Christian ethics is a moral philosophy that takes its cues from the Bible’s teachings and the instructions of God. When seen through Christian ethics, abortion is exposed for what it really is: a morally and ethically reprehensible practice. While theoretical conversations are essential, considerations of the practical application of Christian ethics are frequently needed in current debates. It might be challenging for people with little training to follow conversations regarding ethical schema. Christian ethics aims to bring the believer’s behavior, character, and goals into harmony with God’s identity in Scripture. This is accomplished by beginning with basic ideas and asking how the believer should carry them out in different settings. The Bible is more than just a guide for moral decision-making; it also provides a coherent narrative of God’s past, present, and future activities on Earth [1]. To be holy as God is holy, Christians must first begin with the Scriptures when considering their moral compass.
For the purposes of this discussion, the word “abortion” refers to the surgical removal of a developing human embryo or fetus from its mother’s uterus. Different perspectives on the morality of the surgery have sparked heated controversy, with many individuals taking opposing stances on the issue as pro-life and pro-choice. Central to this controversy is whether a baby developing within a woman’s womb is a separate entity from the mother or just another part of her. Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court case decided in 1973, legalized abortion in the United States and was hailed by many on the pro-choice side of the debate as a triumph for women’s rights since it recognized a mother’s right to privacy, even with respect to her unborn child [2]. Pro-life advocates, however, think a fetus is a unique human being with inherent rights to life and protection.
Christians believe that a fetus has moral standing because of what it teaches about God’s image in humans. While it is not explicitly stated, some scriptures in the Bible strongly suggest that a fetus is a person. In Psalm 139:13–16, the author suggests that a person’s identity is established before birth and persists throughout their life. The verse states, “because you created my inmost being; your hands stitched me together in the womb. God, I want to thank you since you formed me in such a beautiful and unique way. Your creations are marvelous, and my spirit fully comprehends this. You knew my basic structure even while I was being stitched together in the world’s darkest corners. You saw my material before it was made and recorded in your book each day that it was destined to be mine before it ever existed. To Christians, abortion is morally reprehensible to take the life of a fetus because of the possibility that it may one day be recognized as a person in its own right [3]. According to Exodus 20:13, God has placed a prohibition on killing people.
A woman’s choice to have an abortion is defended on several grounds. The pro-choice movement believes that a fetus is not a unique human being but rather an extension of the mother. The idea that a woman should be free to make choices about her body is often used to support the view that abortion is morally acceptable. This is essential to a woman’s right to privacy under the Constitution, and it was cited by the Supreme Court in the Planned Parenthood v. Casey ruling when the justices spoke about protecting a woman’s freedom to make her own decisions about her body and whether or not to have an abortion. Suppose the fetus is considered a part of the mother’s body rather than a distinct person. In that case, the position that a woman has the right to do anything she wants with her body, including having an abortion, becomes more persuasive.
Bibliography
Hensman, Rohini. “Christianity and Abortion Rights.” Feminist Dissent 5 (2020): 155-182. ttps://doi.org/10.31273/fd.n5.2020.763
McGregor, Alecia J., Robert J. Blendon, and Alan M. Zaslavsky. “Examining Christian views toward the Affordable Care Act: The importance of race and denomination.” Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community 48, no. 1 (2020): 7-28.https://doi.org/10.1080/10852352.2019.1617520
[1] McGregor, Alecia J., Robert J. Blendon, and Alan M. Zaslavsky. “Examining Christian views toward the Affordable Care Act: The importance of race and denomination.” Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community 48, no. 1 (2020): 7-28
[2] Hensman, Rohini. “Christianity and Abortion Rights.” Feminist Dissent 5 (2020): 155-182.
[3] McGregor et al., (2020)
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