Liberty University
ETHC101: Introduction to Ethics (B14)
Capstone Essay
Christian Ethical Theory on Abortion
By:
Frankie Renee Mastroianni
10/10/2022
Contents
I. Introduction…3
II. Christian Ethical Theory Defined…3-5
III. Abortion…5-7
IV. Conclusion…8-9
V. Bibliography…10
Introduction
This Capstone essay will reflect on Christian Ethical Theory applied to the controversial
issue known around the world as abortion. Defining abortion as the deliberate termination of a
human pregnancy and Christian Ethics as the virtues and word of God and his divine
commands. Throughout this essay I will explain, defend, and apply Christian Ethics to this
issue. As a Christian myself and after reading the courses textbooks, I now possess vast
knowledge and would like to explicate. The Christian worldview when it comes to abortion is
pro-life and that will be my application in this paper. With a pro-life approach I will support
my thoughts specifically with scripture and the word of God through a Christ driven point of
view. When it comes to Christian Ethics, there is no room for interpretation of Gods
commandments and virtues.
Christian Ethical Theory
Christian Ethical Theory is the thought that Gods commands, virtues, principles, and
revelations are the true definition of what is moral. Christian Ethics is a blend of both virtues
and principles at its heart.:This means, we must act in the image of God as we are built in his
image. Though moral dilemmas are approached differently around the world, scripture is
universal and can be used to defend all ethical moral dilemmas. “Christian ethics is a valuable
set of moral guidelines and ideals for society. Even people who deny key Christian doctrines,
such as the deity of Christ, will admit that Jesus was both a compelling moral example and
insightful moral teacher.”1 This stems from the lack of evil caused by people who are Christ
driven and by people who are fearful of their mortality.
1 Moral Choices, Scott Rae
As humans we are made in the image of God so we are fallen into sin, because of this
we must turn to not just Gods commands but also to his character. The thought of this stems
from Divine Nature Theory, a form of Divine Command Theory. This theory helps us to
recognize Gods virtues in ourselves rather than just following scripture word for word.
Example being human nature is to love, it is not in our nature to harm other human beings.
From experience I have learned most people to be empathetic, caring, and willing to help
others when in harm’s way no matter their religion. “For it was you who created my inward
parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”2 We are made from Gods image and built
with his virtues and upholding those virtues we are rewarded. As humans fallen into sin, we
understand the consequences of our actions are eternal. The virtue of holiness and goodness, a
soul completely free from evil, is our true potential. The Bible states many clear connections
between his character and his commandments. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your
heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,:since you know that you will receive
an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”3
The power of forgiving was gifted to us by Christ, we are called to a higher standard to
forgive those who may harm us. “God mandates that we forgive not primarily because
forgiveness restores relationships, though that is certainly true, but because God is
fundamentally a forgiving God. The virtues, then, are primary, and the moral principles, or
God’s commands, are derived from them.”4 :“For if you forgive other people when they sin
against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their
trespasses, your Father will not forgive you for your trespasses.”5 We cannot expect to be
2 Psalm 139:13
3 Colossians 3:23-24
4 Moral Choices, Scott Rae
5 Matthew 6:14-15
forgiven by God if we ourselves cannot forgive those around us. “If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”6 “Then
Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive
him? As many as seven times?”:Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but
seventy times seven.” We cannot expect everyone to act morally and good as not everyone
has the ability or faith to find and believe in God and Jesus Christ.
I believe through scripture and Gods revelations we can find moral goodness. Ethical
dilemmas call for moral solutions that theorists claim they found an answer to. A large
number of ethical theories learned in this course had systematic problems. “The Bible is not a
tightly structured systematic theology, but a mixture of different theological emphases
presented in a variety of literary styles, so too Scripture is not a systematically arranged
ethical theory, but a mixture of different types of moral reasoning presented in a variety of
literary contexts.”7 This helps the argument that Christian ethics is the ethical theory to apply
to moral dilemmas like abortion.
Abortion
In applying Christian ethics to abortion, I am going to use three key
components. First turning to Gods scripture for verses that are directed to the unborn and
miracle of life along with his commandments. Second being acting in the image of God and
using his and our nature to find what our soul feels is morally “right” or “wrong.” Lastly and
ultimately, I will touch on the beautiful and necessary gift of forgiveness granted to us by
God.
6 John1:9
7 Moral Choices, Scott Rae
As Scott Rae stated in the Moral Choices textbook although the bible never specifically
states that “A fetus is a person” or “Thou shall not have an abortion” it is misleading to insist
that the Bible has nothing to say about the moral status of the unborn.” On the contrary the
Bible has many scriptures to defend pro-life. One being Luke1:41- "Little John the Baptist at
six months in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, leaps in her womb for joy, his mother being
filled with the Holy Spirit and he being sanctified in the womb, the first miracle of grace of
little Jesus, only hours after the conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the
Immaculate and ever Virgin Mary, when she greeted Elizabeth.”8 :One argument pro-choice
would make is a fetus is not yet a moral being until developed.: This verse helps us debunk
that argument by showing us that John is a sentient moral being from the time of conception
until forever. Another being “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you
were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”9 This verse shows us
how all life is intentional and handpicked by God himself.
In the United States of America alone there are roughly eight hundred thousand
abortions a year.:This number to me is shocking and I cannot help but think of God and what
he commands.:The commandment “Thou shall not kill” is also shown in scripture to relate to
a human fetus. There are many forms of abortion, all of which I personally as a Christian take
a moral stand against. Even during difficult specific circumstances such a fetus not being
healthy enough to survive after birth. A fetus that might not be able to survive long outside
the mother’s womb is still a child of God.:Said fetus once birthed could be welcomed into the
Christian world, Baptized and healthy remaining organs could be donated to an extremely
sick child on their death bed. This means saving a life in the end could also save many more
8 Luke 1:41
9 Jeremiah 1:5
lives. The argument here is to also show God attributes the same characteristics to the unborn
in the womb as to a person out of the womb.
Medical professionals also have ways to defer women from abortions with the simple
miracle of life. “Ultrasound is instrumental in the fight against abortion precisely because it
allows women to make an informed choice by shedding light in a place which, for most of its
history, has been shrouded in secrecy. And when the pro-choice camp rails so angrily against
the light technology has shed, it almost seems like they prefer the darkness. Perhaps what they
see on that monitor troubles them. And do you know what? It should.”10 This shows the
women the true blessing and gift of life that is inside of her, the miracle. A pregnant woman
contemplating abortion, after viewing the ultrasound and witnessing the miracle tends to be
effective in their decision according to data from pregnancy care clinics in keeping their
pregnancy.
A counterargument many pro-choice makes is a fetus could cause harm to the mother,
harm that will in fact cause the death of both mother and baby.:In this case abortion should be
granted.:Abortion in this case to many would be moral.:Let us in this scenario say this
pregnant mother has four healthy children at home. Four children that’s health and wellness
depend on their mother.:The father has recently passed, and she is all these children have
left.:How could one in this scenario justify not allowing a person to perform an abortion to
save one life rather than not and leave four children parentless and two lives lost.:In this
scenario in my view God does not give us more then we can manage.:Everything happens for
a reason, and we are not moral enough to decide for ourselves, he must decide for us.
10 Moral Choices Scott Rae
There is also the argument of a violent unwanted crime leading to an accidental and un
consensual pregnancy. While trying to find the moral thing to do in this situation is difficult,
we must again turn to scripture and the virtues of Christ. It is hard to fathom a human can
cause harm in this way so we must ask God why? Why can our freedom cause so much pain
and evil and that is simple because some have fallen into sin, but due to being built in his
image and being children of a God who forgives, along with ourselves, we must forgive. We
must forgive those who hurt us and pray that the life created will bring good to the world to
help eliminate the evil. So again, for your heavenly Father to also forgive you of your sins,
you must forgive your enemies sins.
Conclusion
In conclusion according to Christian Ethics and to people who live a Christ driven life
abortion is immoral. "So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he
created them."11Scripture that shows us his love and how precious life truly is in every form
and in every living being. "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will
eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body
more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"12 The
Bible shows us that all life is intentional and can possess high moral value. To make sure we
uphold these high moral standards we must take a firm stand against abortion.
11 Genesis 1:27
12 Matthew 6:25-26
Bibliography
Moral Choices, An Introduction to Ethics by Scott B. Rae
