The Truth About Abortion

Statistics show that one-third of America’s women will have an abortion by the age of 45. Abortion is one of the most debated topics in today’s society. It is widely discussed whether or not an abortion is murder or not. Many doctors and biologists have agreed that it is indeed killing a living human being. One even says “I think we have deluded ourselves into believing that people don’t know that abortion is killing. So any pretense that abortion is not killing is a signal of our ambivalence, a signal that we cannot say yes, it kills a fetus.” (Faye Wattleton). This controversial topic has seemed to split the world into two sides: for and against. I am against abortion because it harms the baby, has a lasting effect on the mother, and because the Bible teaches pro-life views.

To begin, for some, the simple fact that life begins at fertilization is enough to firmly establish the injustice of abortion. Others may not be so easily convinced. They might argue that even though human embryos and fetuses are human beings, they are not developed enough to be morally significant. At the moment of fertilization, a new and unique human being comes into existence with its own distinct genetic code. Three weeks after fertilization, the heart starts beating and the brain begins dividing into the three primary sections. At six weeks, the developed brain begins to emit measurable brain impulses, causing them to be able to feel pain, and every organ is in place by eight weeks of age. In 2011, about 64.5% of abortions were performed around eight weeks’ gestation, and nearly all were performed by 13 weeks’ gestation. In some rare cases, procedures were even performed at 21 weeks’ gestation. Every new life begins at conception. This is an irrefutable fact of biology. When an abortion is performed there is no arguing that it destroys life, the life of a baby has its own genetic code, a beating heart, and a working brain.

Secondly, abortion does not only hurt the baby, but the mother as well. Millions of American women have aborted a child or children. The pain, loss, and emotional need to justify what was done is strong and deep. Countless individuals and families are suffering because of abortion. There are so many testimonies online that tell of how people regret their decisions and live with guilt. One testimony came from a 53-year-old woman living in Phoenix, Arizona. She sated that she is “currently a pro-life person-not because of religious views or a clearly-defined sense of right and wrong, but because I have lived with the results of abortion for over thirty years now.” When she was in her twenties she had three abortions, causing her to have fertility problems in the future. Because of infertility, she now has no family left, no children or grandchildren, her “selfish actions have wiped out an entire generation.” She lives with guilt and regrets, and was even medically depressed, as most women who have abortions are. Today, people try to differentiate between late-term abortions and early abortions. But really there is no difference. She goes on to say that “all (my abortions) were performed early in the pregnancy. Does that mean I somehow am less guilty of destroying life than someone who waits longer? It really doesn’t matter when the abortion is performed; the abortion ends the life, even when it doesn’t “look” like the baby destined for the world. Abortion is absolutely about a woman’s right to choose. It’s just that the choice has consequences, and the immediate freedom an abortion provides comes with a  price tag that must be paid later, one way or another.” Besides living with guilt, regret, and often times depression, mothers can also be alarmed with infertility and sometimes death. From 1973-2010, approximately 421 women have died from legal abortions. (CDC)

Lastly, though the Bible does not plainly say “abortion is wrong”, there are many passages that support this idea. One that comes to mind is one of the ten commandments “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13) This verse is a commandment from God, and when abortion is performed, an unborn child is killed. God created us in His image and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. His Word says that “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in m mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfected; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16). The miracle of life is a gift from the Great Creator, not just meant to be thrown away.

In conclusion, physicians, biologists, and other scientists agree that conception marks the beginning of the life of a human being – a being that is alive and is a member of the human species. There is overwhelming agreement on this point in countless medical, biological, and scientific writings (official Senate report). No matter what the circumstances of conception, no matter how far along in the pregnancy, abortion always ends the life of an individual human being, harms the mother both emotionally and physically, and goes against the Bible’s teachings.

Devotional submitted by:
Autumn Colosky, Maranatha Baptist Academy
3rd place winner of the 2015 BFLW Essay Contest