Is it ever OK to have an Abortion?
There are usually three approaches to the abortion topic. One is Pro-life, the other Pro-Choice, and the third falls between the two depending on the situation. Abortion has been a hot topic particularly the last couple of decades (Forrester, C 2017). Some argue that abortion has been going on for thousands of years and was not a main topic or concern for early Christianity as it was not mentioned directly in the Bible by apostles like Paul or even Jesus (Forrester, C 2017). Abortion however has always been considered by those of the Christian faith to be wrong at weeks 23-24 when the fetus was a viable human being (Forrester, C 2017). I do want to emphasize however that this did not include when the life of the mother was in danger and was the decision of the parents as “mortality rates for infants and mothers being so much higher throughout history; anything was done to save the mother’s life and this was not usually questioned” (Forrester, C 2017, para 7, line 3).
So, the question remains… is it ever OK to have an abortion?
While we don’t see a direct mention of Jesus or the disciples against abortion, we also don’t see direction mention of Jesus or his disciples dealing with issues like pornography, road rage, etc. Not every single sin is mentioned, and I believe it is because some of these are issues are things that have cropped up in our modern world. Jesus never dealt with iPads, iPhones, computers, virtual technology etc. And while it is true that abortion is nothing new, the value of life has always been respected by Jesus, his disciples, and the early church.
From Biology we can see that from conception springs forth an organism that contains all the necessary human DNA required for life and "as far as observable science is concerned, human life begins at conception." ~Life in the Womb Archives - Pro-Life Action League
The Bible talks about not “shedding innocent blood” (Piper, J 2018, para 13, line 1) as it is mentioned some 20 times. In Psalm 106:38, it shares how this blood was from children being sacrificed by their parents to idols. Although this is not a direction connection to abortion, it does show that God considers children to be innocent and to be protected.
“This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place” (New International Version, 1973/2011, Jer 22:11)
Some may also oppose a Pro-life view believing that it is better to abort a child that may grow up with deformities like down syndrome (Piper, J 2018).
Something to think about…
What about all the wonderful children whom this sentence was given by a doctor that turned out to be perfectly healthy children? Or those whom may have difficulties, but in spite of this bless the world with unbelievable talents or abilities, (Massachusetts General Hospital 2019) or teach us how to love unconditionally?
On another Note…
Fortunately, in this modern era the birthing process is much safer and for most mom’s the health of the mother is never in danger from her baby. However, there may be rare circumstances where the health of the mother and the baby is connected, and a choice must be made. In this rare and unfortunate circumstance, I stand with the original view of the church- that the life of a mother should be spared and if at all possible, to save both the life of the mother and her unborn child.
Facts & Alternatives
For those who may find themselves in a situation where they are considering abortion, below are some important facts and alternatives to think about.
Why Women Choose Abortion vs Adoption
In a study done in the early 2000's women were asked about their reasons for abortion, and the possibility of putting up their child for adoption.
"In a 2004 survey of 1,209 American women at 11 major abortion clinics, women revealed that health problems, rape, incest, nor coercion by family members or partners were not the primary or even secondary reasons for seeking an abortion." ~The Real Reason Women Choose Abortion (actionlife.org)
Most women who have an abortion, 92% of them listed "other", while 7% state health issues played a factor and only about 0.5% decided to have an abortion due to rape.
Abortion advocates hypocritically point out that women seek out abortion due to pregnancy health risks. However, in this study, most women who choose abortion do so as they believe its the easier solution.
The study also showed that choosing to abort their baby, was not something that these women truly wanted. However, they were convinced that it (abortion) was the best and sometimes only option.
"It is tragic that women facing a difficult or unwanted pregnancy see abortion as their only option." The Real Reason Women Choose Abortion (actionlife.org)
When asked to consider an alternative like adoption, about 1/3 of the thirty-eight women interviewed viewed it as "morally unconscionable" because "giving one's child away is wrong." ~The Real Reason Women Choose Abortion (actionlife.org)
This line of thinking that Abortion is somehow the better choice than to placing your child up for adoption, shows the great amount of emotional turmoil, confusion, and fear that plays a part in the many women choosing abortion.
"How has it become unacceptable to place a child for adoption, but justified to kill that same child? The profound moral confusion caused by legalized abortion is painfully evident in the accounts given by women in this study."~ The Real Reason Women Choose Abortion (actionlife.org)
Listed below are the reasons given in the 2004 study of Why Women have Abortions:
· 25% Not ready for a(nother) child/timing is wrong
· 23% Can't afford a baby now
· 19% Have completed my childbearing/have other people depending on me/children are grown
· 8% Don't want to be a single mother/am having relationship problems
· 7% Don't feel mature enough to raise a(nother) child/feel too young
· 4% Would interfere with education or career plans
· 4% Physical problem with my health
· 3% Possible problems affecting the health of the fetus
· <0.5% Was a victim of rape
· <0.5% Husband or partner wants me to have an abortion
· <0.5% Parents want me to have an abortion
· <0.5% Don't want people to know I had sex or got pregnant
· 6% Other
(Statistics taken from: Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives, by Lawrence B. Finer et al. published by the Guttmacher Institute, 2004)
Adoption
"Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from the biological parent or parents." ~ wikipedia.com
Putting up a baby for adoption is not an easy decision but is the best choice if the alternative is abortion. There are so many adoptive families who are just waiting and longing to have a child of their own! Sometimes in the adoption process, birth mothers can feel guilty about putting up their baby for adoption. They may have feelings of grief, anxiety, or just feel like a failure for not wanting to or being unable to care for their child. Whatever the reasons may be for choosing to place your child for adoption, it can be an emotional and hard decision for any woman and for
everyone involved. However, that being said to create an adoption plan with a potential adoptive family can be the right decision in the health of your future child.
Why an Adoption Agency?
Adoption Agencies are created to help connect birth mother with potential adoptive parents. For those who choose adoption, an Adoption Agency is a logical and safe choice. Adoption agencies are able to set up meetings with prospective adoptive and birth parents and be the liaison between the two. An adoption agency is also able to handle details concerning the adoption to make it legally safe for all involved parties as well as help keep accountability on the welfare and health of the adoptive child.
The adoption process is not always easy and having trusted adoption services can make a world of difference when navigating the road of choosing adoption.
What does Adoption mean to a child?
Putting a child up for adoption can be one of the most complex decisions one has to make. However, sometimes it can be the best decision to choose adoption, especially if the birth mother is young, unable to care for her child, or is physically unfit. Placing a child for adoption is not always easy, but the best choice when choosing between abortion or adoption. Those who are adopted children may feel not wanted by their birth parents, resulting in feelings of depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, etc. However, placing a child in the care of a loving and supportive family can change their future into a bright and happy one. Also, there are options in the adoption process like open adoption, that make it possible for the birth mother and father to be a part of their adoptive child’s life!
Facts About Adoption Benefits
There are many couples who want to be pregnant and are unable due to health challenges. These and many other families are searching for potential children to become a part of their adoptive family. In fact, there are 560,000 couples who are currently seeking to become adoptive parents in the US alone.
There are different types of options available as well for adoption such as a: semi open, or open adoption. In either scenario the parents are able to determine the amount of contact they wish to have with their child and adoptive family. Some parents choose to remain an active part of their child's life while others feel that in the interest of all involved, it would better if they not interfere.
Whatever choice, adoption instead of abortion is the best option!
Here are some facts about adoption that a 2007 National Survey reported about adopted children:
● Adopted children were more likely to be read to every day as young children (68 percent of adopted children vs. 48 percent of children in the general population).
● Adopted children were more likely to be sung or told stories every day as a young child (73 percent of adopted children vs. 59 percent of children in the general population).
● Adopted children were more likely to participate in extracurricular activities as school-age children (85 percent of adopted children vs. 81 percent of children in the general population).
● More than half of adopted children have excellent or outstanding reading, language arts, and math performance. Report from: ~ https://www.americanadoptions.com
Getting Help
For birth mothers dealing with an unexpected pregnancy, it can seem daunting and overwhelming. However, there is no reason to be afraid. You don't have to do this on your own! There are many FREE services available from medical, counseling, even financial assistance or living expenses!
We are Operation Rescue Me are here to support you by connecting you to local and national services that can help you with unplanned pregnancy options! For more information on local and national services click here
ABOUT US
Operation Rescue Me Loves Moms! We are a Charlotte, NC based ministry whose heart is for mothers and their unborn child! We exist to help connect moms with local and national resources that can help mothers dealing with an unplanned pregnancy! We also hold an annual event where we educate, connect parents with ministries and local services as well as minister to emotional and spiritual needs. If you are looking for help, please don't hesitate to contact us through our email: operationrescueme@yahoo.com or by going to our website: www.operationrescueme.org
We pray that the Lord blesses you and the life of your little one to be!
References:
(actionlife.org)
https://www.americanadoptions.com
Forrester, C (2017, April 17) HuffPost The Truth About Christianity and Abortion Piper, J (2018, March 2nd) Opposing Views Ten Christian Reasons Why Abortion is Wrong Massachusetts General Hospital (2019, July 3rd) Behaviors of Children with Down Syndrome
New International Bible. (2011). The NIV Bible https://www.biblegateway.net/ (Original Work Published 1973)
Life in the Womb Archives - Pro-Life Action League
Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives, by Lawrence B. Finer et al. published by the Guttmacher Institute, 2004 )