The possibility of overturning Roe v. Wade has caused an uproar, and some of it reveals the absurdity of the pro-abortion argument. Protest signs such as “Abortion is a human right” and “Abortions save lives” would be laughable if they weren’t so tragic. And hearing protesters chant, “Thank God for abortion” is an affront to a holy God.
Then there’s the spin. Pro-abortion politicians and pundits talk about “women’s healthcare” being set back; and our president called the possible overturn “really quite a radical decision.” In other words, more radical than killing over 63 million babies! But that’s the absurdity of the pro-abortion argument—they’re claiming the moral high ground. It’s crucial for believers to think biblically, not just emotionally. So, here are three ways the Bible sheds light on the issue.
An Uncontrolled Spirit
Abortion advocates argue for a woman’s right to control what happens to her own body. But a fundamental lack of control is the root problem. There’s a huge difference between God’s design for physical intimacy and “following after their own lusts” (2 Peter 3:3). Our culture views sexual satisfaction as life’s ultimate pleasure. So, mocking biblical morality opens the door to act on whatever their bodies desire.
This moral death spiral started picking up speed with the sexual revolution of the 1960’s. Music and movies began expressing new attitudes, promoting sex as just a physical act of pleasure. Confining sex to marriage was suddenly viewed as restrictive. Ideas, attitudes, and actions that seemed radical in the 60’s now permeate our culture as the norm.
Of course, the natural outcome of increased sexual activity is an increase in pregnancies. So our government makes abortion seem normal by calling it women’s reproductive healthcare. The result is predictable—the majority of women having abortions are single and in their 20’s.
A Calloused Mind
Those who passionately advocate for abortion cannot do so without first becoming callous. Redefining sin is always dangerous because it warps our thinking. It’s hard to imagine how twisted a person’s mind has to become in order to actually perform an abortion. They’re best described as “seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron” (1 Timothy 4:2). In other words, they redefine right and wrong until their conscience is completely dead.
There’s no better example of a dead conscience than abortionist Leah Torres. Back in 2018, she bragged on Twitter about cutting preborn babies’ vocal cords so they couldn’t scream. You see, saying that a baby is a fetus, or calling abortion women’s healthcare doesn’t change what actually happens in that room.
Torres also reveals the absurdity of redefining abortion as women’s healthcare. In December of 2021 the abortion facility under Torres’ direction was cited for using rusty and unsanitary surgical equipment. This came after “the death of one woman and horrific injuries to another.” Yes, redefining sin is always dangerous because a seared conscience is hazardous to everyone around it.
A Cold Heart
Tolerating evil also results in cold, hard hearts. Matthew 24:12 says, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” Our sensitivity to God—or lack thereof—impacts our sensitivity to others. Because society rejects God’s authority, people do whatever they think is right (Judges 21:25). Consequently, our treatment of one another has become subjective, including how we treat the unborn. And sin always spirals downward.
We can easily trace this downward trend in abortion. They’ve moved from saying that a fetus is only a group of cells, to questions of viability, to partial birth abortions. But what some states are proposing spirals even further. Both California and Maryland intend to decriminalize neglecting newborns to death, days or even weeks after birth. Even the wording in these bills is cold, referring to perinatal death “related to a failure to act.” To be clear—that’s letting a newborn starve to death.
Final Thoughts
The absurdity of the pro-abortion argument is undeniable when examined by the truth of God’s Word. Why then do so few Christians actively engage on the issue? We cannot avoid talking about abortion just because it’s unpleasant. In fact, that’s exactly why we should talk about it. Jesus values children highly (Luke 18:16). So it’s incumbent upon His followers to defend these little ones by standing up and speaking up—together.