What the Bible Actually Says About Life Before Birth

I had the opportunity to attend the National Right to Life Conference because of the generous donors who invest in the South Carolina Citizens for Life internship program. This experience allowed me to learn more about the issues at the heart of the pro-life movement and challenged me to think more deeply about ways I can advocate for the unborn.

A breakout session on the biblical case for life inspired me to encourage more thoughtful pro-life conversations in churches. The presentation deepened my understanding of how Scripture can inform advocacy for unborn children and challenged me to put what I learned into practice.

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It was the What God Says about Abortion breakout session held by Samuel D. Green, founder of Reason for Life. There is a common misconception that abortion is not mentioned in the Bible. Though it may not be explicitly mentioned, the Bible also doesn’t say anything about throwing people out of airplanes. But for obvious reasons, it is against the law to do so. So how come abortion isn’t?

People who regularly attend church should know the truth about the value of life for each individual born and unborn. They should be pro-life, opposed to abortion. Green said “the church is a sleeping giant,” meaning that with collective efforts they could have a profound impact on the abortion industry.

Knowing this, the abortion industry uses biblical rhetoric to make people more comfortable with abortion. They try to cover up the truth with marketing, saying “It’s between you and God” and to “Love your neighbor as yourself” by letting them kill their own children. Faith-leaning-abortion ads are an oxymoron. It is impossible to argue for abortion and use God as a supporting factor.

I learned that one of the arguments made for abortion is that babies don’t feel anything in the womb. However, this is not true. Scientific research documents that abortion hurts both the mother and the baby. Additionally, the session used theological reasoning for that argument. Scripture says, “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,” (Luke 1:41) At the time, Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist. This verse shows that, while he was still in his mother’s womb, John experienced emotion. This is not medical proof to refute this argument, but it can be proof of what God says about abortion.

The abortion industry likes to use the term fetus to dehumanize the baby; however, that word does not take away the value of life. Green explained that the term “fetus” just describes where the child is in development, like the term, “toddler.” In Luke 1:41, the word “baby” is used. The Greek word “brephos” can translate to “baby”, “infant”, or “child.” Notably, the same word is used to refer to a child before and after birth. For example, Luke 2:12 says, “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

God already has a child’s life planned out before they are born. For instance, Samson became a Nazirite in the womb. Judges 13 shows how the Lord gave his mother specific instructions on her diet. She was instructed to not drink any wine or strong beverages and to eat nothing unclean.

Judges 13:5 says, “No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” It was really fascinating to gain biblical insight on this argument. In a world full of “my truths,” it is important to remember that God’s truth is the only one that is valid. Furthermore, it is loving to tell the truth. It could save many innocent lives. This passage is evidence that life does not start once the baby is born. It starts in the womb. The Declaration of Independence affirms that “all men are created equal” and “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This means that people are created equal in the eyes of God, not born. Life should not and is not up for debate.

In conclusion, after learning what God says about abortion, I have been influenced to start encouraging pro-life conversations in the church. It made me realize that waking up “the sleeping giant” is the key to defeating abortion and defending the right to life for those who can’t defend themselves. Furthermore, I will continue to educate myself on biblical and medical perspectives related to abortion. Passages such as Luke 1 and Judges 13 strengthened my understanding of unborn life by reaffirming that God has a purpose for each person before birth.

Because of the donors who support SCCL’s internship program, I had the opportunity to attend a session that strengthened my understanding of the biblical case for life.

LifeNews Note: Kahliyah Griffin is the Communications and Donor Relations Associate for South Carolina Citizens for Life.