The Big Questions About the Christian LifeSýnishorn

What About Abortion?

Christians like to characterize themselves as “pro-life,” and that designation is entirely true. It’s worth remembering that Christianity’s historical emphasis on the innate and equal worth of every human life is why today we have positive qualities in our civilizations, such as human rights and equality for men and women.

The world before Christianity was a nasty place. It’s sometimes hard to believe, but it was even nastier than it is today!

Girls were not as valuable as boys, so infanticide by strangulation, crushing, or exposure outdoors was a common way to get rid of unwanted baby girls – or boys, too, for that matter. Killing babies was not illegal, nor was it seen as immoral or wrong. If you didn’t want a baby, you got rid of it. Babies, and even children, weren’t considered to be complete human beings.

The practice applied whether they had already been born or were still in the womb. We know there was an occasion during the later stages of the Roman Empire when the sewers stopped working. Investigations revealed that untold numbers of fetuses clogged the sewers.

Christians came along and said, “Hold on, you can’t do this: every human life is valuable and sacred to God.” For example, the Christian writer Tertullian, writing around 200AD, said:

The embryo therefore becomes a human being in the womb from the moment that its form is completed.

You might agree or disagree with that, but it demonstrates that early Christians thought about this issue seriously. They understood the commandment not to kill as applied to human beings both in and outside the womb.

There are complex moral issues involved. What about babies identified in the womb as having a severe disability? What about a rape victim who becomes pregnant? While it might be easy for some to give a stock, theoretical answer, we shouldn’t underestimate how heart-wrenchingly difficult these decisions must be for mothers and often fathers.

Sadly, in some parts of the world, the whole question of abortion has become politicized and has been the cause of violence, murder, and attitudes that are hardly Christ-like.

When we talk about abortion, we must do so with the utmost kindness and respect for women who have had to make these terrible decisions, which have left them with deep sorrow, regret, and even shame. Whatever our view may be, it isn’t our role to rip open old wounds and judge and condemn.

I believe it’s possible to uphold human life’s value and do it in a kind and loving manner.

– Eliezer Gonzalez