There’s a subtle debate within the pro-life community: God or no God as a focus when discussing the abortion issue. Both approaches have been successful in certain instances. 40 Days For Life has proven that when thousands pray in front of abortion mills many innocent lives can be saved. For years others have spread the message of Jesus to those on the verge of having an abortion. Many pro-life organizations believe that stressing God and the Bible is the main requirement when promoting the pro-life cause.

On the other hand, several groups such as Justice For All and The Center For Bio-ethical Reform show graphic photos, but do not prominently stress God when discussing the issue on campuses even though Christians are behind these organizations. There is even a group called Pro-Life Union For Secularity and Godlessprolifers.org. An organization called Created4life in the UK sets up tables of fetal models and then interacts with people about the abortion issue without stressing God or religion.

What does the Bible say about abortion? I have heard the argument that it never mentions the word abortion or the specific act of killing the baby in the womb. Actually, that is correct as far as it goes, but the Bible doesn’t specifically say that it’s wrong to murder by handgun or car bomb either. There are plenty of other examples of killing that are not spelled out precisely in the Bible, but God obviously condemns.

To say that abortion is wrong, one must state that the unborn entity is a human. There are examples in the Bible that state this clearly.

Genesis 25:21-22 - Now Isaac pleaded with with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled within her …

Luke 1:41 - And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb…

Psalm 139:13 - For you formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother’s womb.

Job 31:15 - Did He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

Jeremiah 1:5 - Before I formed you in the womb I knew you …

Since these objects in the womb are considered humans by God, then what does God say about the killing of humans. In the Ten Commandments, it states You shall not commit murder. That sounds specific enough to me.

It’s obvious that the pro-life position can be argued without any reference to God or the Bible, but every argument can be traced back to a moral belief that abortion is the killing of a human. This moral foundation that abortion is killing derives from somewhere, and that “somewhere” isn’t some vague nebulous place. That moral foundation comes from God. Atheists can argue the case against abortion, but that foundational belief has to have its origins from somewhere. For those who say that their moral foundation states that abortion is not killing, or it is acceptable killing, then that view obviously cannot be based on God.

In arguing the case against abortion, initially bringing up God or quoting from scripture may turn away many who might otherwise listen to your argument. They often don’t see it as an abortion discussion, but a case where you are trying to shove your religion on them. The pro-life position can easily be made in terms of embryology or just using the logic of the location or development argument in comparing the unborn to the newborn. The discussion can work it’s way to the fundamental moral beliefs that both of you have. Then God and the Bible can be brought into the debate, without turning them off.

What is the goal of promoting the pro-life position? It should be the reduction or elimination of abortion. God and the Bible can be incorporated into this argument, and consequently bring people to Christ. But if one comes through the front door with Christianity, it seems that the task of reducing abortion will be doubly difficult. You are now trying to convince them how important Christianity should be to them, while also trying to convince them that abortion is an unacceptable practice.

There’s a disturbing situation that has come to light in the last year. What if you’re a Christian, but supported and voted for Obama and others who are extreme proponents of abortion. Unfortunately, there are millions in this country who did just that. The Catholic Church, of course, is very vocal about pro-life beliefs, but a whopping 54% of Catholics voted for Obama. Even the most visible Catholic university, Notre Dame, had him speak at their commencement exercises. Of self-professed evangelicals, 38% voted for Obama. Then you are dealing with an entirely different approach to the abortion issue. The focus should be on the contradiction of believing in pro-life values, but voting for someone whose beliefs are totally opposite of those values. I think it is obvious that the pro-life issue isn’t that important to these Christians. Then the goal is to shine the light on the issue so it will be prominent in their minds in future elections.