Abortion, Right or Wrong?

I will begin by saying that I believe abortion is wrong. I know this to be true based on personal, moral, and biblical perspectives. Every year 21 percent of pregnancies in the U.S. end in abortion. That number reached 983,046 in 2014. On average that is one baby every second being aborted. Since Roe vs. Wade in 1973, the total of abortions in the United States has reached over 57 million. Many make the argument of its pro-choice but it is a selfish choice. Ninety-four percent was based on the sole reason that the mother just did not want the child. Just 3 percent was because of the baby’s health and 3 percent the mother’s health. These are just a few of the statistics recorded by hospitals and clinics. It’s awful to realize how many lives were being taken merely because someone didn’t care. These sheets upon sheets of information and statistics are thought provoking and sad. As a teen I want to take a stand against it for personal, moral, and biblical reasons.

I could have been just another statistic on a doctor’s sheet. I came very close to being a number without a name and not who I am today. You see, when my mom was still carrying my twin brother and me, she was undecided on what to do. Our abortion had been paid for completely by an outside source. One day my birth mother walked into an abortion clinic. She was still undecided so she called her sister. When she answered, my birth mom asked her for advice. Her sister replied with two words. “Get out!” That day I was saved from the path many other people have chosen. My birth mom walked out of that clinic making the decision to do what was best for us even though it was maybe not the best for her at the time. I was adopted into a Christian home with a Baptist pastor for a father. I still remain in close contact with my birth family and to this day I know that my life was greatly affected by someone caring and making the right choice.

Have you ever wondered if abortion is disposing of a living baby or just a bunch of tissue? Here are some facts about the development of a baby. At 18 days a baby’s heart beats. At 8 weeks all organs function. The baby has individual fingerprints at 9 weeks and at 10 weeks a baby can feel pain. Two weeks later the baby can smile. George W. Bush once said “I do not believe the promises of the Declaration of Independence are just for the strong, the independent, the healthy. There are for everyone – including unborn children.” Most media makes people think that abortion is alright and American society believes so too but based on a recent poll 64 percent of Americans believe abortion is morally wrong. Many people have spoken out against it and for it. Ronald Reagan brought it down to a simple statement. Quote: “I’ve noticed that everyone that is for abortion has already been born.” Life starts at the moment of conception. Any medical textbook will give you that answer. 85 percent of women regret their abortion, saying it was followed by pain, sadness, longing, and emptiness. As a teen I don’t know everything there is to know. I’m not even close, but I can see by even just looking at research and hearing stories that from an ethical view it is wrong.

What does the Bible say about it? In reference to pregnant women, the term with child is seen 26 times in the Bible. The term “fetus” is never seen. Jeremiah 1:5 says “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.” Other verses show GOD telling us how we were always alive and in his care. Psalm 139:13, 15 says you knit me in my mother’s womb…nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret. You see the Bible states clearly that we are so precious in His sight. His will is for us to have life, and the chance to know him personally. We often are confused about things such as abortion, but all we must do is look for the answer in GOD’s word. It tells us “thou shalt not kill.” This applies to the unjustified killing of men, women, children, and yes, even unborn babies. GOD clearly states that even in our mother’s wombs He knew us. He cared about us. He wants life, not death, for us.

I’m a teen. I know that adults know more on this subject than I do. But I have many reasons. The solid facts from research. Personal and life defining reason. And best of all, GOD gave us all reasons. You see, everyone can have an opinion. They are entitled to it. Through my research and experiences I believe that I am with the many others on the Pro-Life view. Life means so much more that just one decision to abort a baby. I know that well as I almost suffered very personally from it. We as a society need to come to realize that life is holy and ordained by GOD. It is not up to us to choose to destroy it, or keep it. Many testimonies given by women that had an abortion and then became a Christian realized that GOD would take care of them. We need to stand in support of Pro-Life. It’s what I firmly believe and what many others have and do. I’ll end with this quote. “The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction k is the first and only object of good government.” – Thomas Jefferson

Devotional submitted by:
Micah Mayhak, Maranatha Baptist Academy