Christians response towards the issue of Abortion - Essay Example

? Christians’ response towards the issue of Abortion Christians’ response towards the issue of Abortion Perhaps, the highly debated social issue in this contemporary world is the issue of abortion. With over 30 million abortions that have taken place since 1973 until now, almost everybody has an opinion about the issue (Ro?skamp, 2010). For quiet a while, Christians have come across many controversies involving or surrounding the issue of abortion given that women have applied abortion as a sign of independence in their feminist movement. Despite the presence of these issues, surrounding abortion different faiths have expressed diverse feelings about it. Nevertheless, for one to obtain a Biblical or Christianity view about abortion he or she must rake off the muck that obscures the major questions concerning abortion and pay closer attention towards the Christian’s collective view about abortion (Ren, 2011). This paper will seek to give a solid argument on the Christians’ response towards the abortion issue. At first glance, the views of Christians towards the issue of abortion can seem to be difficult and complicating mainly to those who happen to be relatively unfamiliar with the responsive or relevant scriptures (St?t?i?phan, 2007). This may result from a broad variety of voices, which claim to represent the opinion of the Christians within this controversial issue. As every voice struggle for attention, people continue to ask themselves which voice truly represents Christians view on the issue of abortion (Ren, 2011). Profoundly, I believe that most Christians, on one end, who speak out their voices concerning abortion strongly, oppose this practice. On the other end, there are those who claim that the choice to carry out an abortion should remain a woman’s choice. Both of these groups claim that they both provide the correct approach (Ro?skamp, 2010). Contemporary Christians appear divided and even different denominations and churches cannot seem to agree on this matter given that a number of denominations take a strictly different stance on the matter. The largest portion of Christians maintains that when a woman aborts, her action is tantamount to murder. However, there are those denominations which point out that the choice to abort should be in hands of a woman and she can go a head to abort if she so chooses (Ro?skamp, 2010). Pertinently, this heated debate regarding whether to abort or not is getting women more confused. In my view, I find abortion being similar to murder and as such, Christians should take a positive stance and make it clear that no woman should resolve to practice abortion. The Bible says that people should not kill one another. According to Christians’ view, abortion is just murdering an unborn child (St?t?i?phan, 2007). That is the reason you find that Christians strongly oppose the practice of abortion, as is equivalent to killing. For those Christians who believe that life begins at the time of conception, the topic of abortion is not up for discussion mainly because their response towards this practice is always strong in opposition (St?t?i?phan, 2007). Christians’ views towards abortion indicate that terminating a pregnancy is the same as ending a life and since Bible strongly opposes murder, most Christians do not support abortion practices. Nevertheless, there are those Christians from certain denominations who have been involved in a series of activism seeking to either legalize abortion or have the choice to abort remain in the hands of a woman (Ro?skamp, 2010). For instance, The United Church of Christ (UCC) started supporting legalization of abortion practices since the year 1971. Christians from this church in addition to others strongly opposed the President Clinton’s Ban Act of 1996 where they called upon other Christians to support their move. They publicly declared that women have a right to choose whether to abort or not and therefore, abortion should be included in any country’s health care bill (Ren, 2011). Indeed, it is seeable that some Christians find or view abortion being noble that is the reason they support it. Personally, I do not conquer with the opinion of those Christians who support abortion (Ro?skamp, 2010). I find it inhumane to support taking away another human’s life. Nonetheless, since every church and denomination have a right as Christians to give out their opinion towards the practice of abortion, it is necessary to discuss all these views with reference to the Biblical stance on this matter. Initially, The Southern Baptist Convention called for legislation that could allow the possibility of abortions in the year 1971 but under certain conditions, which included incest, rape, ascertained possibility of damage in the mother’s physical, emotional, and mental health, and clear evidence indicating fetal deformity of the mother (St?t?i?phan, 2007). With reference to such amendments in place, Christians respond to abortion practices with a divided stance. Some strongly oppose the act while others find it normal to support abortion if it so endangers the life of the mother (St?t?i?phan, 2007). Whichever the case, to most Christians, abortion is nothing else but murder and given that they find murder being a sin and therefore punishable by rules as provided herein the Bible. Although there are those, whose stance changes with time, Christians always see abortion is plane and simple murder. Thus, no matter how much they try to look for ways to have it legalized, they still lack a Biblical perspective, which can support their quest for legalization of abortion (Ren, 2011). Being a contemporary issue, abortion can never find a position in the Bible where it has a free entry into the Christian’s contemporary world as a legal practice. For those who support it, their views draw some tangible support evidence from contemporary issues surrounding this world, health related issues, and other specific areas where a stringent decision have to be made to save one life (Ro?skamp, 2010). To some extent, I think that some Christians’ views on the issue of abortion of are justifiable. Because some pregnancies result from unwanted and inhumane actions such as incest and/or rape, I believe those Christians who support abortions under such conditions seek to do the right thing. Additionally, there are those Christians who find it significant to carry out an abortion at times when the pregnancy endangers the mother’s life (St?t?i?phan, 2007). These Christians’ views differ not only in terms of Biblical teachings, but also in contemporary conditions. My opinion on the issue of abortion is that Christians should at least support abortion in cases where the mother of the child got pregnant through unwanted means such as incest and rape. They should also encourage abortion in situations where the mother is likely to suffer from adverse mental, health, and emotional problems (St?t?i?phan, 2007). Other Christians who are members of certain conventions claim that abortion is a means of birth control should therefore be part of our lives. Recently, most churches have broken their silence with regard to the issue of abortion whereby, some of them have come to point out that women should have a right to choose whether to bear the pregnancy or abort the child (Ren, 2011). Other Christians who maintain their stance when it comes to the issue of pregnancy declare that abortion should never be part of our society no matter the case. Consequently, their views revolve around just a number of issues, which include the morality provided by the Bible towards abortion, contemporary health issues, and issues related to conduct. To some Christians, a fetus is not exactly a full human life. Hence, when one carries out an abortion, she simply does a miscarriage (Ro?skamp, 2010). My opinion on this matter is as opposite as that of most Christians who are against abortion. Noting that a miscarriage is very different from abortion is important. Christians respond to abortion as a sin and treat this practice as a murder case. They view women who abort as sinners and are liable for punishment since abortion is simply murder (Ren, 2011). In conclusion, not even a single scripture that provides a concrete answer to the issue of abortion. However, that should not mean that Christians should not strive towards stopping the slaughter of innocent lives (St?t?i?phan, 2007). The views expressed by Christians with reference to the issue of abortion are divergent and as some of them emphasizes, the unborn child does not have a choice not does it have a voice (Ro?skamp, 2010). Christians should therefore take a strong stance towards opposing the issue of abortion since the unborn child has no power over the living and therefore cannot make any choice. Abortion is a current issue that receives tones of views since everybody has an opinion and a voice regarding it. References Ro?skamp, J. (2010). Christian Perspectives On Abortion-Legislation In Past And Present. Mu?nchen: GRIN Verlag GmbH. St?t?i?phan, E. (2007). Christian ethics, issues and insights. New Delhi: Concept Pub. Co. Ren, C. (2011). Christianity and the future: Book one of the End Times series. Bloomington, IN: West Bow Press. Read More