"And the LORD gave her conception" (Ruth 4:13).

These words mean – in the language of Psalm 139 – that God knits together every human being in his or her mother’s womb, so that every human being is fearfully and wonderfully made. That statement’s ripple effect is huge. I see it as particularly relevant, in light of the fact that today is the 40^th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Since that Supreme Court decision on Jan. 22, 1973, there have been an estimated 1.5 million abortions, performed each year in the USA.

What do we say?

As Christians, we reject the argument that abortion is a better alternative than giving birth to an unwanted child. We reject it, because there’s no such thing as an unwanted child. I know many people (my wife and I included), who would adopt a child this very moment, if the opportunity were given to them. They would sacrifice finances, comforts, and all else. Let me repeat it: there’s no such thing as an unwanted child.

As Christians, we reject the argument that abortion is a woman’s right to choose. I have no right to choose to drink alcohol and drive a car. I have no right to choose to discharge a firearm in my neighbor’s house. These actions threaten the lives of others. And so, my right to choose is necessarily restricted. The notion that the right to choose trumps the right to live – in the case of abortion – is nonsense.

As Christians, we reject the argument that abortion is a necessary method for controlling world population. The notion that the world is over-populated is a fallacy. The world isn’t over-populated; the world is mismanaged. We lived in Angola in 1992. That country (by itself) has the agricultural capacity to feed all of Africa. So, why doesn’t it? Human overpopulation isn’t the problem. Human depravity is the problem.

As Christians, we affirm that abortion is morally reprehensible. At 3 weeks, a baby’s heart begins to beat. At 6 weeks, a baby has brain waves. At 8 weeks, a baby begins to swallow. At 12 weeks, a baby’s organ systems are functioning. A baby has nails, nerves, eyelids, and fingerprints. At 14 weeks, a baby’s heart pumps several quarts of blood through his or her body. At 18 weeks, a baby is perfectly formed. Yet, at any point during that time (and for many weeks after), it’s legal to terminate that baby.

As Christians, we affirm that abortion confirms what the Bible says concerning our utter darkness. It confirms what Christ declared centuries ago: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning” (Jn. 8:44). Abortion is the termination of a human being, made in the image of God, created for the expressed purpose of exalting, glorifying, and magnifying God. Abortion is, therefore, a direct assault upon God Himself.

As Christians, we affirm that God’s wrath gathers like the waters behind a great damn (Rom. 2:5). The day will come when the damn will break. And yet, we affirm that God is merciful. Christ’s blood is able to wash away each and every stain – no matter how deep.

As Christians, we call upon our government (at all levels) to fulfill its God-given mandate: to protect and preserve human life (Gen. 9; Rom. 13). Our government’s main responsibility isn’t to provide education, establish social programs, ensure retirement savings, strengthen labour unions, sponsor the arts, provide foreign aid, subsidize banks, help the homeless, build houses, establish daycares, or anything like that. Our government’s main responsibility is to protect and preserve human life, based upon this self-evident truth: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”  We judge our elected officials, on that basis.

As Christians, we pray that God would visit us (His people) with days of refreshing, transforming us, so that we might be His agents of transformation. We pray that our society might repent of this great evil.