Not long ago, I attended a dinner where a serious discussion about abortion laws took place. I listened quietly as a mother tried to explain to her teenage daughter that abortion is a sin and morally wrong.
In India, according to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act of 1971, there are certain criteria which legalized abortion like:
- Up to 20 weeks: A registered medical practitioner (RMP) can perform an abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy for a range of reasons, including:
- The pregnancy endangers the health of the pregnant woman
- The pregnancy is the result of rape
- The pregnancy is unintended and caused by contraceptive failure
- 20–24 weeks: Two RMPs must concur to perform an abortion between 20 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. This can be done for a range of reasons, including:
- The pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or sexual assault
- The pregnant woman is a minor
- The pregnant woman’s marital status has changed during the pregnancy
- The pregnant woman has a major physical disability
- The pregnant woman is mentally ill
- The fetus has a substantial risk of being incompatible with life or of being seriously handicapped if born
Beyond 24 weeks: Abortion is not permitted by law.
(Excepts from Vikaspedia.in)
As I reread these permissive laws, several Bible verses came to mind.
John 9:1-3 (NIV)
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Then, these questions came to mind:
What about those who have had abortions due to medical reasons or other circumstances permitted by law? Would they still be considered murderers in the eye of God?
I am not trying to judge or criticize anyone who has undergone this procedure – what someone chooses to do is their own conviction.
And what about people like us, who have been spared from facing such a difficult and painful dilemma, all because of God’s grace?
In Romans 3:23-24, the Bible clearly says,
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
No one is completely sinless before God. Whether we steal, lie, commit murder, engage in adultery, or even if we’ve done none of these but fail to obey Him or harbor pride, we are still sinners before Him.
When I mention pride, you might immediately think of friends, relatives, colleagues, or someone you’ve encountered who exudes an obvious sense of pride.
But no, I’m not talking about them.
What about you?
When you see someone struggling with something socially unacceptable or something that doesn’t align with your values, have you ever thought to yourself, “Thank God I’m not like that”?
Indirectly, you are saying “I am holier than thou”!
If so, that’s your pride—towering high like a skyscraper!
That also mean being judgmental.
Let’s read Matthew 7:1-5 together.
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
We may not have faced the difficult decisions or struggles that others have, and we might feel removed from the pain of situations like abortion. However, it’s important to understand that our position is not due to our own righteousness, but is instead a gift of God’s mercy and grace.
We could easily be in someone else’s shoes, facing challenges or dilemmas that we may never fully understand.
Rather than feeling superior or passing judgment, we should be humbled by the grace we’ve been given and show compassion toward those who are struggling.
What if God put us on a balance scale?
Imagine yourself on a balance scale—you on one side and someone who has had an abortion or done something socially unacceptable on the other.
Would God find you lacking?
I don’t know about you, but when I put myself in the balance scale, I find myself falling short in so many ways and severely lacking!