NORRIS: Abortion issue is central to Christian ethics
Among many churches across our nation Sunday is “Sanctity of Life Sunday.” One of the great debates of our current generations centers on the sanctity of human life and even more specifically, abortion. While abortion has existed from ancient time, it has become presently a volatile legal, social and cultural issue in America due, in part, to the advent of abortion rights and technologies.
Abortion intersects Christian ethics directly with values such as life’s sanctity, rights and justice. The question when life begins is central to the abortion issue. If one embraces a high view of Holy Scripture, then God’s specific revelation holds premier moral authority when evaluating abortion and establishing a basis for human moral status and the sanctity of human life. If not, then the answer to the sanctity of human life and abortion is often answered in radically different ways. Secularists often claim that an embryo is merely “biological life” and does not warrant equal moral status (personhood) with humans. The “right to bodily privacy” often eclipses equal rights for the unborn. Justice based arguments claim that unjust circumstances would ensue were a poverty-stricken woman “forced” to continue a pregnancy that would create overwhelming hardship. Abortion serves as an economic solution to poverty. Such arguments make abortion into a moral good that is being denied to poor women.
Abortion is profoundly important because it impacts the sacrosanctity of human life. Almost nothing is more important for the well-being of humans than deciding how we will value ourselves and others, even the unborn. Life’s blessedness is a strong theme throughout the Holy Scriptures (Genesis 1:26-28, Exodus 20:13, Psalm 139:13, Luke 1:41-44 and 2:16). God is the author, giver and sustainer of life which naturally leads to a strong conviction against any human decision to terminate life. Arguments of a “right to privacy” or a “right to make autonomous moral decisions” have no basis in Scripture. Life is a “gift from God and sign of His grace.” No one has a presumptive right to it and no one has a right to control his or her own body autonomously (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Scriptural support for life and the historic Christian stalwart disapproval of abortion, make a strong case against aborting pregnancies. Justice oriented arguments based upon “quality of life” reasoning should be laid decisively aside. The Christian community should commit itself fully to “quality of life” for all humans across life’s spectrum. Christ’s words and deeds teach that we, His Church, should receive and love all humankind not “terminate” the “unwanted.”
Even though Sunday is “Sanctity of Life Sunday,” every day of the year should be a day to recognize the inviolability of life and express our profound gratitude to God, the giver, creator and sustainer of all life.
