With the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, the issue of abortion is on the mind of many people. And arguments over abortion and reproductive rights are vexing and dividing the country.
And not just the country, but the church.
As we navigate this tumultuous issue, allow me to offer up several passages from the Bible to consider.
Let me quickly say that, when it comes to the civic arena, I support religious freedom, and therefore do not believe the U.S. government should impose the Bible on the American people. Some believe that’s essentially what the Supreme Court has done in overturning Roe v. Wade. But in actuality, the Court simply returned the issue to the states for their elected legislative bodies to decide.
But whatever your feelings may be on the High Court’s decision to overturn Roe, this is not a political post. Our focus here isn’t on legal or political matters, but rather on personal and spiritual matters.
The question before us is whether abortion is acceptable in the eyes of God.
If you identify as a Christian, then that question should matter to you. After all, our entire purpose for existing is to glorify and please God. And we can’t glorify or please Him by disobeying Him.
What is God’s position on abortion?
To answer that, we must look to the written account of His revelation to humanity — the Bible.
Sadly, in the 21st century, many professing Christians no longer have (or desire to have) a biblically-based worldview, and thus a post that provides Bible verses on the subject of life may not be of interest to all my readers. Nevertheless…
For those of you who still love God and respect His revelation, I offer these Bible verses for your prayerful and thoughtful review.
Of course, the word “abortion” does not appear in the Bible.
And that fact is irrelevant.
The words “Trinity,” “rapture,” and “Christianity” are also not in the Bible (though the term “Christian” is briefly mentioned in Acts). In fact, the word “Bible” isn’t really in the Bible. (There are references to “books” and “Scripture,” but not specifically “the Bible.”)
Don’t get distracted by terminology. Instead, look at principles.
What does the Bible say about the nature and value of human life? And what does it say about the taking of human life?
Those are the questions we must focus on.
In providing this list of verses (all in the classic KJV), I’ve largely avoided the Law of Moses — other than the sixth commandment (of the Ten Commandments — which are widely regarded as timeless). To get too deeply into the Mosaic Law would invite theological objections I don’t have time (in this post) to address. Instead, I’m sticking to Bible passages that most Christians (at least those who respect the Bible) acknowledge are timeless.
I’m also resisting the temptation to offer commentary with each verse. To do so would cause readers to focus on me rather than the Bible. Besides, I don’t want this blog post to be any longer than it needs to be.
With the above caveats, clarifications, disclaimers, and explanations in mind, here are several Bible passages that contain principles pertinent to God’s position on the sanctity of life:
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26-27)
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)
Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13)
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:4-5)
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4)
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:13-14)
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. (Psalm 127:3)
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19)
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9)
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
I encourage you to read, study, and meditate on the above passages. There are others as well (such as Jeremiah 1:5 and Luke 1:41-44), but the above verses are a good foundation to begin your study.
Let me conclude by saying our highest ethic and virtue must be love. And thus, everything we do (including the choices we make and how we discuss socio-political issues) should be driven by love.
God bless you.
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You may also be interested in my previous post:
“You Can’t Be Pro-life Without Being Pro-love”
