Thoughts on Being Pro-Life

I was speaking to a friend the other day about the issue and he, representing the opposing view, had some arguments of his own. They were nothing I hadn't heard before, but they got me thinking about what I believed and why so I thought I'd jot those thoughts down before they got lost in the mire that is my mind!

I believe that life begins at conception
Biology is admittedly not my strong-suit. But this I know -- at the moment of conception that child, fetus, zygote, embryo, or whatever you want to call it -- has it's own unique DNA. It distinguishes it from any other part of the mother's body and establishes it as a separate living thing, being supported by the mother's body.

Here's an interesting angle on this thought -- take a newly formed zygote and somehow place it on Mars and find a way to sustain it, within reach of the Mars lander. Once the lander locates that zygote you will hear it trumpeted by every media that human life has been found on Mars. Guaranteed. And if you can put it up there but can't sustain it you will hear the same thing, but that human life HAS existed on Mars. But put that same zygote inside a woman's uterus and it's just another piece of her body. Go figure.

A woman has every right to her body
"My body, my choice!" is sometimes the battle cry. And I agree. A woman can do whatever she wants to do with her body. Tattoo it, pierce it, tan it, bleach it, tone it, fatten it, cut it, shoot it, or even end it. I don't necessarily advocate all of those, but it's her body and she can do it without being prosecuted by the law. But the child within her is not just another part of her body.

From conception it has its own unique DNA. Only eighteen days after conception, the child has its own heartbeat. After 21 days the heart is pumping its own blood, with its own blood type. Six weeks from conception the child has its own brainwaves. Its own unique fingerprints are formed by 14 weeks. By nine weeks, all the systems are in place for the child to sense and feel pain.

Now, again, I don't know much about biology. But I've never met a woman who had two different sets of DNA, two different hearts, two different circulatory systems, two different sets of brainwaves, multiple fingerprints, and, potentially, two different blood types. It's not even that uncommon any more for a "white" woman to give birth to a "black" child -- or vice versa. Or how about if the child is male? Does that woman now have a, um, well, you know! Call it what you want, but that unborn child is not just another part of the woman's body. It is a unique, separate, living being, supported at that time by the mother's body.

What about rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger?
Each are tragic and terribly difficult decisions. But they are completely separate issues. If you accept that the unborn child is a separate and unique human life then there is no question. We are to make every effort to sustain all life, no matter its origins.

Yes, it's terribly difficult for the woman or girl involved -- I've no doubt and don't begin to minimize it. But if the conception is the result of a crime why do we need another victim? Is that child going to be a rapist because its birth-father was? Do all children of criminals become criminals? Do all children of pastors become pastors? No. If we demonize that unborn child then of course the mother will hate that child and be haunted by it every day. But if we treat it for what it is -- a new, innocent, and precious human life -- then it has the potential to be the good that comes from the bad. To paraphrase the Gospels, we can take what was made for evil and make it be for good.

Also, numerous studies have shown that women are likely to suffer psychologically if and when they have an abortion. Would a woman who has already been vicitmized sexually and physically be any less vulnerable to this psychological trauma? Or would they be more likely?

Rape and incest are horrible. I actually wouldn't oppose seeing the death penalty on the table for those crimes. But don't punish this child who had nothing to do with the circumstances of their conception.

How can you be pro-life and support the death penalty? It's contradictory and hypocritical!
No -- actually it's very consistent. I oppose abortion because I believe in and support the sanctity of human life. It is to be protected at all costs. I support the death penalty because the person who may be subject to this penalty has taken a human life. They have definitively violated forever the sanctity of human life. They have disrespected it. Currently the death penalty is only warranted for murder. The person who is executed is executed because they are guilty of the crime of murder. The child who is aborted is guilty of nothing. They are the antithesis of the murderer. They are the epitome of innocence.

And my previous comment about putting the death penalty on the table for rape? I can't think of any other crime that could possibly be worse than murder. Rape has the potential to essentially take a life, without killing the body. It violates the woman's body. It violates her control over her body. It eliminates her choice over what happens with her body. It alters the course of her life. It damages her psychologically, physcially, emotionally and sexually. I don't advocate it for all rapes -- but I do think it should be an option on the table when sentencing is determined. And I think it is totally consistent with being pro-life.

So you're going to put a girl in jail for having an abortion? That's very loving of you, Christian!
No -- the girl seeking the abortion is the victim just the same as the child. I would seek to punish the medical staff who would be conducting the abortion. I see no real difference between the abortion provider and the assisted suicide physician, such as Jack Kevorkian.

I would never seek to levy any punishment or penalty on the woman involved.

If you're so pro-life why don't you offer to take one of these unwanted babies??
I did, and I have. My daughter is adopted. My wife and I were involved with the foster care program in the state of Florida where we fostered several children and eventually adopted our daughter. My sister has an adopted son. I have many Christian and pro-life friends who have adopted. And my mother, and my entire family to varying degrees, have been involved in ministries and service provision to women who find themselves with unwanted pregnancies.

Personally, I'd like to see more Christians and pro-lifers become involved in foster care and adopting children from within the United States. But no one is perfect, and no group is without it's hypocrites. But don't take me or my family to task on this. We do and have done our best to practice what we believe.

You can honestly look at those pictures of an embryo can call them a human being?
Yes. This argument seeks to judge an unborn child based upon their looks. I thought in the day and age where we had a woman contending for President of the United States and we elected an African-American to the position for the first time would be beyond this. So how about the thousands of children born every year with severe birth defects? Those born with missing, malformed or misplace limbs? Those born with organs outside of their bodies? Those born with mis-shaped and malformed faces? How about those who, well into their adult lives, are horribly disfigured by burns, acids, or other horrible events? Those who lose limbs? Are they any less human because they don't look like you or me?


I could go on an on with such arguments. I don't know that I'll change anyone's minds with these, and that's not my intent. Only God can change someone's mind. These are just my thoughts. Take 'em or leave 'em.

Learning

Now that I'm almost six months removed from being divorced, I've been learning many things about how God intends us to live. About how we are supposed to think and the perspectives we are to have. Your feedback and comments, or relevant verses, are appreciated.

I'm learning that it's not about what we want, but what we have. And what we do with what we have.

I'm learning that God doesn't want me to pray for what He can do FOR me. He wants me to pray for what He can do WITH me.

I am not to pray for a better job. I am to pray to do a better job and be a better person at the job I currently have.

I am not to pray for more money or a higher paying job. I am to faithfully state my trust and faith that He will meet my needs. How He does it is up to Him.

I am not to worry about what I do not have. But to be thankful for all the things I do have. God is faithful, His promises are true, and He will take care of my needs.

I'm learning that it's not about what I think or want. And it's not about what others may think or want. It's about what God knows and wants.

It's not about what I want to do with my life. It's about what God wants to do with my life.

It's not about my reputation or what I learn or accomplish in life. It's about what I do for God's glory and for His Kingdom.

I am learning that I need to see people not as the world sees people, and not as they see themselves, but as Christ sees them.

I am learning that the knowledge of man, or woman, is finite and ultimately flawed. But the knowledge of God is perfect and infinite.

I am learning that decisions must be made not with my desires and plans in mind, and not with the desires or plans of others in mind, but with the will of God in mind. I am learning that many, if not most, will not understand that. And I am learning that obedience and faithfulness can be lonely at times.

I am learning that God wants us to be concerned with what we do with what we have -- not to be consumed with what we think we need. He doesn't want us to put off doing things today for what we think will be a better tomorrow. He doesn't want us to see our weaknesses or shortcomings or disadvantages as things that hold us back. He wants us to act in spite of our weaknesses, shortcomings, and/or disadvantages so that when He completes a work in our lives He alone will get the glory and honor. And in that we will receive our reward.

I am learning that sin has consequences. But repentance and confession grant forgiveness and hope.

I am learning that I am very much a sinner. But that I am also very much a child of God.

I am learning that God doesn't view people through titles, prefixes or labels. He sees them through the loving eyes of a Creator. He loves all, regardless of who they are or what they have done. And He expects us to do the same. Whether they are friends or enemies, neighbors or strangers -- we are commanded (not asked) to love them.

I am a father who loves his kids more than anything. And I have a Father who loves us more than anything. I am to love my children as He loves us. I am to disciple my children.

It's not enough that I AM a father. I am tasked to BE a father.

I am learning that what we think to be the easy way seldom is and never works compared to when we do things God's way -- even though God's way may seem more difficult or even impossible. And many times, it is not even fully known.

God's will is perfect. But it is seldom easy. The will and the work of God will be fought and resisted mightily. The greater the work, the greater the resistance. We must take refuge in and draw our strength from His Word and from fellowship with Him and His people. To act alone, or to act with counsel that is not from God, is to exacerbate the difficulties, expand the problems, and lengthen the process. In short, it is to opt for the pain of pride over the peace of obedience.

I am not a changed man. But I am a changing man. I am not a perfect man. In fact, I am painfully aware of my imperfections. I don't want my will for my life. I want only God's. I'm nobody special. But I am a child of God. I still haven't fully learned anything. But I am learning many things. It's a start. And it's a good place to be.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil." Proverbs 3:5-7