Abortion is a very hotly debated topic today. So many people seem to be divided on abortion, and even those who may be against abortion may support certain cases of abortion. Should a Christian support abortion in the case of rape, incest, or risk of death to the mother? Is this type of abortion a sin? What does the Bible say?
Also, this article is in no way meant to condemn a Christian woman who had an abortion before she came to Christ. We are all wicked sinners, including me. God forgives us of all of our sins when we turn to His son in faith.
Is Abortion Okay If the Mother Could Die? Is it a Form of Self Defense?
Some people suggest abortion is okay in cases of alleged “self defense” (when it could threaten the mother’s life to have a child). People who believe this are suggesting that aborting in the case of harm to the mother is the same as self defense. However, it is important to note that no doctor can say (in most cases) that a mother’s life will for sure be taken if she has the child.
There are many cases where a mother has the child even though there are risks, and everything turns out fine. Famous football player Tim Tebow is such a case. His mother was told she should abort the pregnancy due to high risk. She didn’t listen to the doctor, and now she has a Christian son in the NFL.
That is the miracle of life. Sometimes people die during birth, sometimes they don’t. Doctors don’t always accurately predict the outcome. You also have to keep in mind that before the recent advances in medical technology, there was no way of ever knowing if a woman would die during birth.
So it makes no sense to agree with aborting on the premise that it “could” harm the mother. Giving birth technically “could” kill anyone, so does that mean everyone should abort since there is always at least a small risk that any mother could potentially die? No, of course not.
There are cases in which the baby may be growing in a way which may cause a very high risk of death to the mother, or the mother may have to have emergency surgery (such as an ectopic pregnancy). In this case, should a woman have an abortion? The better solution would be to seek ways to save both lives. Advances in science has led to artificial “wombs” being created, and at the very least doctors should try to save both the woman and the growing baby. If womb implantation fails or if the child dies inside of the womb, then at least an attempt to save life was done, and the woman and doctor were acting in the right spirit.
There is nothing wrong with surgically removing a child who died in the womb. The important thing is to consider the attitude of the matter. If a woman’s life is genuinely at high risk, or if the baby is causing the mother severe health problems that require immediate surgery, then doctors should have a spirit of trying to save both lives. The baby shouldn’t be purposely killed as if it is worthless.
However, if the child dies in the womb, or dies during an attempt to implant into a womb, then of course it would be fine to remove the dead child.
Abortions Kill People Too
One fact that many people seem to forget is that abortion procedures can kill mothers too. There is a risk to have a baby, and there is a risk to have an abortion. Both carry risks.
One of my in-laws’ distant relatives became pregnant, and she decided to abort. She traveled to another state to do this in secrecy, and tragically, she bled to death from the procedure. Her family found out (very tragically) that she died only because she had the abortion done. That is a true story, and it happens more often then people might think.
Even if the woman doesn’t die, sometimes an abortion can leave serious health problems for the woman.
Is Abortion Okay if the Woman Was Raped?
No doubt, it is a very difficult situation when a woman is raped. Many do not want to ever re-live that horrific event, and it is very traumatic to those that experience this type of sexual violence. Women do not always become pregnant when raped. However, if a woman does become pregnant after a rape, should she still have an abortion?
Even though the situation in which the child was conceived was terrible, that child became alive at the moment the egg and sperm met. A soul was created at that very moment. The blueprints for life were locked in stone, and the human life began to exist. The Bible is clear that we do not have the right to take another person’s life.
There are many brave women who decide to carry the baby and have a normal birth. This is (of course) a very hard decision. But just because the baby was created in an act of hate or sin, it doesn’t mean that the child cannot be a loving and happy child. That child may turn out to be the next president of the United States. It could find the cure for cancer. It could invent something that would save lives. Or it may just be a good citizen. But it is worth keeping alive, and he or she should be given an equal chance at life. Even though it was a traumatic conception, it could be a blessing in the end. That child may bring so much joy to the mother.
God has a way of taking the greatest hurt in our lives, and turning it into one of our greatest blessings. It is almost a paradox, but it happens all the time.
In cases where the mother just doesn’t feel right about the whole situation, and would prefer to abort the child, I would strongly urge the option of adoption. Adoption is a far better alternative, and the world is filled with loving people who would love to be parents to a new child, regardless of how the child was conceived. If you feel that you cannot take care of the child, this is an option that may be best for you.
When asked if a woman who was raped should have an abortion, I sometimes respond, “Should babies alive today who were conceived through raped be killed? If not, then why should they be killed when they are a little younger in a womb?”
Is Abortion Okay in the Case of Incest?
Incest is the situation where close family members have sexual relations. This can be harmful because it greatly increases the likelihood that the child can have some form of genetic deformation or retardation. Even if the child is going to have problems, should women have an abortion in this case?
There are many children who have deformities and retardation that were conceived by 2 non-related parents, and in love. There are also some alive today who were born by incestuous relations. Should these children be killed now? Should we round up retarded children, or children born of incest and put them all to death now?
If we don’t round up children alive now and put them to death due to incest or retardation, why should we do it when they are in the womb?
Suppose there is a little baby just born, sitting in an incubator. What would you do if you witnessed someone going up and strangling that baby? Or punching it? You’d instinctively know it was wrong.
Now backtrack just a few minutes when it was just delivered, but still attached via an umbilical cord. Should it be killed then? What about just a few seconds earlier when it was inside the womb. What about then?
When is this world going to realize that babies are babies? It doesn’t matter if it is in the womb or out. It is alive. It is a human soul. Murder is murder, and abortion is nothing short of murder.
Conclusion: Is Abortion Acceptable to God?
There are many cases where a child can be conceived in a way which is traumatic, sinful, or even harmful to the health of the mother. Yet, God loves us all and gives us grace to handle those difficult situations. God is the creator of life, and we should strive to protect life. Once a sperm meets an egg, a miracle happens. We should respect and welcome that miracle, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
In cases where high risk exists, women should do everything they can to try to preserve the life of their baby. Hopefully, as science advances, new technology such as artificial wombs and so forth will remove the need to ever even question what to do during emergency situations.
Even in traumatic cases of conception, such as incest, women should carry their child to term, and if they cannot care for it themselves, they should seek a loving home for it.
The Bible does not support the notion of murder, and abortion is nothing short of murder.