Theology Thursday: Why do Christians oppose abortion?

Welcome to Theology Thursday! Theology is the study of God, his relation to the world, and our relation to him. I hope these newsletters help enhance your faith and deepen your love for God and his people, the church.

Today's question:
Why do Christians oppose abortion?

Pastor Brady's thoughts:
You don’t need me to tell you that abortion is a big deal in the public discourse in America. It touches matters of life and death, freedom and responsibility, justice and compassion, politics and law. It’s also a big deal in the homes and hearts of the families who have experienced abortion - for the women who have chosen to have them, and for their loved ones. If this is part of your story, you likely know how deeply emotional and painful and difficult it was at the time and continues to be. 

All that to say, I hope my tone here is clear but not combative. I’m not looking to beat anyone over the head for their past, but I do want to offer some clarity about why Christians believe abortion is wrong. 

At the heart of the Christian faith is a simple but profound truth: every human being is made in the image of God. From the opening pages of scripture, we learn that human life is not an accident of biology but a sacred gift. To bear God’s image means that each person has inherent worth, not because of what they can do, achieve, or contribute, but simply because God is the creator and giver of life. He says it matters, so it has to matter to us. 

This conviction shapes how Christians think about the unborn. Modern science has only deepened what believers have long affirmed: from the earliest moments of development, a new human life exists with distinct DNA and a unique genetic identity. A developing body that, if not interrupted, will grow through the natural stages of human life—embryo, fetus, infant, child, adult. The unborn are not potential humans; they are humans with potential.

Some argue that personhood depends on certain abilities—self-awareness, independence, or viability outside the womb. But Christians have historically rejected the idea that value depends on capacity. A newborn cannot reason. A person in a coma cannot function independently. The elderly may lose cognitive abilities. Yet we do not measure their worth by what they can do, we protect them precisely because they are vulnerable.

The unborn child is the most vulnerable among us—hidden, voiceless, and fully dependent. Scripture consistently portrays God as the defender of the weak. To follow Christ is to care for those who cannot defend themselves. For Christians, opposing abortion does not need to be primarily about politics or culture wars, but about protecting innocent life. This is, necessarily, political and cultural. But our goal isn’t first to win elections or pass laws, but to win hearts and minds to see that life is precious and worth protecting. 

There is also a moral logic at work. If it is wrong to intentionally end the life of an innocent human being, and if the unborn are innocent human beings, then intentionally ending their lives is morally serious. Christians believe that justice requires us to defend those whose lives are at risk—even when it is costly or unpopular.

But this conviction must be held together with another truth: pregnancy often unfolds in complicated and painful circumstances. Fear. Financial stress. Abandonment. Abuse. Medical uncertainty. Many women who consider abortion do so not lightly, but under immense pressure. If Christians speak only of law and never of love, we fail to reflect the heart of Christ.

Jesus was unwavering about truth, yet astonishingly tender toward those caught in sin and suffering. He did not minimize wrongdoing, but neither did he crush the broken. A truly Christian response to abortion must mirror this posture.

To women who have had abortions, hear this clearly: you are not beyond the grace of God. There is no sin so deep that the cross of Christ cannot reach it. The Bible assures us that when we confess, God is faithful to forgive and to cleanse (1st John 1:9). Many carry silent grief, regret, or shame for years. The church must not be a place of condemnation but a refuge of healing.

Opposing abortion, then, is not about declaring ourselves morally superior. It is about affirming the value of every life—born and unborn—and extending mercy to all who are hurting. It means advocating for policies and practices that support mothers: access to prenatal care, material assistance, adoption services, emotional support, and communities that walk with women through crisis/unplanned pregnancies. This is why I’m so thankful that MCC partners with the Pregnancy Resource Center in Bloomington/Normal. We are putting our money where our beliefs are. If we say we value life, we must demonstrate it not only before birth but after.

It also means cultivating a church culture where no woman feels alone. Imagine congregations where an unexpected pregnancy is met not with whispers, but with practical help. Where single mothers are honored for their courage. Where men are called to responsibility and sacrificial love. Where adoption and foster care are embraced as beautiful expressions of the gospel.

Christians oppose abortion because we believe life is sacred (Genesis 1:27, Matthew 10:31, Psalm 139:13-14), because we believe to do justice is to protect the innocent (Micah 6:8, Zechariah 7:9, Amos 5:24), and because we believe love defends the vulnerable (Isaiah 1:17). But we also believe in redemption. The same God who forms life in the womb is the God who restores shattered hearts.

In a polarized world, our tone matters. We can be firm without being harsh. Convicted without being combative. Clear without being cruel. Our ultimate aim is not to win arguments but to bear witness—to a God who creates, who loves, who forgives, and who calls us to reflect his heart. And to preserve life for as many little unborn babies as we possibly can.

May we be people who cherish every human life. May we be a community where truth and grace meet. And may our words and actions together proclaim that every person—mother, father, child, born and unborn—is precious in the sight of God and God’s people.

TO KNOW GOD AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN!
- Pastor Brady

Have a question for Theology Thursday? Send an email to office@minierchristian.org and we'll respond, or we'll include in a future Theology Thursday Buffet.