from my brother's brother.  originally posted by mark wayne.

Since abortion is generally not understood, and since induced abortion will either be supported or redressed by your vote in the ensuing elections, I find myself compelled to deal with this subject at length.

The Terms of the Debate: Defining Abortion

Abortion must initially be separated into two categories: those spontaneous and those induced. Spontaneous abortions include instances where the fertilized egg fails to implant itself into the uterine wall or otherwise miscarries. Since spontaneous abortions are true to their name, uncontrolled and apart from choice, there exists no moral responsibility. However, induced abortions are coerced; they are characterized by outside intervention with the aim to terminate a pregnancy.

Continuing the Subject of Induced Abortions

Of those abortions which are induced there are three categories:

1. Therapeutic: Strictly speaking, this should include only cases where the mother’s life is in grave danger and death is imminent. For example, in the event of a tubal pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants itself within the fallopian tube) the baby will not survive, but only if the baby is removed may the mother’s life be spared. Women diagnosed with cancer while pregnant are also faced with a question of whether or not to undergo treatments which will harm the child but save their life. Treatments of this sort which cause indirect harm to the child are also therapeutic abortions.

2. Eugenic: This type of abortion is performed to screen out children who may have a detectable disease or even those babies that happened to be the “wrong” sex for which the parents planned.

3. Selective: This is the catch-all category. If a woman decides for any number of reasons that she does not want her child, and that reason is not therapeutic or eugenic, it is understood simply as selective.

Therapeutic abortions at times strain my understanding of Christian ethics. Thankfully, they are also quite rare. The vast majority of abortions are administered for eugenic or otherwise selective reasons (which are actually quite similar). But, do eugenic or selective reasons provide justification enough to terminate a pregnancy? This is the question you will answer November 4th whether by ballot or silence.

What Does It Mean To “Terminate a Pregnancy”?

Before one can understand what exactly is meant by any termination the prerequisite question needs to be asked, “What is up for termination?” For example, to terminate a phone call is one thing, to be terminated as an employee is another, still to terminate the life of an aged family pet is yet another. The nature of termination is clarified by what is brought to an end. For proper orientation one must first give attention to pregnancy as the subject of termination.

A Closer Look at the Birds and the Bees

Fertilization, or “conception”, is the inception of pregnancy. Fertilization occurs, and thus pregnancy begins, when two gametes (sexual reproductive cells such as a sperm or egg) unite to form a single cell, called a zygote. This is the first cell of a genetically unique human life. Seven to eight weeks later this new life is awarded a special name by our textbooks. Congratulations Mom & Dad! After seven to eight weeks you are the proud parents of a fertilized egg, now named “fetus.” Although it sounds native to Alabama, “fetus” is actually a grammatical immigrant of Latin descent. According to Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus, it is defined as “unborn young” and is synonymous with: blastosphere, blastula, developing infant, embryo, and fertilized egg. These terms are appropriate to define their respective stage of development. Yet it is important to note that there is not one stage which differs from any other in genetic identity. Instead, changes or developmental phases are observed and categorized by these special names. This principle can be shown to extend well after birth when titles such as “fetus” are shed for “infant,” “adolescent”, or “geriatric.” In other words, human life begins at conception, and it remains that same human life until death. To be pregnant, then, is to carry a newly conceived human life in its early stages of development.

The Point: To Terminate a Pregnancy Is To End A Human Life.

If a fetus is as much human as an adolescent, then to terminate a pregnancy means to end a human life. We have other words to describe the coerced intervention and aim to terminate human life – one of which is murder. But, abortion cannot really be murder, can it? Why not? Because it happens so often we are desensitized to it; as a society we do not want to accept the responsibility of guilt? Numbers never justify truth, but evidence does. Slavery was allowed by popular majority. Hitler was elected by popular vote. And now, when it is undeniable that a unique human life is observed at conception, how will the majority cast their vote? Will you buy the argument one can be a human and not a person?

Ok. Now It’s Personal

A new argument has emerged in desperation which claims that a human embryo is not necessarily a person, and only persons have rights. Put another way, human babies at early stages of fetal development have not earned the endowed right to life we recognize in our constitution and apply to infants; obviously, infants have earned these rights by their immense mental capacity and physical usefulness! Thus, it is easily observed that all tests of personhood based on physical characteristics or ability are subjective and inconsistent. Who is to say how much mental or physical ability is enough, popular consensus? Where would the threshold be? This argument is so apart from clear definition it could be used to prove anyone a “useless eater.” Rest assured, if faith is placed in Jim Crow life laws tests will soon be used to target the aged, invalid, and incapacitated. Therefore, if not for any other reason, personhood must by default be equated with humanity because the genetic test is the only objective option.

Citizen of Humanity Test: Are You Human? Ok. You’re In.

Personhood cannot be substantiated as separate from simply being human. The argument for personhood evolved in desperation when it became undeniable that human life begins at conception, the point of fertilization, when two gametes combine to form a zygote cell with 46 chromosomes. It only takes approximately twenty hours for the zygote to fully form and begin cleavage or replication. Therefore, any abortion or contraceptive which terminates a pregnancy after egg fertilization actually ends the life of a human being. If fertilization is not prevented then any intervention after the fact should be understood as infringement upon a unique human life with endowed personal rights.

1 + 1 = 0
2 – 1 = 0

This Isn’t Just Bad Math, Its Crummy Philosophy

On some occasions a zygote may divide into two unique embryos. Thus, monozygotic twins show themselves to be two persons after conception! Similarly, there are instances where two zygotes have merged into a single zygote! Both of these circumstances are equally impressive reasons to question the reliability of the genetic test of personhood. However, both reasons are equally flawed. First, it cannot be denied that at least one person exists from conception. Second, one cannot assume to know the metaphysical nature of embryonic interaction. In the case of monozygotic twins it could simply be that the first life began when the egg was fertilized, and the second life began when conceived out of the 1st zygote. When two zygotes fuse it is possible that one is essentially spontaneously aborted when enveloped by the other. In any event, there is at least one life present at conception and still no better test for personhood. Summarily, there is no foot in the door for induced abortion or contraceptives that would justify harm to the development of a fertilized egg.

Sometimes the Truth Hurts

It has been established that human life is identifiable from the moment of conception. Any distinction that a personhood argument would seek to make has been nullified.
Now, for the sake of brevity (and to remain tasteful) I have provided a short description below on the various methods used to induce abortion. This information, as well as the following list which highlights the initial forty-five days of human physiological development, is adapted from Ethics for a Brave New World by Feinberg & Feinberg:

Common Methods Utilized to Induce Abortion:

o Dilation and Curettage: Used during 1st trimester; the cervix us dilated and an instrument is used to remove the placenta from the uterine wall and the baby’s body from the womb piece by piece
o Suction: Used during 1st trimester; (often used to assist D & C) the cervix is dilated and both baby and placenta are ripped from the womb sucked through a tube into a jar by a force twenty-eight times that of a common vacuum cleaner.
o Saline Injection: Used during 2nd trimester because the baby is now to large for D & C or suction; a solution concentrated salt is injected into a water sac which surrounds the baby. The baby is poisoned by breathing in this solution. Death often occurs after about an hour from brain hemorrhaging; the outer layer of skin is burns off from acidic salt solution; baby is usually delivered shriveled and lifeless.
o Hysterotomy: Used in final trimester; no different from a C-section in procedure except when a hysterotomy is conducted the child is either immediately put to death or allowed to die from neglect.
o Prostaglandin: Used any time during pregnancy to induce labor and cause a miscarriage. In the event of a live birth the infant is either immediately put to death or allowed to die from neglect.

Human Physiological Development:

• Conception: sperm penetrates egg cell
• Day 1: Cell division begins
• Days 5-9: Implants in uterus; sex can be determined
• Day 14: menstrual period suppressed by hormone produce by child
• Day 18: heart is forming; eyes soon follow
• Day 20: brain, spinal cord, nervous system begin to form
• Day 24: heart is now beating
• Day 28: muscles develop along spine
• Day 30: brain has human proportions; blood flow separate from mothers
• Day 35: mouth, ears, nose, & pituitary gland are forming
• Day 40: heart’s energy output now twenty percent that of an adult
• Day 42: skeleton has formed; brain coordinates muscles & organs
• Day 43: brain waves can be recorded
• Day 45: baby moves spontaneously; teeth begin to form

Additionally, Feinberg & Feinberg cite a study conducted by New Zealand fetal psychologist Dr. A. W. Liley where it was shown that “an eleven-week old fetus can experience pain and responds to touch, light, heat and noise.” Certainly, if an eleven-week old fetus responds to these things he or she must respond to D & C, suction, saline injections, hysterotomies, and prostaglandin. Anyone able to dismiss this would make big brother proud.

Are We Less than Human Who Are Dull To the Conviction of Scripture?

Scripture clearly portrays the unborn to be human with all the rights and privileges that accompany being made in God’s image. For example, in Exodus 21:22-23, the Law imposed harsh judgments on those who harmed a woman pregnant with child. If two men fought and one accidently injured a pregnant woman and caused her to give birth prematurely, though no lasting harm came to mother or child, strict penalties applied. In the event that either mother or child did suffer death, the offender’s life was required of him.

Verses for additional study:

I. On having the ability to die (which first assumes that one is alive):
o Nu 12:12, Job 3:11; 10:18, Isa 66:9, Jer 20:17-18
II. Knit together in womb by God
o Job 31:15, Ps 139:13, Ecc 11:5, Isa 44:2 & 24; 49:5, Jer 1:5
III. Called by God from womb or prior to conception
o Isa 49:1 & 5, Jer 1:5, Lk 1:15 & 42; 2:21, Gal 1:15
IV. Display of human qualities in womb
o Hos 12:3; 13:13, Lk 1:41 & 44
V. Evidence of life and personhood at conception
o Gen 25:21, Nu 11:12, Job 3:3, Ps 51:5, SS 3:4, Isa 33:11, Hos 9:11, Mt 1:20, Lk 1:36; 2:21, Rom 9:10

The Verdict Is Guilty, and We Are the Accused

Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. If the next centennial does not find us a great nation…it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.
-James A. Garfield




It is of urgent necessity that we no longer treat our faith as a play thing, but as an over-arching approach to life. To live is Christ, to die is gain, and we must conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Philippians 2:21, 27) If we do believe “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” (Genesis 1:1) and, if we hold to the conviction of our forefathers, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” our consciences’ must be constrained to end the cruelty of induced abortion by voting against representatives who support it.

Vote Your Values, But Value Scripture

A mighty specter now haunts America, and that specter is a community of believers who compartmentalize their faith from “real life”. A relationship with God cannot be relegated to Sundays between the hours of nine and twelve; Christ did not say, “Take up your cross and follow me unless it’s controversial.” He led His disciples openly through the streets to live the faith they professed. Are we too His disciples? Were we baptized in His name? We have before us then the objective test of Scripture that measures the make-up of our hearts. A disciple of Jesus follows Him in the local market as well as the marketplace of ideas. The Christian yields his life to conviction under the word of God in all circumstances: from the confession booth to the voting booth. Unfortunately, there has been a breech of integrity.

In one recent study, about half of the people in the United States in the year 2000 reported they were adherents of an organized religious belief system. Depending on how the question is asked, some 25-45 percent of the population report that they see themselves as either Born-Again Christians, or, in the broadest sense of the word, Christian ‘Evangelicals.’

Despite such large numbers of professing Christians Roe v. Wade has yet to be overturned. However, author and historian, David Barton, has noted the significant statistical presence of apathetic but self-proclaimed evangelicals as good news! If only Christians would be consistent America could see the sort of change “Joe the Plumber” really needs: Joe the Plumber could not talk about taxes if Joe the Fetus was terminated.

A Lesson from History: One Vote Matters

There has been another time in our nation’s history when personhood was disputed. When slavery was legal men and women were denied their natural rights for subjective reasons which seemed fashionable at the time. Many with the power to enact change found justification enough for their ease and comfort in the oppression of the helpless. What is most tragic is that this practice was allowed to continue at the birth of America by a single vote in the 2nd Continental Congress! One single vote extended the abuse of until the Emancipation Proclamation of 1865, and its ill effects still further.


How is it that we have allowed induced abortion to endure so long with absolutely no solid justification but for our ease? Call it ignorance or apathy, silence or over-accommodation, but call to remembrance the word of God that we should be “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27) Part of that Gospel calls it’s us to active compassion for the helpless, “the least of these.” (Matthew 25:34-40) May it be that the Spirit of revival, the mind of reformation, and faith in God more than party will convict our hearts and guide our vote on November 4th.