The Bible teaches Christians that the first human beings were created in the image of God and as his representations on earth, they are unique than any other creation. That makes human life very serious and special in ways that are beyond human understanding, and that is the very base upon which Christians believe that as long as human life has been pronounced to be in existence, then it should remain sacred (Delkeskamp- Hayes & Imrenyi 2013). On the topic of abortion, Christianity holds the belief that as long as a fetus has been conceived, and the heart starts to beat then that is a human being who deserved a chance to live. That is so because no human being has been given the power to take the life of another (Waltke, 2006, Lindemann, 1995). The debate has been ongoing between the pro- choice and pro- life factions and a bigger number of Christians have assumed the latter. They believe that life begins immediately a child is conceived and by the mere fact that no human has the power to take the life of the other then abortion is termed as wrong and against Christian values.
In Genesis 1: 27, the Bible categorically states “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" (NIV). That only means that human life has been sanctified and has been equated to the Holy Trinity. If they are a representation of God, then the least humans can do is to respect the lives of each other regardless of their ages (Lindemann, 1995). What is more, in Psalm 139: 13, King David says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb” (NIV). There are so many other biblical verses that make reference to life beginning at conception, and that only implies that even before a baby comes into the world, they are as important because God knows them that they are there. God values human life and it is in the place of all persons, including pregnant women to give value and importance to human life just like God does.
The most vocal voice against abortion comes from the Catholic Church as well as other evangelical churches and other activist Christian groups. They all hold the believe that abortion should never have been made legal in the first place because it takes away the life of an innocent child who has not been given a chance to make their independent decisions on whether to live or not (Boyle, 2004). The sad reality about the subject is that a fetus, has no say in the process, and it is only the woman or people involved who choose its fate. Everyone one who has been created in the image and likeness of God deserves a chance to live until such a time when God deems it fit that they die (Cook, 2000). What is more, most Christians believe that a woman who is with a child is only a carrier of a life, and their role is only to make it possible that life is given to another human being. Until a baby can survive independently, nobody should take their lives.
Christians are only opposed to the deliberate ending of the life of an unborn child when the life of the mother is not in danger, and that implies that when the life of a pregnant woman is in jeopardy, then abortion is legit. It goes without saying that there are some pregnant women and girls who wish to terminate their pregnancies for the simple reason that they are not ready to assume the responsibility of parenting another human being. Just like Patrick Lee says, some see children as hindrances in their pursuit of their personal goals and would rather they had their unborn babies aborted than give up on their dreams (2004). That is just one reason that makes Christians believe that it is the prerogative of everyone to carry their cross, and if one can make their beds so they should lie in them. Otherwise, they should have abstained from sexual activity in the first place.
Also, Christians believe what the Bible teaches about children being a blessing from God. The Bible categorically states that the first parents were commanded to multiply and fill the earth. God had very good intentions for all human beings because he told them to multiply which is a pointer to giving birth (Duin, 2001). Even the first mother exclaimed that God had given them a child through the help of God. That only helps point out the fact that it is God who gives life just like he did in the Garden of Eden. Children are, therefore, a fulfillment of the decree that God gave humanity that they sire more children to fill the earth because they are a blessing to their parents. Women who wish to commit an abortion are, therefore, reminded that God gives life and that the children they intend to abort are blessings that God has bestowed upon them.
God gave the children Israelites the Ten Commandments that served as a guide for them to live to his expectations. He categorically spelled out each commandment and commanded them to follow them. Among them is a decree stating that no human being is allowed to kill another! All Christians live by this commandment and are expected to keep it. The Bible does not set aside a class or group of people that can be killed and another that is not supposed to be killed. It is against this backdrop that no human being, whether a pregnant woman or a physician is expected to cause the death of another. An unborn child is a human being like everyone else whose life should be protected just like everyone else. All Christians subscribe to the teachings of the Bible, and this one is no exception, and this is one of the reasons that they believe that the life of a fetus should be respected just like that of any other born living person.
Christian adherents believe in the teachings of the bible, the apostles, prophets and Jesus Christ himself. There is nowhere in the fundamental beliefs of Christianity where it is permissible to kill a human being whether a fetus, child or grownup. Murder is strongly prohibited, and abortion is just but a form of murder (Hoffmann & Johnson, 2005, Goodman et. Al. 2013). The Bible teaches about how valuable human life is, and that God knows everyone right before they are born and only existing in a mother’s womb. Human life is unique, and that is the reason God made humans more powerful than any of his other creation (Dollahite, 2006). Abortion is just one way of committing murder and thus, is not allowed in Christian circles. But that does not mean abortion it is entirely prohibited; if a pregnant woman is in danger and abortion is the only way of saving their lives then it is allowed. But not when a person feels like it or does not want to be tied down to the responsibility of taking care of another human being.
References
Boyle, J. (2004). Abortion and Christian Bioethics” The Continuing Ethical Importance of Abortion. Christian Bioethics, 10: 1- 5
Cook, K. (2000). Abortion, Capital Punishment, and the Politics of “God’s” Will. William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal. Vol. 9, Issue 1/6.
Delkeskamp- Hayes, C. & Imrenyi, T. (2013). Claims, Priorities, and Moral Excuses: A Culture’s Dependence on Abortion and Its Cure. Oxford Journals. Vol. 19, Issue 2 198 242.
Dollahite, D. C. (2016). Christianity and Families. The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Family Studies. 1- 6
Duin, J. (2001). A Different Kind of Moving Image: Pro- Lifers Hit the Road. Insight on the News. Vol. 17, Issue 37, p 30- 43.
Goodman, M. A., Dollahite, D. C., Layton, E., & Marks, L. D. (2013). Religious Faith and Transformational Processes in Marriage. Family Relations. Vol. 62, 808-823
Hoffmann, J. P. & Johnson, S. M. (2005). Attitudes toward Abortion among Religious Traditions in the United States: Change or Continuity? Sociology of Religion, Vol. 66, Issue 2, p 161- 182
Lindemann, A. (1995). “Do Not Let a Woman Destroy The Unborn Baby In Her Belly”. Abortion in Ancient Judaism and Christianity. Studia Theologica- Nordic Journal of Theology. Vol. 49, Issue 2.
Patrick, L. (2004). A Christian Philosopher's View of Recent Directions in the Abortion Debate. Christian Bioethics. Vol. 10 (1): 7- 32.
Waltke, B. K. (2006). Reflections from the Old Testament on Abortion. Oxford Journals. Vol. 32, Issue 7, 67- 75
