The Theology of Abortion

Today, we go in-depth on the issue of abortion and look at theology concerning the constitution of man and how it can provide a strong apologetic against abortion.

Citing a recent Gallup Poll stating that most Americans are pro-choice and similar polls that identify the majority of Americans as Christians, Michael Patton - Founder and President of Reclaiming the Mind Ministries, has written an interesting blog entitled, 'Can Christians Support Abortion? A Theology of Abortion'.

In the post on his blog Parchment and Pen, he attempts to deal with the critical question of 'when does the body receive the soul?' He proceeds by looking at the strengths and weaknesses of two prominent positions on this issue; Creationism and Traducianism. In the end, Michael argues that the traducianist holds the most defensible stance and the view that most strongly supports a strict pro-life position.

Michael closes out the post with the following statements:

'I believe that the traducianist theory answers the questions of anthropology better than the creationist viewpoint. While their are many good Christians, contemporary and throughout church history, who have held to the creationist view, I believe that they are wrong.

In short, I believe the issue of abortion is a theological issue. I believe that whether you are a creationist or traducianist, you should not support abortion. It must be seen as a violation of the fifth commandment which negatively says 'You shall not murder' but positively says, 'You shall protect life.' Sadly, I believe, this understanding escapes the forefront of the debate because so many in the church today have relegated theology irrelevant.