Giving Counsel Regarding Abortion

“And so it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” 1 Cor. 15:45. God is the giver of life. We must have a deep reverence and respect for life when we work with people. Occasionally we get questions regarding pregnancy and abortion. The overriding understanding is that the life which a mother is carrying is from God—it is holy, pure and divine no matter how the pregnancy occurred. We must have respect for life.

Sexual intimacy is part of marriage. It is holy and pure within the framework of marriage. In our time, immorality is so rampant that it exerts a tremendous pressure, especially on the children that are growing up now. If a person is weak and falls in these sins, it is inappropriate to have a church feast if they get married. It is better to have a private feast if it is known that the woman is pregnant before the couple gets married. We don’t ask an engaged couple about such things—secret things are for the Lord. On the other hand, it is not a good idea to lie.

Eventually it becomes manifest if a sister was pregnant before she got married. But such people must not be dragged in front of the church and forced to confess. That could dam­age them for the rest of their life. We must be careful in our conduct with people—try to cover it and be there to give them good advice. Be careful not to invade other people’s personal lives. Read 1 Corinthians 9 to see how Paul served people for their salvation.

We also have God’s Word as a guideline regarding preg­nancy. The prophets and the psalmists write about this. “Woe unto him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to a woman, ‘To what have you given birth?’ Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, He who created it: ‘Ask Me re­garding the things to come! Let me care for my children and for the work of my hands.’” Is. 45:10-11 (Norw.).

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Ps. 139:13-16.

“Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who will not regard silver; and as for gold, they will not delight in it. Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces, and they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye will not spare children.” Is. 13:17-18.

You must have faith for what you do. Our compelling con­cern must be what is best for the person involved. Why is that person asking for advice regarding abortion? Some people want to hide their sin and preserve their family’s honor. It can be very difficult to give advice in situations like this unless you are in fellowship with the apostle. If you give advice on abor­tion, you will really have something to answer for!

Be open to the person who is asking; show them care and understanding. Assure them absolutely that all life is from God—God is the Creator. We cannot lightly advise a person to have an abortion, not even if the pregnancy occurred because of rape. Even then the children belong to the kingdom of heaven. You have to bring the person who asks such ques­tions into contact with God. They must make the choice them­selves and bear the responsibility for that choice. Many people have had abortions and have subsequently suffered tremendous psychological torment and anguish, depression and remorse. In such situations a person must first give him­self to God and not to the advice of a doctor. There can be situations in which it is very difficult to give advice. It can be a matter of life or death. Then the family must come to faith themselves for what they are going to do.

“Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” Rom. 14:22-23. Choose what you have faith for, but don’t make it a church matter. Keep it to yourself before God. If someone re­ceives faith for a decision, you must strengthen them in their decision.