One tragic day, an abortionist named Dr. Anthony Levatino lost her five-year-old daughter when she was hit by a car and killed. After taking time off work to grieve, he returned to work. This is how he described that day, “It was my turn to perform a second trimester abortion. As I started this procedure, I inserted a clamp and ripped out the baby’s arm. Then I paused for what seemed like forever, staring at the arm in the clamp. A procedure I had done over a hundred times before suddenly made me ill. At that moment, the only thing that mattered was the innocent child whose life I had just ended. I lost my child, someone who was very precious to me. And now, I am taking somebody’s child and I am tearing him right out of their womb. I am killing somebody’s child. That day marked the beginning of my journey from abortionist to pro-life advocate” (Patty Knap, “The Remarkable Conversion of an Abortionist,” The National Catholic Register).
Our heritage over the last 2000 years as Christians is to protect the most weak and vulnerable of humans, because each one is made in the IMAGO DEI—the image of God. With the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision to return abortion legislation to the states, NOW is the time for all Christians to sharpen their awareness of the abortion plague and especially sharpen their ability to promote life by reasoning well in conversations taking place around us. That is the goal of today’s episode.
Today, around the world, more than forty million abortions take place every year. Since Roe v. Wade, nearly sixty million unborn children have been aborted in America alone. And the cost goes way beyond the horrific loss of the babies’ lives. With characteristic clarity of thought, Mother Teresa, in an amicus curiae brief to the US Supreme Court, wrote:
"America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father’s role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts—a child—as competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience….Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being’s entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign.”
Here are just a few examples of the harm done by abortion, identified by Ryan Anderson and Alexandra DeSanctis, in their recent book, Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing.
- Abortion harms women and the family. The ready availability of abortion enables men to more easily justify abandoning their children and their children’s mother. The result has been five decades of broken hearts and broken homes, dissolution, destruction, and despair…A landmark study on the “paradox of declining female happiness” found that over a period of thirty-five years starting in the early 1970s, women’s subjective happiness and well-being has declined both absolutely, and relative to men.”
- Abortion harms medicine. “Abortion contradicts all the miraculous developments over the last century that have enabled health-care workers to care for unborn children more successfully than ever before. To illustrate how abortion has infiltrated and corrupted the medical field…the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists transformed itself from a non-partisan medical organization to a highly politicized abortion advocacy group that today lobbies for abortion at the federal level.”
- Abortion harms equality and justice. The roots of Planned Parenthood in the eugenic ideology of founder, Margaret Sanger, were not ignored by Justice Alito in the Dobbs Supreme Court decision denying a federal right to abortion—nor should these roots be ignored by anyone else. “Nearly 80 percent of Planned Parenthood’s clinics are located within walking distance of neighborhoods occupied predominantly by black and Hispanic residents. While abortion advocates insist that this is a service to lower income and minority women who need access to affordable health care, abortion statistics tell a different story. Despite constituting only 13 percent of the female population, black women represent well over 66 percent of all abortions in the US each year.
In my view, Christians have responded well to the Roe v. Wade decision by helping found 3500 pregnancy centers that steer women to reject abortion, offering them compassion and support in having an unwanted baby. Many have changed their political affiliation (as I have) and voted for prolife candidates. But now that Roe has been overturned, we must renew our commitment to act. Let’s consider the origin of the Christian Prolife worldview.
Human Life is Sacred Because Every Human Bears God’s Image
Atheist Luc Ferry, in his book, A Brief History of Thought, makes a stunning admission about the way the Western view of human rights began. He writes, “Christianity was to introduce the notion that humanity was fundamentally identical, that men were equal in dignity, an unprecedented idea at the time, and one to which our world owes its entire democratic inheritance.” The worldview that EVERY human has dignity and worth did not come out of nowhere; it is the concept of the IMAGO DEI from Genesis 1—that every human person bears the image of God. John Stonestreet argues that this radical idea “has proven to be one of the most consequential culture changing ideas in human history” (The Image Restored). While most Christians know that man is made in God’s image, it is likely that few have thought through the implications for the IMAGO DEI worldview as it can influence various layers of society. Let’s consider three ways this view of human personhood—that each human is made in God’s image—impacts OUR participation in the abortion debate at this cultural moment.
1. IMAGO DEI teaching means you and I are to rule and exercise dominion over all of life (human culture). As one scholar reminds us, Adam and his descendants “true role is ‘to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all creatures that move along the ground.’ In this beautiful, poetic way, they learn humanity has been put in charge over everything else God created. They are not autonomous, to be clear. They are not to rule by their own standards. They are God’s representatives and are to rule God’s world according to God’s purposes for God’s glory (Ibid). We are God’s representatives. We are not to passively withdraw into our Christian world—but to reclaim this world for the Second Adam—spreading righteousness throughout. Salt must spread through the meat to retard decay. Light must permeate the room, not be hidden under a basket. We must seek to persuade those around us that abortion is the killing of the unborn child in the mother’s womb.
2. IMAGO DEI teaching means the moral law is written on every human heart. Theologians have always taught that bearing God’s image means we are moral agents with a conscience, unlike the animal kingdom. This fact matters profoundly when we think about speaking up and influencing others with the biblical worldview. In a world where human sinful nature causes humans to suppress the truth, we know that each time we challenge the morality of abortion, there is an advocate inside our opponent whispering that abortion is wrong. They may drown that voice out—especially in the immediate conversation; but that voice may, eventually be used by the Holy Spirit to win them to the truth.
3. IMAGO DEI teaching is the reason Christians have led the way in treating every human person with dignity and every life as sacred. Author, Tim Paget, observes, “With its naturalistic presupposition, our society can provide no explanation of personal value apart from external traits like what we can do and whether we belong to the “right” group. In Christianity, our value is in our essence, not our effort. Human beings are created with a dignity conferred by God himself. Dignity is not a side effect of abilities or ethnicity. It is an honor which we do not earn, nor is it judged by others, but is attached to our very nature. Human dignity is not the sole property of the strong, the healthy, the wealthy, or the powerful. It belongs in equal measure to the weak, the sick, the handicapped, and the unborn (Ibid).
Our Heritage as Christians: Protecting the Dignity and Life of Every Human
Here are a few examples of Christianity’s impact on the value of human life (from What if Jesus Had Never Been Born, D. James Kennedy.)
- Women. Before the impact of Christianity, in Rome the killing of infant girls was so widespread it affected marriage customs. When European missionaries came to Norway, they stopped the infanticide of little girls taking place as late as the 19th century. Prior to Christian influences in India, widows were voluntarily or involuntarily burned on their husband’s funeral pyres. In Africa, the wives and concubines of the chieftain were killed at his death, which was stopped only when Christianity began to penetrate the continent.
- Slavery. The life of a slave could be taken at the whim of the master. Over the centuries Christianity abolished slavery, first in the ancient world, and then later in the nineteenth century, largely through the efforts of strong evangelical William Wilberforce. It didn’t happen as quickly as it should have—and the shameful racism of Southern American Christians before and after the Civil War is a lasting black eye on the church. Nevertheless, Harriett Beecher Stowe in her book Uncle Tom’s Cabin and other Christians were instrumental in ending American slavery and Christian pastor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the leader of the American civil rights movement.
- Children. It was a dangerous thing for a baby to be conceived in classical Rome or Greece. Abortion was rampant and it was common for unwanted little ones who were born to be taken into the forest to starve or be eaten by wild animals. But abortion disappeared in the early church. Infanticide and abandonment disappeared. The cry went out to "bring the children to church." Foundling homes, orphanages, and nursery homes were started to house the children.
By calling myself a “Christian” I join a group with a radical heritage: It is impacting its culture with the moral truth that every human being, no matter how helpless, weak, or devalued in society, is the precious image-bearer of God, whose right to life and to be treated with dignity must be protected by followers of Jesus.
Winsomely Presenting the Prolife Argument
A. Logical Summary. Clearly stating the case against abortion is usually a valuable way to prevent abortion supporters from changing the discussion away from the real issue—the life of the baby being taken.
Premise 1: It is wrong to intentionally kill an innocent human being.
Premise 2: Abortion intentionally kills an innocent human being.
Therefore: Abortion is morally wrong.
B. The Case for the Embryo in the Womb Being a Human Person.
- The science of embryology establishes that from the earliest stages of development, you and I were distinct, living, and whole human beings. Embryos are not part of another human being like skin cells or organs. Embryos are already whole living members of the human family. Genetic science proves the embryo is not just a blob of cells with the mother’s DNA. Each is a distinct human being with its own DNA—the same DNA they will have when their heart is formed, when they leave the womb, when they grow to adulthood, and on the day they die. It is the DNA of a human person.
- The only difference between the embryo and an adult human being is the stage of development it is in. Apart from the nourishment that humans need at all stages, an embryo has within itself all that is needed to fully develop into an adult. There is no essential difference between the embryo you and I once were and the adults we are today that justifies killing us at an earlier stage of development. Differences of size, level of development (having a heart or not), environment (being in the womb or outside it), and degree of dependency (needing mom’s umbilical cord, breast milk, food as a child)—being in one or the other of these stages—is NO REASON to KILL IT.
C. Determining When Life begins? We may hear that abortion is okay especially early in the pregnancy because what is in the womb is just a collection of cells. After all, an embryo doesn’t look like what we think people should look like. But we know human life begins at some point. Here are a few things to remember while you think about when that is. Before we can decide whether an embryo is a person, we must ask what makes anyone a person. 1) Some argue that being a “living person” doesn’t begin until birth. But it’s not reasonable to say an individual who is alive at birth is not alive one day prior to birth. The only difference is where they are. 2) Some argue that viability—meaning the baby’s ability to survive outside the womb—determines that the baby is a living person. But viability is determined largely by the current medical technology in a given culture. Do we really want to say a baby born in the West is a person at age 24 weeks but in underdeveloped countries the child isn’t a person till 30 weeks? 3) Some argue that personhood and life don’t begin until the heartbeat begins. But this argument is illogical for this reason: We know that living things only come from OTHER living things. It wouldn’t be possible, then, for the embryo to be non-living for the first few weeks and suddenly spring into life. The embryo has to be alive prior to the heartbeat.
Does this mean that we can be alive without a heartbeat? Yes! That’s actually what makes the newly conceived embryo more functionally impressive than a born person. The embryo, has an ability to live, grow, and move through the stages of human development without the feature you and I need to continue our growth and development--a heart. Stephanie Gray on the Colson Center’s, What Would You Say video series uses an analogy that is helpful. She says the developmental process of the child is like that of a polaroid snapshot. Initially all you will see are black smudge marks. The moment the photo is taken, however, the image is captured—it just needs time to develop. The same is true for you and me: The moment of sperm-egg fusion we, in our uniqueness from our parents, began to exist—we just needed time to develop. If life does NOT begin at birth, viability, or heartbeat, when does it begin? Life begins at conception, fertilization. At fertilization, a living mother and father give life to a whole, living organism, genetically distinct from his or her mother and father with all the DNA instructions to grow into an adult.
Refuting Abortionists Arguments
A. Abortion is a woman’s right to choose. Suppose someone says to you, “I can’t believe the way some political parties are trying to take away a woman’s right to choose what she will do with her own body.” What would you say? Here is an idea to at least direct the discussion towards the real issue. “May I ask you a question?” “Sure.” “Does a mother have the right to use her two fists to beat her child to a bloody pulp?” “Of course not.” “But why not? If she has the absolute right to do with her body what she chooses, why can’t she slam her fists into the face of her kids?” “Because she would be abusing the kids, obviously.” “So, you’re saying she does NOT have the right to slam her fist into her child’s face?” “Yes, that is what I am saying. But what does that have to do with abortion?” Aren’t you admitting that a woman does NOT have an absolute right to do what she wants with her body when it harms someone else?” “Yes, but her fists are hurting a child—abortion only harms a fetus.” “Okay. So, tell me why you believe a human embryo inside the womb is not a human person.”
B. I don’t like abortion, but I don’t think we should make it illegal. What would you say in response? Here is a thought. “May I ask you a question?” “Sure.” “Imagine if someone said, ‘Well, I don’t like slavery, but I DON’T think it should be illegal’. What would you say to him?” “Uh. I guess I’d say he was being inconsistent.” “Or suppose someone said ‘If you don’t like spousal abuse, then don’t beat your wife! But there shouldn’t be a law against it.’” “I guess that wouldn’t really protect women.” “You’re right….Abortion is the intentional killing of the unborn child when it is in the womb. Are you sure you don’t favor a law protecting children from such a plight?” “Actually, now I guess I am NOT sure.”
C. Abortion should be legal because a woman should never be forced to carry the child of her rapist! How would you respond? Here are 4 things to remember.
- We must begin our response with compassion. Rape is awful. Rape is evil.
- Even if abortion could be justified in these rare situations, the vast majority of abortions are in no way justified by these exceptions. We cannot avoid discussing the rule because of the exception.
- In cases of rape that leads to conception, there are three parties involved: the rapist, the woman, and the child. Which of these three parties is guilty of a crime and deserves to be punished? The woman did nothing wrong. The child did nothing wrong. Only the rapist is guilty. But abortion means that the innocent child is given a punishment that even the guilty rapist won’t face. In no other situation do we suggest that a child should be punished for their parent’s crimes.
- Abortion may seem like a way to minimize the pain of rape. But it doesn’t make the woman any less of a victim. Rather, it creates another victim.
D. Abortion is a health care right of women. Right now, before this current election, there is much false information being circulated by abortionists. No prolife bills being enacted across the country prevent a woman from getting help with a miscarriage or her life being prioritized over the child’s life in a rare case like ectopic pregnancy or cancer of the uterus. What would you say to someone who said, “the prolife radicals are taking away a woman’s right to healthcare.” Here is a thought. “May I ask you a question?” “Sure.” “Let’s go back to the very idea of health care. Why do people need healthcare, would you say?” “That’s easy—because people get sick and incur diseases.” “Is being pregnant a disease?” “Not really—but healthcare takes care of the mother.” “Right. But what does abortion do to the HEALTH of the baby?” “It kills the baby.” “How can a process that brings about death be called HEALTH care?”
Just one more—but vital—thought about the Christian PRO-LIFE worldview. It has the power to give every woman who ever aborted a child and every man who ever pushed a woman into having an abortion, know their guilt is blotted out forever. Along with our prolife arguments we must welcome those involved in former abortions into OUR family—and let them know that every follower of Christ is guilty of murder—our sins killed an innocent man. They send Jesus to the cross.
Questions for Guiding the Rising Generation to think about this material.
- What did you find most exciting about the Christian history of valuing the life and dignity of every human being because that person is made in the image of God?
- How would you support the argument that a human embryo is a human life?
- How would you refute the view that abortion denies a woman her “right to choose what she does with her own body? ”
