rescue

The Overturning of Roe v. Wade and a Biblical View of Life

On Friday June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization. An unprecedented leak at the Supreme Court earlier this year anticipated the ruling that recently came down. Abortion has divided the United States politically like few other issues have ever done.

That division is unsurprising. Many who are pro-life believe that life begins at conception. The life in the womb is unique with his/her own set of DNA, heartbeat, brain activity, and ability to feel pain. If life occurs at conception, then life should be defended and protected regardless of developmental stage.

Many who are pro-choice do not believe that the fetus in the womb is a life, but rather a part of a woman’s body. As a part of her body, the woman should have a right to want or not want the “potential” life she carries.

These two competing viewpoints highlight the division present in our nation. There is no real middle ground or room for compromise between these positions. Since 1973, this division has been growing with each advance in technology that furthers the case that the infant in the womb is alive. The ruling from the Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade is being celebrated by those who are pro-life. The ruling is also being castigated by those who are pro-choice. The recent ruling has only increased the division.

I don’t pretend that this blogpost will heal the division, nor convince many who have a different view than me. I do hope that this post informs and encourages followers of Jesus to think biblically about this issue. Here are some questions that I’m going to try to address. What does the Bible have to say about life and abortion? What should be a Christian response to the recent ruling?

It is important to know that the Bible explicitly addresses life and a biblical view of life, but only implicitly addresses the issue of abortion. A biblical worldview of life must consider the following verses:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:26-27

Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Genesis 9:6

You shall not murder.

Exodus 20:13

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

Because the Bible serves as our authority for life and practice, it must govern our worldview. The biblical worldview is one that credits God as the giver of life. The Bible affirms the view that life occurs at conception. If it is a life in the womb, then it is to be defended and protected.

A culture of life is indelibly present in the biblical worldview is one. This culture of life informs how one should interpret a law in the OT that regards an unintentional miscarriage.

There is a law from Exodus that relates to causing a miscarriage that has been used to justify abortion. Here it is:

“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.Note miscarriage law. Note culture of protecting life.

Exodus 21:22-25

In short, if an unintentional blow caused a miscarriage, but not death to the mother, the offender would be fined. The act was not treated as murder. There is a great difference between an accident that causes miscarriage and the intentional abortion of a baby. Here is a link to a paper discussing this topic for further review.

It is apparent to me that the biblical worldview surrounding conception and humanity is one that values life. While it is true that “abortion” is not specifically addressed in the Bible, it is addressed implicitly. The Bible clearly depicts a culture of life. For the Jews in the Old Testament and Christians in the New Testament, children are a gift from God. Abortion was unthinkable among God’s people in the history of the Bible.

Furthermore, early Christians reflected these biblical values of life over and against a Roman culture that could be described as a culture of death.

Christianity in the first three centuries did not have a political voice within its culture. Even so, early Christians did recognize prevalent Roman practices such as abortion, infanticide, and child abandonment as murder. History shows that as Christianity was legalized, believers were empowered to institute Christian values in the social arena. For example, in A.D. 374 under Christian emperor Valentinian, Rome formally outlawed the practice of infanticide. Christians also sought to restore a high view of marriage and marital fidelity. Furthermore, Christians recognized the evil of pederasty and pedophilia, which were common in the Greco-Roman world. Although centuries passed before women gained equal status with men, nations influenced by the biblical worldview gave women have their highest value and sense of equality. As Christianity developed through the centuries, believers compassionately recognized the need for orphan care, showed concern for the poor and lower classes, and aided the sick.66 Christians may also be credited with building the first hospital. Christian views of humanity differed significantly from the prevailing Greco-Roman values of the day. Followers of Jesus accepted the biblical value of human life, and as they had opportunity, sought to apply biblical principles to social issues.

Chris Hefner, Dissertation: “Analysis of John Stott’s Understanding of Evangelism and Social Responsibility.” Source information for this paragraph came from Alvin Schmidt, How Christianity Changed the World.

In short, Christians have almost always practiced a culture of life that flowed out of a biblical worldview. Today’s pro-life view is historically Christian.

A follow up question to the biblical worldview of life concerns what should Christians do now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned.

Here are some practical considerations for the days ahead.

Christians must be thankful. It is appropriate for Christians to applaud this Supreme Court decision that will no doubt save the lives of the unborn. We must be thankful for the political work done leading to this moment and for the perseverance of the justices to issue this ruling. We must also be thankful to our Lord who cares about life and has heard the prayers of his people on the issue of abortion.

Christians must be realistic. This decision does not “outlaw” abortion. The justices merely stated that a right to abortion was not found in the Constitution. In this sense, the ruling was about as middle ground as one can get. Abortion laws will now be set by each state. Many states will codify abortion much more liberally than now. Other states will limit our outlaw abortion almost altogether. Much work is left to be done.

Christians must be mindful. We would be foolish to think this ruling is a sign that the tides are turning in the culture war in our country. The division, antagonism, dishonesty, and vehemence surrounding this issue reflects that we still live in Babylon. Our nation does not reflect biblical values. We must remain vigilant in prayer, lament, and evangelism seeking God’s intervention in human hearts.

Christians must be gracious. We dare not flaunt in pride and hubris this ruling. More than 64 million babies have been aborted since 1973. We are in no position to parade. There is work to do. On a personal level, there are many around us who disagree with this ruling. There are many around us who far from God. If we want to change people’s minds on this issue or the more important issue of the gospel, then we as followers of Christ must reflect the graciousness of our Lord. Only God can change a human heart. And he uses those who are gracious more effectively than those who are prideful.

Christians must be active. As noted above, Christians have historically cared for the poor and marginalized. Mother Theresa stated regarding the impoverished masses of outcast children in India that “being unwanted” was a most terrible human disease. Based on the way God views us and our world, there are no truly unwanted children. He desires all babies, children, and people to come to himself. And while we may not be able to adopt and rescue the masses, we can care for the individual lives of those around us. Christians must not be content with a mere political voice where we vote “pro-life.” We must actively pursue the provision and rescue of life: in the womb, in an orphanage, in the foster-care system, in nursing facilities, in hospitals, in refugee camps, or any other marginalized place across the world.

In being active, all of us need to pray. Most of us need to give our resources and time to organizations that defend and rescue life. Some of us need to foster, adopt, or give ourselves to mission work that rescues boys and girls, women and men across the world.

We need to be active in embracing the character of our loving Shepherd. We should embody the life-giving love of Jesus, our Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18). We should leave our security to seek after those who are lost and marginalized (Luke 15:1-7).

Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash

A Triumphal Procession: Walking out of slavery and through the sea.

For a number of years now, I’ve used the Robert Murray M’Cheyne reading plan for my devotional Bible reading. This reading plan guides you to read through the Old Testament once a year and the New Testament and Psalms twice a year. One of the greatest benefits I have discovered through this reading plan is seeing the themes of Scripture in different places.

Scripture is repetitive. God reminds us over and over again of his glory and greatness. He reminds us over and over again of our helplessness and need. He reminds us over and over again of his redemptive work. He rescued Israel from slavery in the Old Testament and rescues us from sin in the New Testament. Noticing the interconnectedness of Scripture’s themes is one of the best reasons to read chapters of the Bible from different books regularly.

The other week I was reading Exodus 14 and 2 Corinthians 2. In both places God declares victory and describes his triumph over enemies.

19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.

30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 
31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

Exodus 14:19-20; 30-31

The context here is after God’s judgment on Egypt and Pharaoh through the ten plagues. Pharaoh finally sent Israel away. Moses led the people out of Egypt and toward the wilderness. In front of them was the Red Sea. Behind them were the Egyptian armies who had second thoughts about losing their slave labor. God led them as a pillar of fire and cloud. God protected them. God delivered them by dividing the Red Sea’s waters so Israel could walk over on dry land. God rescued his people and led them out of slavery in a triumphal procession of victory.

In his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul picks up on a similar theme. God leads his people to victory through Christ.

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

In both places God made his works of redemption public. In the Exodus, God revealed his glory to the Egyptians and displayed his works to the nations of Canaan. Rahab and the inhabitants of Jericho heard of the deeds of God’s rescue of Israel (Joshua 2:9-11). In 2 Corinthians, Paul describes our salvation as a triumphal procession and uses the vivid imagery of a fragrance. To those who are being saved, the fragrance of redemption smells of life. But to those who are perishing, it is the fragrance of death. God rescues us and leads us out of sin in a triumphal procession of victory through Christ.

There are three important truths to be gleaned from the theme of redemption as a triumphal procession.

First, God is the One who triumphs. In the Exodus and for the Corinthians, the work of redemption is God’s work. God initiated judgment on Egypt. God sent Moses to lead the people. God caused miracles so Israel would be freed from slavery. In in the New Testament, God initiated our salvation by sending his Son, Jesus Christ. Christ paid for our sins on the cross. Christ rescued us from slavery to sin. And Christ leads us in triumph.

Second, we are the ones who receive the benefit of redemption. God did not ask Israel to participate in her redemption. It was God’s works, miracles, and interventions that rescued Israel. Israel’s response was to receive rescue. It was after their rescue that God gave them the Law (Exodus 20. See specifically verses 1 and 2 where God declared his redemption prior to giving them the commandments). The New Testament is no different. Christ leads us in a procession of triumph. It is his work that saves. Our response is to follow him in victory. Certainly, the OT Law was intended to distinguish Israel from the other nations, and God’s expectations of righteousness are intended to distinguish us from sinners. But these are not works for our redemption. Rather, these are works from our redemption.

Third, God’s work of redemption in us is intended to be public. In both of these texts, God’s work of rescue was intended to be public and known. God doesn’t rescue us merely for our individual benefit. The glory of his saving work is on display in his people. Egypt and the nations of Canaan knew there was something special about Israel’s God. And people around us should know there is something special about the God who has rescued us. Christ is leading us in triumphal procession to be a fragrant aroma of his saving work to the world around us.

Take a moment today and rejoice in God’s saving work. Thank him for taking the initiative to rescue you from sin. Praise him that you have the privilege of redemption. Pray that God will make his work of redemption known to others. Tell someone today what God has done to save you. Let your rescue be public.

You don’t have to fear sharing this good news of rescue and salvation. You don’t have to be afraid of public witness and praise. You are in a triumphal procession led by Jesus Christ. As his people, we are victorious through Christ’s strength and saving work!

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash