Abortion has been a controversial topic with the new Zealand government with the recent bill passing which legalizes abortion right up until the birth of the child. But is the pro life belief outdated? Or is aborting a baby actually murder?
The bible mentions many times how much God loves us and values us as His children. “For you created my innermost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.” (Psalm chapter 139, verse 13)
So if God had planned us and wanted us right before we were even conceived, how is aborting a child following God's plan and will for our lives? If He planned for us to be conceived, then obviously He had plans for our whole lives, not just for a pregnancy.
Unfortunately society today does not necessarily hold the same viewpoint. We are constantly encouraged to be “pro choice” and encourage “women's right to choose.”
A baby is not considered a living breathing child until birth so having an abortion isn't seen as anything to be too worried about because you are not actually killing anyone. This creates a lie that an unborn fetus is not a living thing and is not worthy of valuing the same way as if it had been born.
But has society always been like this? When did things change?
Prior legal status
Up until it was removed from the crimes act of 1961, abortion was a crime and could only be performed legally by travelling overseas to countries such as the UK or Australia. Even when it was legalized, abortion was still largely frowned upon by some groups, particularly the catholic church.
It would take many years before abortions would be deemed socially acceptable by the public. “Christ died so that we might live. This is the opposite of abortion. Abortion kills so that someone might live comfortably” (John Piper). But is abortion simply an easy solution to an unwanted pregnancy? Or is there more to it?
The easy way out
One of the biggest stereotypes that I have heard about people who get abortions, is that they have made a mistake and want an easy solution to the problem. This might not be true all of the time, but what does God say about covering up your mistakes in that way?
An example is when king David had Uriah killed so he could have his wife. He didn't physically kill his soldier, who had done nothing wrong. But he did organize for it to happen so that he could get something that he wanted. Because of what he did, he still had to suffer punishment from God.
“Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.” (2 Samuel chapter 12, verse 10).
Last resort
Occasionally there are situations in life where abortions are carried out as a last resort and not as a quick solution to the problem.
Rape cases or situations where both the mother and baby are in serious danger health wise if they were to continue the pregnancy, are times where an abortion is done not necessarily as a quick fix to a solution but as a tool to help save the life of the mother.
I personally am more sympathetic to those reasons because I have known women who have been forced to have abortions to save their own lives so that they are still able to care for the other children and family members that they have.
“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress.” (Psalm chapter 107, verse 6).
Personal views
So what are my views on abortion? While I am against abortion and view it as murder and a sin, I am more sympathetic to women who have had to have abortions due to rape or medical reasons. Still I always remember the Lord's commandment – “you shall not murder.” (Exodus chapter 20, verse 13).
My name is Kate and I'm 26. I love exercising and singing on my worship team. I have married for just over a year and a half and love to spend time with my husband.
My name is Kate and I love gardening, exercising, and being involved with my church social groups. I have loved to write from a young age, and took up poetry as a teenager. I have recently got married and am enjoying getting used to married life.