTAKE!

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