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Study Section 7: The Gospel and Abortion

7.1 Connect

Cape Verde, South Africa and Tunisia allow legal Abortion. But it is estimated that during
2010 to 2014 more than 8.1 million induced abortions occurred each year in Africa alone.
The Guttmacher Institute estimated that there were 43.8 million abortions worldwide in
2008, a decrease from 1998, but an increase from 2003 (guttmacher.org). The medical
community generally favors the right to abortion and the Hippocratic Oath has been altered
several times. The legal community generally favors the right to abortion and efforts to
overturn Roe v. Wade (1973) in the USA appears to be a lost cause. The mass media is strongly pro-
choice. Does the issue of abortion concern you as Christian? Many Christians are shamefully silent and
appallingly passive when it comes to the issue of abortion. What is the relationship of abortion to the
biblical prohibition against murder? Does the Bible have anything to say about the destruction of a
potential life? Is abortion right or is it wrong? Or is it possibly without moral bearing? Does the church
have the right to advocate civil legislation on this question?

Let’s begin our study today to see if some of these questions can be answered….

7.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to tell what the Bible says about Abortion.

2. The student should be able to explain what the Bible teach about life.

3. The student should be able to suggest practical ways in which we help avoid abortion.

4. The student should be able to protect and defend the will of God in concerning human life.

7.3 What is Elective Abortion?

Elective Abortion – this is distinguished from spontaneous (natural) abortion which is a
miscarriage of the fetus in the first twenty weeks of pregnancy. It is the intentional ending of
the life of a human being in the womb through various forms of medical or surgical
intervention. Abortion is another controversial issue in the church today. Many people have
made this issue of debate. Abortion is a massive problem that ignites heated debates.
Divisions in the state and in the church are many, with major denominational church bodies
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coming down on both sides of the issue. The fires of controversy show no signs of lessening.

Reasons for Abortions Today.
Women have abortions for a variety of reasons. Some women abort for medical purposes, especially
when the mother’s life is danger. Charles C. Ryrie four type of abortion: A therapeutic abortion is done
when the termination of the pregnancy is necessary for the sake of the mother’s physical health; a
psychiatric abortion, for her mental health. Eugenic abortion is used as a means of keeping retarded or

10 Ibid.,85.

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