WHERE IN THE BIBLE would anyone get the idea that a woman who becomes pregnant from rape must keep the baby?
- “You [God] created my body from a tiny drop….You, the source of my life.” Job 10:10, Contemporary English Version
- “You [God] formed me inside my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13, The Message
- “I [God] knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” Jeremiah 1:4-5 New Living Translation
Many Christians say that verses like these prove life begins at conception. Millions of Christians, caring and sincere.
That’s why many insist that it’s wrong to terminate a pregnancy, except to save the life of the mother.
Even then, as the Roman Catholic church teaches, abortion is both bad and good
Bad because it takes a life.
Good because it saves a life.
But when it comes to rape, it’s Babies R Us.
Other Christians, however, essentially respond:
“Hold it one Holy Heck!”
Their take on those Bible verses might sound something like this—especially if they’re, oh let’s say the mother of a raped 14-year-old.
“You mean to tell me that on the basis of a scattering of lyrics from ancient Hebrew poetry that my little girl has to let that microscopic Seed of Satan grow into a baby?”
“The rape was a terrible thing,” some Christians would answer. Sad face. “But the Bible teaches that life is a precious gift from God. Even life that comes from a terrible thing.”
“Well, given your approach to interpreting poetry,” the mother might respond, picking up a kitchen knife, “tell me what I should do about these words.”
“i carry your heart with me…i am never without it(anywhere
I go you go, my dear).”
—e.e. cummings
For the record, I know that the punctuation and spacing are out of whack, but so was e.e. cummings.
I also know I have taken the poet out of context.
Some might say it all seems so fitting.
One horrible crime does not justify another
Thanks, Greg. Some Christians would wonder which crime is worse: ending the pregnancy pronto or forcing the rape victim to deliver the baby.
The Bible doesn’t seem to speak directly to that question, or even to the matter of when it is that God places a soul into a life.
And it leaves some wondering why, if God knows everything, he would put a soul into a life that’s going to be ended before it draws a breath.
Lots of tough questions swirl around this topic.
It’s hard enough to talk about this topic philosophically. I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like for someone who was raped, or for someone who is struggling with regret over an abortion. Both ends of the spectrum seem tragic.
I’m thinking we need to hear more from the ladies who have been through it, and less from politicians and picketers.
My family has the whole political gamut covered–from far left to far right. We are ministers, missionaries, doctors, nurses, educators, entertainers, financiers, and restaurateurs. We have been, in various professions, in Japan, South Korea, China, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa, Belize, Argentina, Switzerland, France (and other places that I can’t keep up with). I think that I can say with confidence that we have been agents of grace and redemption, and that our collective influence is unestimable. (Do I sound conceited?) The only reason I say these things is that none of it would have happened if my great-grandmother didn’t choose not to end her pregnancy that resulted from her rape. She was wise enough to know that you don’t make life fair by increasing the victim count. Perhaps the Bible doesn’t speak specifically to this issue, but the entire message of the Bible does. God brings redemption out of tragic circumstances.
Excellent point, Mark.
A follow up question would be whether or not we should impose the decision that your great-grandmother made on all rape victims, as a law.
Because that is under consideration by some formidable politicians in one particular party.
I would expect that a search through history would turn up some great human beings born of rape. Probably some serial killers, too.
I guess one difference between modern times and the time in which your great-grandmother got pregnant through rape is that the victim wouldn’t have to wait a month or more to find out if she’s pregnant. Morning-after pills would solve that worry.
This is a tough issue. I’m not sure we gents are in a position to tell the ladies what to do, given the fact that it’s the guys doing the raping and the ladies doing the reaping of the seeds some guy has sown.
I wonder if the Holy Spirit helps Christians on a case-by-case basis when something like this happens and tough decisions need to be made. I think if I were one of the victims I’d rather have God’s direction than the opinion expressed in a debate or a stump speech by some politician.
That said, I admire your great-grandmother for what she did. On the other hand, I doubt that all victims would be up to that, or that we should order them to get with that program.
(I forgot the most important profession–the writers, editors, and other journalists!)