THE DEBATE CONTINUES
On
June 6, 2022, the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, a ruling made by that
court in 1973 that gave women a constitutional right to abortion. With the more
recent ruling, the decision to allow abortion to be legal or to restrict
abortion reverts to the states.
Some argue that this decision belongs
to pregnant women alone since women should be able to exercise control over
their own bodies. They also say women who face decisions about delivering
babies with severe congenital abnormalities should have the right to decide the
fate of such babies. After all, who would want a baby to suffer what might be a
painful life? Others, however, argue that life is sacred, both before and after
birth, and must be protected.
So the debate continues. Is it a
woman’s right to choose or is it a baby’s right to live? Does life begin at
conception or does life begin at birth? Should abortion be allowed until a
fetal heartbeat can be detected or should it not be allowed at all? Those are
just some of the questions with which we wrestle.
I’m a woman, and I want control over
my own body. But I’m also a mother, and I know the indescribable feeling that
comes as you cradle a newborn child in your arms. I also experienced empty
arms, the death of a baby girl whose lungs were not fully developed. I know the
anguish and long-term grief that comes after such a loss.
While I realize that even among Christians
there are differing views on the topic of abortion, here is how I, as a
Christian woman, interpret scripture.
God created life from the get-go: “For
you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm
139:13 NIV). This embryo that is knit together is a tiny little person in the
making. This is a Logan or a Leah or an Emmy or an Eli. This is a Mark or a
McKenna or an Amelia or an Elijah. This is the start of a living, breathing
human being.
God has a purpose for this life.
Babies are blessings in the making. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew
you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5). God said that of the
prophet Jeremiah, and He says no less of each of us. Babies become maintenance
workers and teachers, nurse and doctors. They grow up to be electricians and
truck drivers, mathematicians and store clerks. They become moms and dads and
beloved children. Each individual has a role and a calling. And each individual,
no matter their capability, contributes to our society.
God makes all things beautiful. “He
has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). But, some may
say, what of those babies who arrive with congenital abnormalities or those who
will only live a few hours anyway? Well, God makes not just “some things” but
“all things” beautiful.
I have read testimonies of how
children, not considered “perfect” by the world, have blessed parents to no end.
Is God not able to use even imperfections for good? To help us develop patience
and tolerance? To help us appreciate and celebrate life? Yes, He is able.
Tim Tebow’s mother was advised to have
an abortion after she suffered an illness from contaminated water and was told
the medication she took might cause severe disabilities. She refused to abort,
and her son became an outstanding football player known for expressing his
faith.
But some may say, what if I can’t
afford another mouth to feed? What if I’m a student, in no position to care for
a child? What if I was raped or abused or in some way forced to conceive?
Those are difficult situations, to be
sure. But if a woman needs help, others stand ready to assist. Women can seek
help from pregnancy centers that support babies and families. They can search
out a compassionate church, a trustworthy friend or a women’s shelter. God has
many ways to see women through such
experiences. If a mother feels she cannot care for a child, she might
consider placing her baby for adoption. There are countless couples who dream
of having a baby to hold and love.
Although some might agree that all life is
sacred and should be valued, they raise another important question: What if a
woman’s life is in danger? That question and all these questions related to
abortion may best be answered through prayer and consultation with spiritual
advisors and doctors, conversations with husbands and families.
I don’t have all the answers. Many
would certainly offer rebuttals to the points I’ve made. But as God reigns in
our hearts and lives, He surely guides and directs. May we all experience His
peace as we make decisions that affect our lives and the lives of our
children—both born and unborn.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Tebow
