"Abortion is okay because the babies go to Heaven."

Working in the pro-life movement, I’ve about heard it all in regards to support of abortion. Some of the worst comments come not from hardened abortion advocates, but indifferent Christians.

For example, people attempt to justify abortion by stating that “it just allows those babies to go to Heaven” and not have a chance to defile themselves and go to Hell.

It is true, indeed, that those babies murdered by another’s choice go to Heaven. This is another conversation within itself. I believe that there is a certain accountability that is reached- the point when a person can understand the gospel enough to put their faith in it. For some, it could be three or four, to others a little older. Some never reach it if they have a mental handicap. Those who die before this point are safe in the arms of Jesus. (Read David’s response to the death of his newborn child in II Samuel 12:23.)

Now people who aren’t Christians really confuse me on this one. They assure us of something they themselves do not believe in, do not understand, or at least don’t take seriously.

But Christians are even more out of line with this reasoning. To make this statement and mean it, one must ignore several crucial biblical principles:

1.      God’s clear commandment against murder

People put a lot of weight on the Ten Commandments, these severely misled Christians included. In case we need a review, the sixth commandments states, “Thou shalt not kill.” Now before anyone gets up in arms about the death penalty, the Hebrew word means “murder” (and capital punishment is also a biblical principle). God also states that He hates “hands that shed innocent blood” – and there is no blood more innocent that a preborn child’s. If it is obvious that God considers murder a very serious sin, why do we justify it, especially by involving God in it? Murder is so serious because it strikes at the very image of God – the image that He created us in. It is not negotiable based on circumstances.

2.      The severe punishment of those that kill innocent children

Do you know why God ordered His people to eradicate the Canaanites? One of the main sins they were committing was the sacrifice of their babies to pagan gods. Back then, children were sacrificed to the idols “Baal” and “Molech”. Today they are sacrificed to the idols of “choice”, “women’s rights”, and “making every child a wanted child”. God killed thousands for this sin. And Hebrews tells us His nature does not change. Later on, the same sin condemned the people surrounding Israel. And when Israel slipped into themselves, God was not partial in delivering their punishment. The same judgment of a righteous God will come on those who sacrifice children, and those who “take pleasure in them that” do it (Rom. 1:32).

3.      God’s love for children

Over and over we see God’s people weep for lost children. The massacre of young boys by Harod was a day of “Rachel weeping for her children”. David, as I said before, wept for his lost child.

Jesus Himself spoke of this. “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt. 19:14). “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” (Mark 9:42).

What makes the preborn inclusive of this? There are a number of verses that point to them being as much people as we are. Job speaks of stillborn fetuses as “babies that never saw light”. Women are called mothers of their preborn children in multiple places, as are children called children “in the womb”. There is differentiation between a “man-child conceived” and a “man-child born”. The word “begat” (which many recent “translations” make the fatal mistake of changing to “gave birth”) refers to conception and birth. John the Baptist lept in Elizabeth’s womb.

Or, just check basic science.

4.      Free will and personal accountability

When God created Adam and Eve, He didn’t make them to blindly follow His will. He gave them a choice whether to love Him – as love should be. I cannot be accountable for your actions, and you cannot be accountable for mine. In God’s sight, we all answer for ourselves.

People who believe babies going to Heaven justifies abortion are ignoring this fact. We wouldn’t take the life of a three year-old to ensure they go to Heaven. It is immoral, yea, it is evil, and completely against God’s command. Why is it different for the preborn? God has given us a choice of whether to love Him or not. We cannot blind ourselves to that fact. If someone chooses to reject Christ, that is on them. It’s not for us to take action to prevent that decision from occurring. Evangelism through murder: sure has a nice ring to it.

Let’s not deceive ourselves by taking the dismemberment of children as a positive thing. We can rest in the fact that they are resting, but if you honestly believe that the best option is to choose indecision for the preborn, I question your heart. I question you conscience. I question whether you are a child of God.

Or at least the God I know.