LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Christian Ethics and Abortion
Submitted to Dr. Yonts,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
ETHC101-D02
Introduction to Ethics
by
December 14, 2020
Contents
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................. 1
THE DIVINE NATURE THEORY AND MORAL REALISM............................................................................................ 1
ABORTION.......................................................................................................................................................... 3
CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................................................... 6
BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................................................................................... 8
ii
1
Introduction
The matter of life or death can be a very controversial subject and is faced with many
ethical issues every day. In this paper I will try to address the topic of abortion. With supported
evidence, I will explain how Christians may deal with abortion and attempt to answer the
question, “Should a Christian support abortion?” It is important for Christians to have a good
understanding of what God wants from his children, while also understanding the views of those
who are not Christians and do not believe there is a God.
First, I will explain two different ethical theories, Divine Nature Theory and Moral
Realism, and explain their outlooks on life. It is important to understand these two theories, as
they can greatly impact one’s outlook on life and how they deal with ethical issues. I will then
apply the Divine Nature Theory to abortion. I hope to spread knowledge on why Christians
should not support abortion.
The Divine Nature Theory and Moral Realism
I believe that the Divine Nature Theory is the best theoretical approach when solving
moral dilemmas. The Divine Nature Theory defines the “good” from the innate good of God’s
nature.1 This is something not to get confused with Divine Command Theory, as it explains that
the “good” comes from God’s commands. The Divine Nature theory is based on the morality of
God’s character and thrives off his unchanging moral goodness.
If we live our lives holding to the Divine Nature Theory, we will know that the Bible
explains things that are deemed to be immoral and should not be done. Though at times it may
not be explicit, we can see and value God’s unchanging character. We should make great efforts
to uphold God’s character and use him as our moral compass when faced with everyday
1 Michael S. Jones, Moral Reasoning: An Intentional Approach to Distinguishing Right from Wrong
(Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2017), 104.
2
dilemmas. Even for those who do not believe in God, they may be able to hold this theory dear to
their hearts. For they may feel as though someone character can speak louder than words.
On the other hand, we have moral realism. This theory holds that moral principles exist
separate from God and said morals are a part of our reality that cannot be seen or felt. Those
2
who live by this theory may also be naturalists, meaning they believe that moral principles are
brute facts and God does define moral principles all on his own. Others who may prefer this
theory believe that God has perfect knowledge of moral principles and he abides by them.
3
Simply put, Moral Realism holds that moral principles are brute facts, and those same facts are
not predicated or based on anything else. Moral Realism ultimately discredits God’s sovereignty
by making him subject or dependent of something outside of himself. This may be a big problem
for those who live a Christian lifestyle.
Moral realism can somewhat be compared to science. Science is objective. It is meant to
observe and take data from studies to improve our knowledge about everything around us. As we
experiment and look at data to try to construct theories, we all can have different opinions about
the same piece of data. The one thing we can all agree on is that the science behind the data is
not dependent on our opinions. The data is a “brute fact” and our opinions do not matter. This is
something that moral realist can argue when talking to someone who disagrees with them. Moral
realists believe that there are moral principles that we are learning about every day. As we
discover these facts, we can become better people over time.
Some people may see Moral Realism as the opposite of the Divine Nature Theory. One
considerable difference between the two theories is that they both have completely different
outlooks on who and what defines our morals. Someone who favors Moral Realism may believe
2 Ibid., 102.
3 Ibid., 103.
3
that morals and values are objective and independent regardless of our feelings, beliefs, or
attitudes towards them. They believe that there is no superior power to explain why things are
defined as moral and immoral. If moral realism is correct, then how would we know what is right
and wrong? There is no explanation for how moral principles came to be, so how exactly do we
know what is morally right? It sounds as if it a “the universe said so” mindset. Those who take a
keen liking to the Divine Nature Theory may find themselves in disagreement with the latter
because they believe that the nature of God defines what is moral.
I believe that the Divine Nature theory is the strongest theory of the two. This is because
Moral realism cannot explain where moral principles come from. Whereas the Divine Nature
Theory sets a foundation built on the reliance of God and his good character. The belief that
God’s nature is inherently good and unchanging leaves little room for misconception and
disagreement on what is wrong and what is right. A good example would be the Ten
Commandments. The Ten Commandments were set in place as a reflection if God’s good nature.
The solution of determining what is morally right can be found within the Bible. The scriptures
within the Bible explains that there are things considered to be moral and immoral. In many
cases we can see the punishments characters have faced because of the immoral things they have
done.
Abortion
There are two side of the abortion argument, those who are prochoice and those who are
pro-life. People who are in favor of pro-choice believe that the mother should have full consent
over her body and whether she will abort the unborn child. Those who are in favor of pro-life
believe that even if the mother does not want the unborn child, she should still have the baby, for
it is a human being and not just an object. Christians believe a person should not kill what God
4
has gifted them with. Children are a gift from God. This is something that I absolutely agree
with. Although I feel as though it is morally wrong, I do believe people have the right to do what
they feel is best for them. However, I believe that being able to carry a child is a blessing and is
not something to be glossed over or taken lightly.
One of the biggest issues for Christians is figuring out at which stage does personhood or
ensoulment begins. Afterall, a human being must have a soul for them to be considered a human.
McQuilkin and Copan gives us a scientific analysis of the stages of human development. First
the male’s sperm unites with a female’s ovum and creates a zygote. From there the zygote
fertilizes the ovum, which usually happens within forty-eight hours. After the forty-eight hours
have passed, it will then make its way down to the fallopian tube within the next four to six days,
where it will be implanted into the female’s uterus. Within the uterus, the fertilized egg become
an embryo and begins its own individual life. So does that mean that ensoulment starts when the
4
egg becomes an embryo?
Regarding the Divine Nature Theory, I believe it is crucial for Christians to keep it in
mind. As I have stated previously, it is the theory that believes God’s good nature is the
definition of what is morally right. The lord is very adamant about being pro-life. An example of
this can be found in Proverbs 6:16-17 (NEV), “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven
that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent
blood,” With this example, we can clearly see that it is against God’s good nature and character
to end the life of an innocent person. There are even instances within the Bible where god talks
about know us before conception. One instance within the bible says, “Before I formed you in
4 R. McQuilkin and P. Copan, An introduction to biblical ethics: Walking in the way of
wisdom (InterVarsity Press, 2014), 364.
5
the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to
the nations.”5
God creates everything and everyone with a set intention and purpose. Before a baby is
conceived, God has already set out to give two people the beautiful gift of a baby. I believe that
the Roman Catholic Church has a clear-cut understand of what God wants and believes in terms
of abortion and preventing life. The killing of sperm and preventative conception has been
frowned down upon within the Roman Catholic Church. They believe that it is a sin, and that all
life is beautiful and upholds God’s unchanging nature by allow every unborn child to experience
life on Earth. Most protestant churches are not opposed to the idea of killing sperm. An example
6
of this would be oral contraceptives, better known as birth control bills. The purpose of oral
contraceptives is to allow the mucus around a female's cervix thick and sticky and help prevent
sperm from entering the uterus. This is a form of restricting life of the unborn, hence going
7
against God’s unchanging nature.
There may be cases where Christians may be caught between a rock and a hard place
determining when abortion is ethical. Examples of this would be rape and incest. It can be
difficult for expecting mothers to determine if it is okay to abort a child when she has been raped.
After all, she did not willingly conceive the child, nor did she plan for it to happen. Although this
can be a difficult situation, Christians should think about the life of the unborn child. They did
not ask to be conceived and is a victim along with the mother. The unborn child should not be
penalized for the father’s actions. God values every life, and although the mother did not want
the child, said child should be seen as a blessing. I understand that there are many cases where
5 Jer. 1:5 (ESV)
6 McQuilkin and Copan, An introduction to biblical ethics, 364.
7 "Birth Control Pills: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia," MedlinePlus - Health Information from the
National Library of Medicine, accessed December 9, 2020, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007460.htm.
6
rape happens to females who are under the age of eighteen, but even so, abortion should not be
an option.
Those who are pro-choice will most likely disagree with those who hold a Christian view
of abortion. They may argue things like the mother’s wellbeing as well as being able to
financially support the child. To that I will say that there are plenty of options for the mother to
choose from. There are couples who are not able to have children that are yearning to have them.
Adoption may be the only option for them. Those same women who are okay with having
abortions could potentially give the child to someone who is unable to carry children. There are
also programs for mothers who are concerned about financial stability. This includes government
programs as well as help from the state and community. A program called Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF) could also be something for the expecting mother to look in. It is a
federally funded, but state-run benefits program. Said programs may help with food, housing,
8
childcare, and job training.
Conclusion
Abortion is a very important subject. The taking of a life is unethical and immoral. My
conclusion is that Christians should view abortion as something as goes against God’s
unchanging nature. Although abortion is not explicitly talked about within the Bible, there is
evidence that can conclude that it is immoral. Every life is precious in the eyes of the Lord and
we, as his children, should view life in that way as well.
8 "Government Benefits," Official Guide to Government Information and Services | USAGov, last modified
August 31, 2020, https://www.usa.gov/benefits#item-36602.
8
Bibliography
"Birth Control Pills: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." MedlinePlus - Health Information
from the National Library of Medicine. Accessed December 9, 2020.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007460.htm.
"Government Benefits." Official Guide to Government Information and Services | USAGov. Last
modified August 31, 2020. https://www.usa.gov/benefits#item-36602.
McQuilkin, R., and P. Copan. An introduction to biblical ethics: Walking in the way of wisdom.
InterVarsity Press, 2014.
Thomas, B. "Dinosaur soft tissues: They're real!" The Institute for Creation Research. Last
modified August 10, 2009. https://www.icr.org/article/4819.
