Can a Christian be Pro-Choice?
By Steve Olree, St. Louis MetroVoice

     Can someone be both a born-again Christian and be “pro-choice,” that is, favor legalized abortion on demand as is currently the law in the United States? When members of my church’s pro-life ministry visited the Hope abortion facility in Granite City, IL they were met by abortion clinic “escorts” holding signs that said “I’m Pro-Choice and I Pray.” Women going into the abortion mill quoted Scripture, claiming that “they were covered by the blood of Jesus” no matter what they do. There is even a Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, which counts several denominations as partners and argues that Jesus was pro-choice.  Is it possible that these “pro-choicers truly are Christians? Some obviously think that they are. I will present a brief argument that a “Pro-Choice” position is inconsistent with Christianity.

     Several questions must be considered to determine if the term “pro-choice Christian” is a contradiction:

1)      What is the act of abortion?
2)      Does the “pro-choice Christian” have access to information about the nature of abortion?
3)      Does this person seek the truth, or is he rejecting the truth?
4)      What does the Bible say about human life?
5)      Does the “pro-choice Christian” understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has he been born again of the Holy Spirit?

   
To whom do they pray?
     In the discussion that follows, it is assumed that the person in question is a mature Christian. It is conceivable, and even likely that a recently converted person may still retain some of his worldly views. But as the process of sanctification through the Holy Spirit progresses and a follower of Christ grows in his faith, it would be expected that a Christian’s views would change to conform to the Will of God.

What is abortion?
     Abortion is clearly the killing of an unborn human baby. Even many abortionists and abortion advocates now admit this undeniable fact. The advancements in medical imaging and diagnostic technology the last few decades have given us a view into the womb that was not available in 1973, when Roe v. Wade was decided. The unborn baby can be demonstrated to be a separate human life, with his own genetic DNA code apart from that of his mother. He happens to be located in the womb, to be dependent on his mother as any human baby, and may be very small. But he is not “part of the woman’s body,” or a “clump of tissue,” he is a human being.
     "I have been there, and I have seen these totally formed babies as early as ten weeks... with the leg missing, or with their head off. I have seen the little rib cages..." as told by former abortion worker Debra Harry, quoted in the film Meet the Abortion Provider (1989).

Is this information readily available and does the “pro-choice Christian” seek the truth?
     Information about the act of abortion and the status of the unborn is readily available to anyone who sincerely desires to know the truth. Countless books, articles, videos and websites have been written on the subject, and thousands of hours of programming on Christian radio have been dedicated to explaining this basic truth. Some sources are listed at the end of this article.  As noted earlier, it may be possible for a new Christian to have immature or uninformed conscience. We are concerned here about someone who has rejected the truth in favor of his or her own desires.
     And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  (2 Thess. 2:10)
      When someone is born again and receives the Holy Spirit, they receive the “love of the truth.” This does not mean that they will suddenly have all truth revealed to them. Rather, they will have an urgent desire to seek the truth through the Word, to pray for discernment and to seek out Godly teachers. .Is this truly characteristic of the “pro-choice Christian?” Only the Lord can judge the true state of someone’s heart, but we are told that “So then, you will know them by their fruits”. (Matt. 7:20)  An important question here for a person who considers himself to be both “pro-choice” and Christian is to ask himself “Am I seeking God’s truth in this area, or have I closed my mind to the reality of abortion?”

What does the Bible say about human life?
      Of course, we have to ask what is our source of truth. For the Christian, it must be God’s Word The Bible is quite clear in its teaching that human life is precious because it is created by God in His image-man has no authority to kill an innocent human being, because it is an attack against God Himself.
     Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:26-27)
     Human life begins at conception, in the womb: ”Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."  (Jer. 1:5 ) See also Ps. 139:13-16, Gen. 25:22, Hosea 12:3, Luke 1:41
     Murder is specifically forbidden: “You shall not murder.” (Ex. 20:13)
     “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,” (Prov. 6:16-19) Other references include Deut. 27:25, Ex. 20:13, Ex. 21: 22-25, Ps. 127:3
     Not only are we told that God hates “hands that shed innocent blood,” we are actually instructed to intervene and intercede. We are not just to stand by, but to take an active role to stop the slaughter of the innocent. “Deliver those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?”  (Prov. 24:11-12)  See also Ps. 82:3-4

 You shall know them by their fruit
     Sometimes that is a tendency to skip over difficult passages in Scripture that challenge us rather than comfort us. But we are to take heed of the full counsel of God.
     “I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.”  (John 15:5-10)
      “The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4)
     “Not every one that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:21-23) 
     According to Scripture, some marks of saving faith in Jesus Christ are a love of the truth, a desire to walk in obedience to Christ, and a changed life. If someone is holding on to views about abortion as a defense mechanism against guilt over a past abortion, there is a solution. Jesus Christ takes that sin upon Himself. He has already paid the penalty for our sins, and we can partake of His mercy, healing and forgiveness if we will believe in Him and trust Him enough to confess, repent, and submit our will to His will. There is hope and healing in Christ!

Additional information
     Due to space restrictions, this material has been condensed. Each of the main points of this argument could be expanded into an article of its own, and may in the future.  If you are unsure of your own position, please study the issue. Below are some sources for further information:

http://www.abortionfacts.com/online_books/online_books.asp contains two excellent on-line books: Why Can't We Love Them Both?   Written by a doctor, this book is a good source on abortion and related issues. Abortion and the Christian: What Every Believer Should Know is also informative. Additionally, the parent website,

Http://www.abortionfacts.com is helpful.

The website for Stand to Reason http://www.str.org/.

Http://www.prolife.com/ has pictures of the unborn in the womb.

Http://www.antiabortionsigns.com/ has pictures and posters of aborted babies that can be viewed and ordered.