Abortion

By Roz Diamond.

Following a recent debate on abortion, I gave the subject much thought, and, in this article, I aim to consolidate my views on the subject.

First of all, there is no doubt that abortion is murder. It is a medical fact that a human being begins to exist at conception, and then grows and develops continuously before birth. Therefore, in an ideal society, the time limit for an abortion would be nil, i.e. no abortions whatsoever would be carried out.

We have to accept the fact, though, that we do not live in an ideal society, and that people do have freedom of choice. God has given us all free will - the right to either follow His own plan for us or to go our own way. Therefore, there will always be women who want an abortion, and , if abortion was completely banned, a considerable number of dangerous, back street abortions would, as the pro-abortionists rightly claim, still be carried out.

We have to therefore come to a compromise with the pro-abortionists. The present time limit for an abortion to be performed is 28 weeks into the pregnancy. That is 7 months. Can you imagine that? Premature babies have been born and survived before that time of a pregnancy. At this time, the baby is fully developed - it only needs to grow a little more before it is born. The earliest time at which a premature baby has been born and survived is 21 weeks, that's just over 5 months. I would say, therefore, that the time limit should be lowered to 20 weeks (preferably less), as most people, if they are honest, would agree that abortion after that time is murder, whether their views are pro or anti abortion.

Now we have considered the rights of the child, let us consider the rights of the woman concerned. So many anti-abortionists argue so much for the rights of the child that they forget about the woman who is carrying the child ( or the father of the child too). This, not surprisingly, angers many pro-abortionists, especially women. Just try and imagine how the woman feels. She could be young, unmarried and short of money. The advent of a pregnancy seems to shatter all her hopes for the future: a career maybe. At the present moment, she does not feel able financially and emotionally to look after a child on her own; she may know also that it would be impossible (for various reasons) to marry the father of the child. What does she do? This seemingly impossible situation preys on her mind; she considers all the possibilities: having the baby and bringing it up herself seems impossible, having the baby adopted seems difficult too: she might not want to give it away if she actually gives birth to it, so getting rid of the child, pretending that she was never pregnant in the first place seems to be the best answer. But is it really?

So many women testify of the trauma they go through following an abortion: intense feelings of grief and guilt at having killed their baby. Others are damaged, emotionally or physically, by the actual operation, which in itself is traumatic. Yet other women say they feel only relief and no guilt, yet the effects of an abortion can have a detrimental effect even years later. Some women, twenty years after having an abortion, say that the memory of that child they killed still preys on their mind and not a day goes past without them thinking of what kind of a person their child may have grown up to be.

Abortion is not always solely the woman's decision: a lot of women are put under pressure to have an abortion by their boyfriends, husbands or parents.

It is clear that women with "unwanted pregnancies" face a terrible dilemma, with seemingly no way out but abortion. We need to help these women by telling them that there is another solution to their problems: Jesus. He does not reject them as others may do if they don't have an abortion, but He offers forgiveness for their sins and a new life with Him, in which He will show them how they can cope with bringing up their child whatever the circumstances. Jesus does not offer us an easy way out (in the short term, abortion is probably a lot easier), but he shows us what is right and what is pleasing to God. If we ask Him, He gives us the strength to do that, no matter how hard it may seem. We all have to bear the consequences of our own actions, whether we are Christians or non-Christians; it isn't easy for any of us in the short term. However if we know that we are doing what God wants and if we are relying on Him, we can look forward to eternal life. For women who have already had abortions, God still offers them peace and forgiveness if they come to Him, saying that they are truly sorry for their actions.

We, as Christians, therefore should be compassionate to our fellow human beings, listening to their problems, praying for them and sharing with them the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. We should not be storming abortion clinics whilst an abortion is in progress. That would only rightly lead to animosity and make pro-abortionists even more determined to campaign for unlimited abortions on demand.

As a footnote, I would like to add that before I became a Christian, I supported abortion. Even a while after, I remember feeling angry when some very anti-abortionist Christians discussed the subject. I then, however, realised that if God could have a wonderful purpose for my broken and shattered life up to the age of 18, (I was an unwanted child), then He must have plans just as wonderful for all those "unwanted" children out there. God is supreme; He knows what He is doing; He cares about us too: "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

What greater security and hope is there in life than knowing that God loves you?

All articles are (c) their respective authors, and appeared in, or were submitted for the Christian Friendship magazine published in Immingham, England, 1989-1990.
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