Guest Post: Abortion
By Hayden Byrd
My name is Hayden Byrd and I am from Pocahontas, Arkansas. I was raised in the church and decided to become a Christian in 2016. I love reading, history, literacy and listening to music. I attended public school and was part of my high school’s marching band. This year will be my first year in college at Harding University and I will be majoring in ELA and social studies education, with hopes of becoming a teacher. I plan on being active while in college, I have signed on to be a part of Harding’s band program and hope to join a social club and possibly other organizations around campus such as a pro-life group. Most importantly, I am looking forward to being a part of sound congregations around Searcy and making more Christian friendships.
It is safe to say that the topic of abortion has been on the minds of many across the world lately. This is primarily due to the United States’ Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in a 5-4 vote. Subsequently, many different viewpoints and opinions of abortion have resurfaced concerning abortion. However, there is only one true viewpoint of this issue that truly matters; that being how God views abortion. It is vital to the rescuing of countless souls that Christians not only learn how to, but care enough to share how God views unborn life, in a truthful, courageous, and loving way.
First we need to establish how God, through HIS word, the Bible, has revealed HIS viewpoint on unborn life.
A verse that a lot of people are quick to turn to, and rightfully so, when discussing abortion/unborn life in general is Psalms 139:13-14 which reads, “(13) For Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb. (14) I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” David, the writer of this Psalm, acknowledges that he is and was the same person, the same human being, inside his mother’s womb as an unborn baby, as he is outside of his mother’s womb as a full grown man. Furthermore, since we know that, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16), we know that David’s viewpoint as revealed in Psalms 139:13-14, is valid and acceptable in the sigh of God; that this viewpoint was inspired by God. So, since we know that unborn life is viewed no differently from post-birth life, it is only logical to conclude that both forms of life are to be seen and protected equally. What I mean by this is that God’s commandment not to kill/commit murder (Exodus 20:13 and Matthew 5:21) pertains both to the born and unborn. Though the Bible is the greatest authority and source one can turn to, we can also look to secular (worldly, unreligious) evidence to further prove that an unborn baby and a baby that has been born are both alive, thus have a life that deserves to be protected. Such as that from the earliest stages of pregnancy the baby has qualities of human life, living cells and human DNA, thus is a human life. All the way up to the later stages of pregnancy when the baby has a heartbeat, hair, limbs, organs and other undeniable attributes (evidences) of being a human being.
2. Having acknowledged the validity and existence of life within the womb, we as Christians need to turn to mothers with truth, a desire to inform and love.
It often seems that mothers considering going through with an abortion do so because of the lack of resources they feel are available to them. however, if Christians work to reach out to these mothers and help them become Christians, these mothers will discover the immense spiritual, mental, emotional and physical support within the Lord’s church. Often babysitting/child care services, children’s Bible classes, vacation Bible schools and Christian church camps are available at/through various congregations of the Lord’s church and help care for and nurture children. More importantly, through becoming a Christian and living faithfully they can be forgiven of any past unforgiven sin, even the sin of abortion, and experience the peace that Christians have in this life and come to know the joy of looking forward to Heaven. We as Christians should try to reach out to mothers considering abortions, or those who have had one in the past, with the truth and never waver in the fact that abortion is sinful and vile. And yet remember that these mothers are still worthy to be taught the truth out of a place of love for their soul, and a desire to see them come to Christ. I think the life of Saul before becoming the apostle Paul, as Paul writes about in Acts 22, informs us of how no matter the past attitude or sins of a person, they, if their heart is right, still be brought to Christ, be an active member in the Lord’s church and help bring others to Christ.