Abortion
When a woman spoke to our pastor, Stephen Turner, about having an abortion, he wrote the following to her:
Thanks for telling me yesterday of your intention to have an abortion. You didn’t have to tell me about it. Thank you. I’ve been thinking about my conversation with you so much over the past few days. I hope you can do some more thinking about it. I know that will be hard. Here are just a few things to consider.
I can understand your distress at the thought of having another child. You have …. already I believe and you were saying that ……. is on an average salary. But have you thought that you’ve gotten through some tough times already and you have friends around who’ll gladly help you should you decide to go ahead and have the baby?
And left to itself, this will be born a baby girl or boy with ……’s and your features.
You know I’m a Christian and so the Bible is the moral benchmark for me as to what I should or should not do. I like that. The Bible makes some foundational statements in its opening three pages or so and one is about human beings and what we are. It says that all human beings of whatever race or colour are made in “God’s image”, (Genesis 1:27). A lot has been said about these words but one thing’s for sure – it says that all human being are uniquely wonderful as God is unique among all the beings of the world. It is this idea of human beings which lies behind the Bible’s prohibition of any kind of killing of a human being, (Genesis 9:6)
I hope these ideas are of help to you. Please feel free to get hold of me at any time if you’d like to talk some more.
Steve
Abortion is one of the greatest preventable tragedies in New Zealand society. 18,380 abortions were performed in 2007. That is 2/3 of the total number of all New Zealanders who died by disease, accidental death and natural causes. The abortion rate continues to rise, year on year.
Many women experience profound loss and grief following an abortion. Others are unaware of the alternatives to abortion or face overwhelming pressure to undergo abortion. Christian parents are challenged by their response to unmarried children who themselves become parents.
We hope that the following links, support networks and reading suggestions will help you work through these issues.
Post-abortion trauma support provided through P.A.T.H.S.
The Pregnancy Crisis Centre provides care and support those who are pregnant and worried, and for those suffering as a result of abortion.
This Blog, “Surviving your Single Daughters Pregnancy” offers hope to Christian parents coping with a pregnant daughter.
