Question: "Why should Christians be pro-life?"
Answer: The term pro-life is generally defined as “opposed to abortion”; sometimes, an opposition to euthanasia is also mentioned as part of the definition. Christians are pro-life—and they should be—but most of them would rather be known for what they stand for rather than what they oppose. Here are some reasons why Christians are pro-life:
Life is a gift from God. Jesus taught that “the Father has life in himself” (John 5:26). God is the source and sustainer of life. “The earth was formless and empty” until the Spirit began “hovering over the waters” and God began creating life (Genesis 1:2). When He made Adam, God formed the body and then had to vivify the body in a special work that only God Himself could perform: “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person” (Genesis 2:7, NLT). Christians are pro-life because all of God’s gifts should be cherished, including the gift of life.
Life begins at conception. Several passages of Scripture indicate that life begins at conception, not at some arbitrary time later (see Psalm 139:13, 16; Exodus 21:22–23; Jeremiah 1:5). Medical science concurs, and an abundance of data is available (see Moore, Keith, Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology, Saunders, 2008, p. 2; Sadler, T., Langman’s Medical Embryology, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 10th ed., 2006, p. 11; and Krieger, Morris, The Human Reproductive System, Sterling Pub., 1969, p. 88). Christians are pro-life because life is life, regardless of a person’s location, size, or capabilities.
Human life bears the image of God. Life is a gift, and human life is unique in that God made mankind in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). That fact gives an inherent dignity and value to human life. The man and woman God created on the sixth day were the pinnacle of creation, and after God made them, He ceased from His creative work. God gave the couple dominion over all other created things (Genesis 1:26, 28). As marvelous and awe-inspiring as other parts of creation are, humanity outclasses them all. As the psalmist says, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Christians are pro-life because all humans bear the image of God.
The innocent should be protected. Taking up the cause of the innocent and those who cannot fend for themselves is a common theme in Scripture (see Exodus 23:7; Proverbs 6:16–17; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3). It is hard to imagine someone more innocent or less capable of self-defense than a baby in the womb. Christians are pro-life because they have a moral responsibility to protect the weak and innocent.
God has plans for each individual. God told the prophet Jeremiah, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God did the forming of Jeremiah, but even before that, Jeremiah was known, set apart, and appointed. The apostle Paul had a similar testimony (Galatians 1:15). Christians are pro-life because there are no “accidents” or mistakes in God’s plan.
Everyone has the right to live. As life is a gift from God, no one else is entitled to take life away. It is the Lord who gives and the Lord who takes away (see Job 1:21). God’s furnishing of life to every person means that life is a basic human right—no right is more basic. Christians are pro-life because they believe in the right to life; they respect God’s decisions and do not want to play God.
What God thinks is most important. Social pressure, human opinion, civil laws, and political tides are not what delineate truth. What God says in His Word takes precedence over what anyone else says or thinks. Christians are pro-life because, ultimately, they have to answer to God alone.
Christians are grateful for all of God’s gifts. And they love Jesus, who called Himself “the life” (John 11:25; 14:6). It’s only natural, then, for Christians to be pro-life. To love Jesus is to love life.
Life is a gift from God. Jesus taught that “the Father has life in himself” (John 5:26). God is the source and sustainer of life. “The earth was formless and empty” until the Spirit began “hovering over the waters” and God began creating life (Genesis 1:2). When He made Adam, God formed the body and then had to vivify the body in a special work that only God Himself could perform: “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person” (Genesis 2:7, NLT). Christians are pro-life because all of God’s gifts should be cherished, including the gift of life.
Life begins at conception. Several passages of Scripture indicate that life begins at conception, not at some arbitrary time later (see Psalm 139:13, 16; Exodus 21:22–23; Jeremiah 1:5). Medical science concurs, and an abundance of data is available (see Moore, Keith, Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology, Saunders, 2008, p. 2; Sadler, T., Langman’s Medical Embryology, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 10th ed., 2006, p. 11; and Krieger, Morris, The Human Reproductive System, Sterling Pub., 1969, p. 88). Christians are pro-life because life is life, regardless of a person’s location, size, or capabilities.
Human life bears the image of God. Life is a gift, and human life is unique in that God made mankind in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). That fact gives an inherent dignity and value to human life. The man and woman God created on the sixth day were the pinnacle of creation, and after God made them, He ceased from His creative work. God gave the couple dominion over all other created things (Genesis 1:26, 28). As marvelous and awe-inspiring as other parts of creation are, humanity outclasses them all. As the psalmist says, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Christians are pro-life because all humans bear the image of God.
The innocent should be protected. Taking up the cause of the innocent and those who cannot fend for themselves is a common theme in Scripture (see Exodus 23:7; Proverbs 6:16–17; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3). It is hard to imagine someone more innocent or less capable of self-defense than a baby in the womb. Christians are pro-life because they have a moral responsibility to protect the weak and innocent.
God has plans for each individual. God told the prophet Jeremiah, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God did the forming of Jeremiah, but even before that, Jeremiah was known, set apart, and appointed. The apostle Paul had a similar testimony (Galatians 1:15). Christians are pro-life because there are no “accidents” or mistakes in God’s plan.
Everyone has the right to live. As life is a gift from God, no one else is entitled to take life away. It is the Lord who gives and the Lord who takes away (see Job 1:21). God’s furnishing of life to every person means that life is a basic human right—no right is more basic. Christians are pro-life because they believe in the right to life; they respect God’s decisions and do not want to play God.
What God thinks is most important. Social pressure, human opinion, civil laws, and political tides are not what delineate truth. What God says in His Word takes precedence over what anyone else says or thinks. Christians are pro-life because, ultimately, they have to answer to God alone.
Christians are grateful for all of God’s gifts. And they love Jesus, who called Himself “the life” (John 11:25; 14:6). It’s only natural, then, for Christians to be pro-life. To love Jesus is to love life.
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