(This article also includes a podcast discussion. Click the play button below, or subscribe and listen on your Apple or Android podcast app.)
This series started in an unusual place. Most would expect a Christian to hit the topic of abortion directly from the Bible. However, it was important for us to establish that the unborn are completely human, both in terms of science (link) and logic (link). With that foundation, we can finally see why God would have us value and protect the unborn as much as we should any other human life.
Imago Dei
If we’re going to talk about valuing human life, it’s important to understand why we should care. After all, why would we go so far as to restrict a woman’s right to govern her own body, but have little issue with killing animals for food. What is it about humans that sets us apart as having far more value than anything else in creation?
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)
God made us unique to anything in creation. Not only did He give us dominion and responsibility over what He made, but He created us in His image and likeness. The implications of that are vast, but the bigger idea is significant.
Being made in His image isn’t a reference to our physical forms, because God is spirit (John 4:24). Instead, this carries with it the utter uniqueness of our soul/spirit, something nothing else in creation possesses. In making us like Him, we were given the capacity to choose good and evil, use reason, be capable of love, and a host of other things that set us apart from the rest of His creation.
The value of life
When we discuss the value of life, we need to bear in mind that humans aren’t somehow special because we are more socialized, intelligent, or technologically advanced. Each human life is valuable because it represents the pinnacle of God’s creation. God chose to create us far above animals by being His very image-bearers. Humans have innate value because humans, by design, are reflections of our almighty creator.
As Christians, we want to model our creator not just in how we’re made, but also in what we love. We want to love what God loves and hate what He hates. Thus, we should value human life as much as God does. So let’s consider what He told Noah:
Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man. (Genesis 9:6)
God instituted the ultimate punishment for those who would harm His image-bearers. Notice that His reasoning isn’t for deterrence, cruelty, or anything related to social order. He simply states that murderers will be put to death because they are destroying the image of God.
We see similar regard for human life in Exodus 21:28-32. If an animal kills a human, the animal is put to death. If the animal’s owner knew the beast posed a threat to others, he too is put to death for contributing to another’s death. Although God commands death for more than just ending human life, there’s no denying that He loves humans and doesn’t want His image-bearers destroyed unjustly.
No categories of human
As we’ve discussed, there’s no room in a functional worldview for having different levels of personhood. Either a thing is human with innate and absolute value, or it isn’t.
With this understanding, we are able to see why abortion is more than just ending the existence of a fetus. It doesn’t matter what age we end a human life. The level of development, survivability outside its environment, or its mental capacity has no bearing on whether something is an image-bearer of God.
We even see King David, divinely inspired by God, recognizing God’s care about the unborn:
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:13-14)
An unborn child, at any point in development, is human. If it is human, it must be an image-bearer. Therefore, we cannot end that life out of convenience, fear, or any other reason that would be indefensible when it came to killing a person after they were born. A 3-month-old cannot be killed by its mother because it’s considered murder, and we must fight to offer that same protection to all people at all stages of growth, born and unborn alike.
Final Thoughts
As Christians, our worldview must be influenced by the Bible before anything else. Culture, tradition, and even our emotions must be subject to what God reveals to us. If we can clearly see that something is human, then we cannot compromise God’s clear desire to protect that image-bearer from being destroyed.
The world hates God, and those still under the bondage of sin will hate Him and the things He loves. As we’ve seen in recent years, that even extends to the widespread devaluing of human life itself. In a way, we should never be surprised when such a sin-drenched world finds a new form of darkness to glorify.
Yet as Christians, we are no longer God’s enemies and can finally love what He loves. It’s understandable that many Christians may not have considered the personhood of the unborn in a culture that normalizes their extermination. Or perhaps a follower of God may not fully know why humans have such value that they’re worth protecting.
That’s why this series was written. When we are faced with the inescapable reality that an unborn child is as human as a 5-month-old baby, then understand that both children are unique image-bearer of God, what can we do except protect them both equally?
God loves His creation, and especially His image-bearers. Though we could never deserve it, Christ came to be mocked, beaten, and hung on a cross to take the punishment for our crimes against God. As Christians, we understand that and want to live in gratitude and love for God. Often, that will mean being hated because we love good, and we must accept that popularity and loving God will rarely move in the same direction.
When we see a world of darkness, we need to bring light wherever we can. When we have the ability to influence laws, especially when they protect God’s image-bearers, we have the responsibility to do so. Yet this world needs Christ much more than good morals. As we continue our discussions about abortion, whether with Christians or those outside the faith, let us never forget that our ultimate goal isn’t to win battles but to proclaim salvation through Christ and bring glory to our God. A good argument may change someone’s mind, but only Jesus Christ will truly change their heart.
