19/09/2020
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY BILL UNDER MICROSCOPE USING CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW PERSPECTIVE
By Pro-abortion advocate: Vincent Saulosi Kamanga
Abortion issue generally depends on whether you think a foetus (a word derived from Latin which means baby) is a human being or not. Some Christians believe a foetus is human from conception, with the same rights and value to God as a child who has already been born. Therefore, to them, abortion is murder. Others believe the foetus is not yet a human, so its life is not sacred. It is a potential human, but not a person yet. Therefore, abortion might be justified.
THE BIBLE & ABORTION
You may wish to know, that the Bible says very little about abortion because it was not as common as today. Girls were often married very young and did not have careers. Abortion was not a safe medical procedure. There were no tests for any health problems for the mother or the foetus. The Bible again, does not use the word "abortion" or deal with the issues directly, but Christians use Bible as a tool for both denouncing and suppprting abortion.
For who stand against abortion use the following common biblical quotes, "Do not kill" Exodus 20:13, "You saw me before I was born" Psalm 139:16, and "God chose me even before I was born" Galatians 1:15, to just mention a few. These help them to support the idea that life begins at conception or, at the very least, that the foetus is a person. Hence, once Christians establish that the foetus is a human being, the sanctity of life teachings all apply.
Contrary and surprisingly, the same Bible in the Old Testament indirectly supports abortion through the idea that a human life is not as valuable before birth. For instance, Exodus 21:22-25 says, "If some men are fighting and hurt a pregnant woman so that she loses her child, but she is not injured in any other way, the one who hurt her is to be fined whatever amount the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if the woman herself is injured, the punishment shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth." This biblical quote suggests that causing the death of unborn child is not as serious as killing someone who is already born. Also in Genesis 38:24, Tamar is ordered to be burnt to death because she committed adultery and became pregnant. Although her life is spared, this has nothing to do with the twin foetuses she carried which seem to be given no value or consideration. The abortion is further justified in the Bible through Ecclesiastes 6: 3-5 where it is written "If a man does not get his share happiness, then I say a baby born dead is better off. It does that baby no good to be born.....It never sees the light of day or knows what life is like, but at least it has found rest." As this is not enough, Ecclesiastes 4:3 backs up abortion indirectly in saying that, "But better off are those who have never been born, who have never seen the injustice that goes on in the world." These quotes can be used to show that abortion is better than being born into a life of suffering, e.g unwanted babies.
What is the church view on abortion issues?
According to the Church of England abortion is an evil to be avoided if possible, but can be justified in 3 circumstances namely, risk to the mother's life or her mental and physical health, baby likely to be deformed and mother feels she cannot cope, and r**e/defilement. Although the foetus is to be specially respected and protected, nonetheless the life of the foetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of the mother (CoFE, 1984). This justifies abortion based on conditions.
On another hand, the United Reformed Church recognises a wide range of views among its members. On abortion issue, it holds an idea that sees a difference between a foetus almost ready to be born, and one in the early stages of pregnancy. Therefore, it believes that sometimes abortion is necessary, but should be taken seriously. I hope this can be the way good for us in our context to take.
Now, based on the aforementioned views from the Bible as well as some quarters (churches), I strongly feel that abortion may be the lesser of two evils. Some embryos are grievously handicapped, if born alive, their only prospect is of immense suffering and usually early death. This even applies to the unwanted pregnancies which if they are not aborted may lead to the situation of having unwanted babies. As the Methodist Church, quoted in What the Churches say CEM (1995) "where the pregnancy is the result of r**e, the abortion may be necessary for the recovery of the victim. Termination of pregnancy may be the right course because of the social circumstances of the existing family, or mental or physical health of the mother."
So I submit, as people widely do not morally or biblically agree with abortion, but often accept it, may be the only way forward for someone. Currently, our laws do not condemn someone who has an abortion, but passing this safe abortion bill in our parliament will help women (who have been carrying out unmedical abortions which may give them further reproductive complications) get through it, come to terms with it, and move forward. I am not denying the fact that, when women have done an abortion they often feel have done something very wrong, and need help. However, sometimes abortion is the most good thing to do. Let our national assembly pass the termination of pregnancy bill!!! If God/Jesus forgives people, then so should Malawian Christians over this bill.
I beg to move
Vincent Saulosi Kamanga