In Defense of Life

Abortion has again become a hot topic because of the outrage (or celebration) on social media regarding the bill passed in NY that allows late-term abortions and now no longer counts killing a pregnant woman as a double homicide by defining a person as "a human being who has been born and is alive." This was closely followed in VA by a similar bill.

In this time of human history, when semantics are used to justify the murder of millions of the most innocent and defenseless people, we need to be prepared to discuss justifications for the pro-life cause. Here are a few of the arguments used in favor of “choice”, and some resources to refute them and defend the pro-life view:

Referring to the baby as "fetus" or "blob of tissue"

1. Can a woman be pregnant with something that is not human? The answer is obvious. Taking it further can be helpful - that blob of tissue contains unique human DNA from the moment of conception - it contains the plans for the color of eyes, hair, and so on - all of the features of the person when fully formed.
2. Life begins at conception - the cells begin to divide and grow, and that is what scientists agree to be the definition of a living being.
3. Define the word "fetus". The stages of human development are this: fetus to newborn to toddler to young child to adolescent and so on.
4. Ultrasound images of fetal development: Frist Trimester images of Your Developing Baby.

Referring to abortion as an act of mercy for a child who will be born with a genetic disorder:

1. Reference famous people with genetic disorders or chronic illness who have contributed great things to humanity. Link here.
2. What about older adults or those who battle chronic illness? Do you believe their life is worth less than yours and therefore worthy of elimination?

It should be the woman's choice to do with her body what she wants, especially in the cases of rape and incest.

1. The baby is a separate being from its mother that contains unique human DNA. It will contain the woman's DNA, but it is entirely unique to the fetus. The baby is only connected physically to the woman for nourishment, it is not her body. In fact, it does not share her blood supply and if by some accident the mother and baby's blood is mixed there can be serious complications.
2. Going back to stages of development - what about a 2-year-old who is the product of rape or incest? Do we have the right to murder her?

 The child will be born into poverty and will not have what it needs to survive, the parents cannot provide for the baby

1. Adoption - although not an easy process, emotionally or physically, it allows the child LIFE.
2. Pregnancy centers support the mother and father through pregnancy and after with counseling, referrals, providing for material needs and parenting classes - Care Net, Bright Hope.
3. What would you consider a woman who had only enough for one to eat and gave it to her child? What would you consider her if she took it for herself and watched her child starve? When you love someone more than yourself, as so many mothers do, you are willing to sacrifice what you have and your own comfort for theirs. Abortion allows the mother (and father) to avoid their own sacrifice and instead sacrifice the life of their child.

This last point allows for an easy transition to a discussion of God's sacrificial love for us. He is a God who loves enough to give the life of his most precious son for us. For us, people who naturally put ourselves in his place with a desire to govern ourselves and make choices for our lives outside of his will and plan so we can feel we are in control.

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." -Romans 5:6-11 

I would encourage you to remember to support our local pregnancy centers in any way you can - even if we all do a small part, we will be making a great difference in preserving precious lives! Bright Hope Pregnancy Support Center - www.brighthopecenters.org, offices in Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton.

I would also encourage you to do your research - this presentation by Stephanie Gray gives many good examples of how to engage people in a conversation, rather than confronting or attacking (Stephanie Gray: "Abortion: From Controversy to Civility" | Talks at Google). It is so easy to get defensive because most people on either side of this issue feel very strongly about what they believe in.

 A great book that is helpful for planning how to effectively discuss what you believe is Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Gregory Koukl (Available at Christian Books)

Finally, remember grace for all, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24

 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:12-13

You have the knowledge, you have the resources, and you have a God who is on your side. "What then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

Please feel free to share in the comments your experiences in discussing pro-life versus pro-choice views and resources that can help us to be effective in defending life. 

References:

Outline for the defense of life from conception - http://thetorchblog.net/?p=996&fbclid=IwAR1YULskIP9t1BmhlW7AQbUNVtrySC5Hg4mZtFUt5q0LpLEFvNIMg_u6U4I

NY abortion bill: https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2017/S2796