My belief: the Bible is the Holy Word of God. Period. It is an instruction manual for living, and it is the ultimate authority by which I live my life. I occasionally get conflicted and confused about issues in society, and then remember, “Oh, oh ya, I should probably see what the Bible says.”
I have shared a few of those discoveries here – about gender, marriage, and sin – and what society tends to make complex, the Bible tends to make simple. The Bible either is or is not true, and it’s a good idea for Christians to live according to what the Bible says.
In the 2024 election, no one issue was bigger for the Democrats and more divisive than abortion. Republicans tend to not talk about it. Democrats do nothing but talk about it, largely because it has raised money and won elections. Unlike most of my Republican brethren, I want to talk about it – a lot. I want to try and foster understanding. Maybe my effort is futile. Perhaps no consensus can be built on abortion.
But it won’t stop me from trying.
For Christians, abortion is a moral issue. To help understand that, let’s turn to the Bible to say what it says about abortion. It says nothing. The term “abortion” appears exactly zero times in God’s word. It does, however, provide principles that many Christians refer to when forming their beliefs on the topic. These principles emphasize the value of human life, the sanctity of the unborn, and God’s sovereignty over all creation.
1. God’s Knowledge and Care for the Unborn
- Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT):
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb… You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
This passage affirms that God is deeply involved in the formation of each human life from the womb, emphasizing the inherent value of the unborn. - Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT):
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
This verse underscores the belief that God knows and has a purpose for each person even before they are conceived.
2. The Sanctity of Life
- Exodus 20:13 (NLT):
“You must not murder.”
This commandment is interpreted by many as extending to the unborn, considering the deliberate taking of innocent life as prohibited. - Luke 1:41-44 (NLT):
This account describes John the Baptist leaping in his mother’s womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visits. It illustrates an awareness and recognition of the sanctity of life even before birth.
3. The Value of Human Life and Responsibility
- Genesis 1:27 (NLT):
“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
This verse conveys that every human being, born or unborn, bears the image of God and possesses inherent dignity and worth.
4. Protection of the Vulnerable
- Proverbs 24:11-12 (NLT):
“Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, ‘Look, we didn’t know.’ For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.”
This calls believers to actively defend and protect innocent life, which many interpret as a moral obligation to safeguard the unborn.
5. God’s Sovereignty Over Life and Death
- Deuteronomy 32:39 (NLT):
“Look now; I myself am he! There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals.”
This verse highlights God’s ultimate authority over life and death, suggesting that decisions about life belong to Him alone.
While the Bible does not explicitly address abortion, many Christians interpret these passages as affirming the value of life from conception and emphasizing God’s intimate role in human creation. From a Christian’s perspective, God oversees the creation of that life, and no one has the authority to take that life away.
From this perspective, abortion is often viewed as incompatible with God’s design for life. Nevertheless, discussions on the topic can vary among Christian communities, particularly when considering complex circumstances, such as health risks to the mother or cases of rape.
