PART 4: IS ABORTION EVER OK?
Let’s look more closely at some difficult situations discussed in the reading for this week. This is not a legal argument but a biblical one. Some situations appear very gray at first glance. Let’s look deeper.
The first one we will look at is Rape or Incest Resulting in Pregnancy – Both are traumatic events, but now we have an innocent 3rd party. One trauma does not delete another trauma. Many women who experience both feel that abortion is a much worse trauma. Let me explain.
a) Rape or incest is one severe trauma. Abortion is an entirely SEPARATE trauma. The woman is a victim in BOTH cases. There are some who would argue that the woman is not a victim in abortion because it is “chosen.” However, she is indeed a victim because, in most cases, she was deceived into thinking abortion would solve her problem and she was not given all the facts.
b) The woman who has an abortion resulting from pregnancy due to rape or incest is now not only a VICTIM, with all the horrendous effects of one abuse, but she is the PERPETRATOR of abuse, the taking of her child’s life. It is abuse upon abuse. Devastation upon devastation.
c) Many times, it is in caring for her baby that she can OVERCOME the trauma of the rape. Those who naively choose abortion following the trauma of rape learn quickly and silently that their pain is now much worse because of the abortion trauma. But most would have no idea of where to begin processing that or healing from it. d) Giving birth to a child conceived in rape is “the only REDEMPTION of such a horrific and violent act.”
The second situation we will look at is Bad Timing where Abortion is used as Birth Control – This is the main source of early term abortion and completely unreported as such. It is used increasingly in marriage – around twenty-five percent of abortions. It happens because of pressure by husbands or circumstances. Having babies suddenly became OPTIONAL—even in marriage. But, married or single, the same consequences of abortion remain.
a) Plan B One-Step (The Morning-After Pill, Emergency Contraception) is not considered abortion by the medical industry who has changed the definition of conception from fertilization to IMPLANTATION.
Abortion by Plan B is completely unreported. The IUD and any hormonal BC method can cause abortion. The embryo is not an “it” but a “who” – therefore, this is an abortion.
b) If the egg has been fertilized, then a life has been taken. This is considered abortion because it happens after true CONCEPTION. (Though the manufacturer says it does not cause abortion.)
Side effects can be harsh for some, with cramping, nausea, headache, dizziness, and vomiting.
Plan B One-Step is more insidious than other forms of abortion because of the woman will never know for sure if she ended the life of her own baby or not. You can’t really grieve the loss of a “possible” baby. The woman may grieve a baby that was never conceived – false grief.
c) The only purpose of taking Plan B is NOT to be pregnant. It takes the life of up to 7 out of 8 babies who would have survived without it. The mental health effects can be dramatic as with any form of abortion.
d) In 2014 it became available over-the-counter for ANY age.
Let’s look at Other Forms of Birth-Control
a) IUD’s do not prevent the RELEASE of eggs and rarely prevent conception (fertilization).
b) They cause INFLAMMATION in the uterus, making an already formed embryo unable to implant. At this stage, the DNA unique to this tiny human already exists, the gender has already been determined, the race, as well as eye and hair color and even personality.
c) What is expelled from the body is no longer a something but a someONE.
d) The Pill or any HORMONAL method of contraception can cause abortion. Embryos can still be formed and then harmed by the hormones and expelled in a “spontaneous” abortion.
Here is an often confusing situation for parents. Fetal Anomalies where Something is Wrong with the Baby – Abortion in any case is playing God, deciding who should liv e and who should not. This case is no exception. We are all created in His image. Ability/Disability does not determine value, only hardship. Killing the weakest among us threatens all of us. Eliminating “hardship” results in serious problems personally and universally.
a) Even if a baby has physical or intellectual disabilities, is it up to us to play GOD and decide whether they live or die?
b) Do our abilities or disabilities determine value of life? Why would we kill them just because of their DISABILITY? We do it because we’re not thinking clearly.
c) In the case of fatal birth defects in which the baby may die before or shortly after birth, perinatal HOSPICE is available. It involves continuing the pregnancy till labor begins, giving birth in a setting of comfort and support, until natural death occurs. God chooses time of death. No guilt for taking a life. There is opportunity to properly honor and mourn the loss of the baby.. It is confusing to grieve over a death you perpetrate.
What about a Risk to the Mother’s Life? – This is Playing God again. It is extremely rare but worth discussing.
Let me give you an example that explains the problem with this. Let’s say a mother is out walking with her 2 year-old and they arrive at some train tracks. A train is coming, and the girl runs onto the tracks. The mom doesn’t stand there thinking, I’m not going to risk my life for that! No, she risks her life to save daughter – this is instinct.
Abortion goes against God-given INSTINCT.
a) A Tubal (ectopic) Pregnancy is the only instance in which the baby has no chance at life and the mother will CERTAINLY die if the baby is not removed.
b) The argument to justify abortion to save the life of the mother began as a “SMOKESCREEN” for the pro- choice movement.
c) “Even in cases such as a fatal illness, like cancer or leukemia, abortion would be unlikely to PROLONG, much less save life” This is a Quote by C Everett Coop, Surgeon General of the US in the 80’s.
A mom, dad, and grandparents will likely endure all the same psychological effects of abortion regardless of the reason for it. Perhaps even more.
There is no guarantee that a pregnancy will END a mother’s life or that an abortion will RAISE her chance of life.
The only guarantee in any abortion is that the baby WILL die.
Late-term abortion is NEVER required to save the life of the mother. Let God be God but understand the conflict a mom might feel – Extreme pressure.
Please enjoy your time redeeming the stories you have read so that similar stories can be redeemed because we have learned how to better address them. Then I’ll see you back for Session 4.
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