When does life begin? - Putting abortion under the microscope - Part 2

They weren’t much more than children themselves

I felt her honest reasons

Though she said it would further her health

I’m on the inside looking out

Please don’t just give up

At least give me to someone else

In the Line of Fire

– Dogwood

Last week, The Rev Dwight Bryan of the Dominion In Christ International Ministries put the issue of abortion under the microscope.

This week, Bryan looks at the issue from the perspective of the pregnant mother, pointing out that the modern view that abortion is purely a reproductive right is not supported by the Bible.

He says it is one thing to choose to have unprotected sex and then feel that one reserves the right to terminate the unwanted pregnancy. However, he opines that having an abortion is not without its consequences.

“Abortion is quite often accompanied by feelings of guilt and emotional anguish. There are sometimes complications resulting in difficulty in conceiving when it is time to start a family. Young women often go for abortions to escape guilt, shame and condemnation,” says Bryan.

Other times, shares Bryan, they are encouraged or coerced by the young man who has no intention of taking up the responsibility of fatherhood.

In contrast, he highlights that young men are encouraged to ‘sow their wild oats’ and maintain their image while the girl becomes ‘damaged goods’.

Apart from physical, psychological and emotional consequences of having an abortion, Bryan points to the spiritual aspect.

For him, an abortion opens the door to satanic oppression.

“A spirit of abortion can circle an individual, and in the unseen realm, it causes their best plans and efforts to come to naught. It is as if everything they attempt is aborted. This leads to a cycle of frustration and depression. In the scripture, we see David’s encounter with Bathsheba sparking a chain of events that see incest, rape and murder among his children,” he says, alluding to when David ordered Bathsheba’s husband Uriah’s death when he found out she was pregnant after she cheated on her husband.

David’s cover-up, says Bryan, led to four of his sons dying tragically.

“Thank God that Jesus came to redeem us from the curse. These negative cycles can be broken by the power of His shed blood. It takes genuine repentance and calling for discerning elders of the church to pray for and minister deliverance to the oppressed soul,” he said.

INCEST AND RAPE

In light of sin and its consequences, Bryan addresses the issue of incest and rape. He says simply that one can hardly say that those situations justify or make abortion right.

“Perhaps it might be stated that there may be situations where an abortion is the lesser of two evils. In much the same way that an individual may strike out in self-defence. However, this does not justify lashing out violently at will,” he said.

Bryan reflects on the many heart-rending stories, such as the one where a nine-year-old child was pregnant due to being raped. Acknowledging that she is not physically, mentally or emotionally ready for a child as she is just a child herself, he says the question of abortion should be weighed with the same gravity as separating conjoined twins.

“In other words, can we truly say that one must die in order for the other to live?”

Bryan says that as a society, we need to come to the place where the sanctity of life can be embraced and not hasten to prematurely end a life.

“As the body of Christ, we must also drop our judgemental and public-stoning mentality and become ministers of reconciliation, love and forgiveness. Given love, support and freedom from condemnation, most individuals would choose to keep their unborn child regardless of how the baby was conceived,” he said.

Bryan adds that the double standard that lets the men off the hook has got to go. He says there must be mutual accountability and responsibility for the child that is on the way.

FORGIVENESS

Noting that abortion is not the unpardonable sin, he says God forgave Moses and used him mightily after he killed an Egyptian and fled.

“The Lord likewise forgave Paul after he consented to Stephen’s death. So, having had an abortion is not the end of the line. There is always room for repentance and forgiveness. In Romans 8:1-2, we see that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ and choose a new path. Proverbs 24:16 tells us that a just man falls seven times and gets back up again. Let us become that society and body of believers that do all that is within our power to save and restore lives.”