Greg Koukl is Right - the Bible is Clear on the Abortion Issue

 

In a recent gathering of our Stand to Reason Outpost group at Hagerstown Bible Church, we viewed a video by Christian thinker Greg Koukl on the topic of abortion.  In this short presentation, Koukl argued that the Bible is clear on the issue of abortion, but that Christians, due to social pressures and/or lack of biblical clarity, are in many cases confused on the issue or easily misguided. 

During the discussion period of our meeting, we debated whether or not the Bible is as clear on the issue as Koukl claims, and after some reflection, I am convinced that Koukl is right - the Bible is very clear on the issue.  I became especially convinced of this when I took Koukl's argument featured in his presentation and summarized it in the following deductive form:

Premise 1 - It is wrong to intentionally kill an innocent human being made in the image of God.
Premise 2 - The unborn are innocent human beings made in the image of God.

Conclusion - Therefore, it is wrong to intentionally kill the unborn.

For those unfamiliar with how deductive arguments work, simply put, if the argument is logically valid and the premises are more plausible than not, the conclusion follows logically and necessarily.1 With that in mind, let us consider each of the premises.  

Premise 1 - It is wrong to intentionally kill an innocent human being made in the image of God.

From the very beginning, Scripture is clear that every human being is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27).  Christians historically have believed that this divine imprint makes human life sacred and set apart from all other creation.  And this truth was even reaffirmed after the Noahic flood in Genesis 9:6: "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God He made man."  The command 'You shall not murder' (Exodus 20:13) simply flows from this reality. To intentionally take innocent human life is to assault the image of God Himself.

Premise 2 - The unborn are innocent human beings made in the image of God.

The Bible consistently describes God as the Creator and shaper of life in the womb.  King David wrote, "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps. 139:13), affirming that human life is the result of God’s personal and purposeful design, even before birth.  Moreover, God Himself told Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5), thus demonstrating divine relationship and purpose even before conception was visible.  Finally, when Mary visited Elizabeth, the unborn John the Baptist leapt for joy in the womb (Luke 1:41-44).  These passages make it clear that in God's eyes, unborn humans are not merely potential humans.  They are human beings already known, formed and valued by God.

Conclusion - Therefore, it is wrong to intentionally kill the unborn.

If all humans do indeed bear God's image (P1), and the unborn are human beings bearing the image of God (P2), then it follows logically and necessarily that intentionally taking the life of the unborn violates God's moral law.  

Greg Koukl is correct.  The Bible is clear on the life issue.  This doesn't mean that conversations about the issue cannot become complex.  But this is not because the Bible is unclear.  Regardless of what anyone claims - and no matter how many letters they have before or after their name - to honor the sanctity of life is to honor the Creator whose image every human reflects.

Courage and Godspeed,

Chad

Footnotes:

1. For more on what makes a good argument, go here.

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