The Bible does not directly address the issue of abortion, but it does provide principles that can guide Christians in thinking about this difficult topic. The sanctity of human life, the value of children, the sovereignty of God, and other biblical truths shape how Christians should consider abortion.
The sanctity of human life
The Bible consistently affirms the value and dignity of human life, which is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Passages like Psalm 139:13-16 poetically celebrate God’s intimate involvement in creating each person. This grounds the sense in which human life is sacred and precious.
Exodus 21:22-25 prescribes a severe penalty for causing a woman to miscarry, indicating the seriousness with which the Israelites were to regard the life of an unborn child. The sixth commandment’s prohibition against murder (Exodus 20:13) applies to the unjust taking of any innocent human life.
While the Bible does not specifically identify when a fetus becomes a living person, the concern it shows for unborn life suggests Christians should be wary of destroying it without clear biblical warrant.
The blessing of children
Children are consistently portrayed as a blessing from God in the Bible (Psalm 127:3-5). Barrenness could be a source of sadness, shame or reproach in biblical times (Genesis 16:1-6; 30:1-2; 1 Samuel 1:6-7).
These realities imply that deliberately terminating a pregnancy solely for convenience or other non-urgent reasons could be morally problematic from a biblical perspective. However, there may be tragic circumstances when abortion could be considered the least bad option.
The sovereignty of God
God is sovereign over the entirety of human existence and activity, including the conception of each person (Psalm 139:13-16). This means that even an unplanned pregnancy can be seen as part of God’s purpose.
Killing an unborn child interferes with God’s sovereignty. It is an attempt to avoid part of the life God intended for both parent and child. This is not to say unintended pregnancies will not bring many challenges, but that God is able to work powerfully through them.
Other relevant principles
The Bible teaches that God cares for the vulnerable and defends the defenseless (Psalm 82:3-4; Proverbs 24:11-12; James 1:27). The unborn are among the most vulnerable members of society and should be protected.
Children are a blessing from God (Psalm 127:3), and God calls some people to show compassion by adopting and caring for orphans (James 1:27). This suggests it is better to allow an unwanted child to be adopted rather than aborted.
The Bible urges us to acknowledge God in all our decisions (Proverbs 3:5-6), including difficult ones relating to pregnancy. Prayerfully seeking God’s wisdom is the best way forward when considering abortion.
The Bible teaches the interdependent value of human relationships and community (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Deciding about abortion should happen in community, with input from the father, spiritual leaders, other trusted influencers, and health professionals.
The Bible encourages forethought about the potential consequences of choices (Luke 14:28). Abortion is not something to be considered lightly or impulsively. Christians must strive to understand the physical, emotional and spiritual implications abortion could have for multiple lives.
Applying biblical principles
Based on these kinds of biblical teachings, many Christians oppose elective abortion but recognize it may be morally justifiable in limited circumstances, such as when the mother’s life is in imminent danger. Christian views vary on whether abortion may be permissible in other cases, like rape or fetal abnormality.
Most believers agree that reducing the perceived need for abortion through social support for mothers in crisis pregnancies and increased access to adoption is vital. Christians also widely affirm that abortions should not be used merely as another form of birth control when contraception is available.
Wisdom, grace and sensitivity are required when discussing this emotive issue. Christians should offer compassion to those facing pregnancy decisions, recalling that many abortion-minded women feel they have no good alternative. The church must do more to provide feasible alternatives to abortion.
Abortion is unusual in that it can be both a deeply personal spiritual issue and a contentious legal-political issue. Christians should continue advocating laws that show concern for unborn life while also providing robust exemptions when pregnancy threatens the mother’s health.
Most importantly, the church should proclaim the hope and forgiveness freely offered through Christ and be a community where all affected by abortion can find healing rather than shame.
Direct biblical commentary on abortion
While the Bible does not explicitly mention abortion, some additional passages offer relevant perspectives:
- Genesis 25:21-22 – The value God places on unborn life is implied in his healing of Rebekah’s barrenness and his providential oversight of the struggle between Jacob and Esau in the womb.
- Exodus 23:7 – God condemns the killing of innocent people.
- Job 31:15 – Job recognizes that it would be wicked for him to mistreat his servants in the womb by destroying them.
- Psalm 22:9-10 – David poetically refers to his complete dependence on God from the womb onwards.
- Psalm 139:13-16 – David vividly describes God’s personal care and interest in his life even before birth.
- Isaiah 44:2, 24 – God portrays his act of forming Israel in the womb as evidence of his sovereign control over the nation.
- Isaiah 49:1, 5 – The prophet Jeremiah sees his prophetic calling as beginning when God formed him in his mother’s womb.
- Luke 1:15 – John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
- Luke 1:41-44 – The unborn John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth’s womb at the sound of Mary’s greeting, implying he was already capable of responding to spiritual realities.
While these passages do not provide definitive answers, they indicate the importance of considering biblical principles when addressing abortion from a Christian perspective.
Church history and abortion
In surveying historical Christian perspectives on abortion, several observations can be made:
- Many early church fathers condemned the practice of ‘exposure’ – abandoning unwanted newborns to die. They saw this as morally equivalent to abortion and infanticide.
- St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas both taught that abortion was morally wrong, except perhaps to save the mother’s life.
- In the medieval period, canon law came to treat abortion that occurred before 40 days gestation as different to abortion after 40 days, when it was assumed the fetus was “animated.”
- The Protestant Reformers like John Calvin and Martin Luther continued to view abortion as the sinful destruction of human life, allowing rare exceptions to save the mother.
- In the 18th-19th centuries, abortion remained illegal in Western countries in line with historic Christian teaching. However, the practice persisted, especially for protecting family reputations.
- In the late 1960s, many Western countries began decriminalizing abortion. This departure from traditional Christian morality sparked debate within churches.
- Today Catholic and Orthodox communions continue to oppose abortion unequivocally. However, Protestant denominations are divided between pro-life and pro-choice stances.
This brief survey shows that permitting abortion has been a relatively recent shift in Western society. The strong pro-life voices throughout most of church history reflect quite consistent biblical principles about the sanctity of life.
Arguments for the pro-life position
Those identifying as pro-life in the abortion debate frequently employ the following kinds of arguments:
- Biblical arguments – As noted earlier, the biblical view of human life’s sanctity excludes unwarranted termination of the unborn.
- Medical/scientific arguments – Medical facts about fetal development are cited to argue that an unborn baby is a human person deserving rights and protection.
- Slippery slope arguments – The concern is that permitting abortion devalues human life and could open the door to permitting killing infants, disabled people and the elderly if they are deemed inconvenient.
- Human rights arguments – The unborn have a right to life that the powerful should not be able to violate at will. Women’s rights should not trump children’s rights.
- Alternatives arguments – Countless churches, nonprofits and government programs stand willing to support unexpected mothers if they will choose life for their babies.
Pro-life advocates contend that defending the dignity and right to life of the unborn is a just cause that Christians should actively support in ways consistent with loving their neighbors.
Arguments for the pro-choice position
Those identifying as pro-choice in the abortion debate frequently employ the following kinds of arguments:
- Women’s rights arguments – Women have a right to make private decisions about their own bodies and reproductive health without government interference.
- Social arguments – Access to safe, legal abortions is necessary so that women in crisis pregnancies are not forced to seek out dangerous illegal abortions.
- Overpopulation arguments – Abortion access assists in population control and reducing strain on the environment.
- Quality of life arguments – Abortion prevents possible cases where individuals would be born into unhealthy, abusive or deprived life circumstances.
- Legal arguments – Laws banning abortion have been ruled unconstitutional in various nations, so pro-choice stances align with the law.
Pro-choice advocates contend that keeping abortion legal and accessible is about defending women’s wellbeing and their freedom to determine their own futures.
What about exceptions like rape, incest or health issues?
Many debates around abortion involve considering whether exceptions should be permitted for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, or where carrying the pregnancy to term is a threat to the mother’s health.
Those strictly opposed to abortion argue that permitting it in some cases can still devalue human life and create an arbitrary line when personhood begins. They contend that abortion is still wrong even in horrific circumstances like rape or when fetal abnormalities are detected.
Others argue there are genuine ethical dilemmas in cases like rape, and Christianity should exercise compassion when individuals face traumatic pregnancy circumstances not of their choosing. They may contend abortion is justifiable when the mother’s health is in serious jeopardy.
This difference highlights why Christian denominations and groups vary regarding the morality of abortion when pregnancy involves sexual violence, genetic disorders or medical crises. It comes down to how biblical principles are applied in ethically complex situations.
Practical implications
The biblical and theological debates have many practical implications for Christians as they interact with this issue in the real world:
- Christians should look at abortion through a redemptive lens – how can we show the compassion, grace and hope of Christ to those facing unwanted pregnancies?
- Churches must become safe places for scared, vulnerable women to find support when deciding whether to continue a pregnancy.
- Christians should get involved with organizations providing counseling, adoption services, prenatal care, parenting training and other assistance to at-risk mothers.
- Believers should understand the nuances in this debate. Many women do not make the choice to abort lightly and need empathy, not condemnation.
- Christians can advocate for laws that promote the dignity of the unborn while also addressing the concerns of women in marginalized situations.
- Above all, the church should proclaim that redeeming grace is bigger than any wrong choices made, including abortion. There is always hope in Christ.
The abortion debate is complex, but Christians should engage it with both conviction and compassion. Biblical principles provide guidance, but the overriding ethic should be love – for God, for his Word, and for vulnerable people facing difficult reproductive decisions.