The Potential of a Life-Josiah Chesley
Abortion is an issue that plagues humanity, not only in America, but across the globe. To many people, the issue of abortion seems distant, as if only a political issue. Startling problems begin to arise when one digs deeper and stumbles across the statistic that nearly one in four women have an abortion by the time they are forty-five (Guttmacher 5). Abortion not only terminates the life and potential of an innocent child, but it also damages the mother.
Many pro-choice individuals will make the argument that the clump of cells forming inside of a woman is not yet a person; there are no defining characteristics of a human during the first weeks of a pregnancy. The idea of an undeveloped fetus being an insignificant clump of cells is challenged by the biblical view that every person is known and valued by God before birth. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” This verse emphasizes God’s intimate knowledge of every individual from the beginning of their existence. Similarly, Psalm 139:13-16 describes God’s role in forming us in the womb and His awareness of all our days before they come to pass. These verses nullify any argument stating that God does not care about the unborn fetus in a womb; God has a plan for all babies, even before the mother knows she is pregnant. Jeremiah 1:5 is a powerful passage that brings God’s control into focus.
Humans can always trust in God’s sovereignty. The story of Cristiano Ronaldo, a professional soccer player, is an excellent example. When Cristiano’s mother found out that she was pregnant with him, she turned to abortion as a last resort. Their family was already poor enough; how was she supposed to support and nurture another child? Doctors at the local hospital persuaded her to avoid having an abortion and comforted her concerns. Even though she may not have been happy at the time, she could never have imagined how grateful she would be when her son grew up (Eurosport 1). Now, looking at the present day, Christiano has become a role model to millions of kids and adults because his mom was convinced to save him. Children are a gift to parents, however, the gift of parenthood can be overlooked just as easily as the gift of salvation. When a pregnant woman decides to have an abortion procedure, she never knows the potential her child could have. Parents who do not have a guiding force like the Bible have nothing keeping them accountable to love and nurture their children (Psalm 127:3). Approximately three thousand babies are killed in the United States every day, which is about one every thirty seconds (WRTL 1). So much opportunity and potential talent is voided when a woman decides to have an abortion procedure.
Abortion not only ends the life of an innocent child, but it can also severely harm the mother. Most times, the media declines to report on procedure after-effects, but having an abortion can cause severe mental damage and regret. Some women have reported serious psychological effects after their abortion, including depression, grief, anxiety, lowered self-esteem, regret, attachment, flashbacks, and substance abuse. These emotions may appear immediately after an abortion or gradually over a longer period of time (Abraham 2). When a woman is carrying a child, her natural instinct is to care for that baby. Even though she may not want the responsibility that comes with having a young child, a mother is designed to care. When the world convinces women to avoid childbearing responsibilities, humans are ruining God’s perfect system. Studies of women in the United States, Italy, and Finland show that women who proceed with an abortion have up to six times the risk of suicide within a year compared to women who give birth. This risk increases with multiple abortions. Additionally, women who undergo the procedure have a significantly higher rate of death from violent causes. Together with an elevated risk of death from other stress related illnesses, National Record Linkage studies demonstrate that each abortion increases the risk of premature death by fifty percent (Lozier 2).
Media and politics often portray abortion as something that empowers women to be independent and make their own choices. However, the statistics tell a different story. Not only can a woman’s mental health be tested by an abortion procedure, but the mother’s womb was not designed to be tampered with. When the element of human error is introduced into God’s perfect creation, accidents are waiting to happen. God uses every human being as a working part in His plan. He knew each child before they started forming and when that baby is killed, humans have removed that child’s gifts from ever making an impact on society. Regardless of what our secular culture might promote, Christians find evidence that God creates and cares for unborn babies just as much as other humans.
Works Cited
Louisiana Department of Health. “Abortion Risks.” Louisiana Department of Health, 2024, https://ldh.la.gov/page/abortion-risks#:~:text=Some%20women%20have%20reported%20serious,a%20longer%20period%20of%20time.
U.S. Congress. “January 10, 2024, House Education and Workforce Committee Hearing.” Congress.gov, 2024, https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/116708/documents/HMKP-118-ED00-20240110-SD004.pdf.
Eurosport. “Cristiano Ronaldo’s Mother: ‘I Wanted an Abortion, but God Said No.'” Eurosport, 2015, https://www.eurosport.com/football/liga/2014-2015/cristiano-ronaldos-mother-i-wanted-an-abortion-but-god-said-no_sto4979169/story.shtml.
Guttmacher Institute. “Induced Abortion in the United States.” Guttmacher Institute, 2024, https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-united-states#:~:text=Approximately%20one%20in%20four%20women,45%2C%20given%202020%20abortion%20rates.&text=According%20to%20data%20from%20the,14%20weeks’%20gestation%20or%20later.
Wisconsin Right to Life. “Abortion Statistics.” Wisconsin Right to Life, 2024, https://wisconsinrighttolife.org/abortion-statistics-2/.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/versions/King-James-Version-KJV-Bible/
Submitted by Josiah Chesley