“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.””
“What about Rape?”
The unborn, though spiritual inheritors of a sin nature just as we all were, are innocent in word and deed. They’ve done nothing wrong for which to be sentenced to death. Though the pro-abortion position suggests the unborn are indeed guilty of being an inconvenient consequence of their parents’ choices. EVERY consenting adult knows full well that sex produces babies and that contraceptives aren’t 100% effective. To claim anything to the contrary is, put plainly, A WHOLE LIE. Even actress Alyssa Milano, who’s encouraging women to avoid the risk of pregnancy in the wake of Georgia’s abortion ban, has called for a “sex strike” rather than an increase in contraceptive usage. She knows the only sure way to prevent unwanted pregnancies is abstinence. So do most with at least a 7th grade education.
But what about rape? What about unwanted sex that produces an unwanted child?
The thing about abortion is it was legal in various U.S. states before Roe v. Wade, and these laws made it legal to terminate a pregnancy in extreme, albeit rare, cases such as rape. Of course, rape is still no excuse for murdering the innocent (more on this later), but if one would support Roe v. Wade because of rape, that reason is invalid as the point of this case wasn’t to deal with such an exception.
Norma McCorvey (deceased), known under the pseudonym “Jane Roe” in the landmark case Roe v. Wade, was seeking to get an abortion in 1969 after becoming pregnant for a third time. Unwed, on drugs and an alcoholic, McCorvey had no desire to be a mother. As such, she had given her previous two children up for adoption and wanted to terminate her third. To obtain an abortion legally in her state, McCorvey claimed that she was raped. However, she’d later admit that her claim was false after she couldn’t produce a police report and other documentation to support her allegation.
Eventually, she was referred to an attorney seeking to challenge laws which restricted access to abortions, and McCorvey was used as the plaintiff for their case. In 1973 the courts ruled in favor of “a woman’s right to choose” abortion for any reason under the auspices of our Constitutional right to privacy (the 14th Amendment). Nevertheless, by the time the case was decided, McCorvey had given birth to her third child, whom she also gave up for adoption. Ironically, this means the “Roe” in Roe v. Wade never even had an abortion. In fact, she’d go on to become a pro-life advocate and fight to have Roe v. Wade overturned.
(Image: Kyle Nieber)
While McCorvey lied about being raped, it wouldn’t be fair to suggest that pregnancies can’t and don’t result from rape. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists cites a 5% chance of pregnancy per rape among women aged 12-45, which they estimate results in 32,000 pregnancies a year. Yet, rape is still no excuse to kill the innocent. It would take a woman to place her full focus on God and/or the humanity of the child to come to terms with this truth, however. This is why keeping the first and second greatest commandments is paramount. Otherwise, we commit all manner of sin as we attempt to do what we think best. A right understanding of God and His will are key in navigating life’s most challenging quandaries and troubles.
As one who’s overcome sexual abuse, I totally understand the mental and emotional toll this unfortunate experience can have on rape victims. It’s a devastating ordeal in itself, so I can imagine the compounding effect of the experience leading to an unwanted pregnancy. A woman in that situation didn’t ask for that, and she certainly didn’t have a choice!
But neither did the child. So why should he/she die?
(Image by Walaa Khaleel)
God says that children shouldn’t be put to death for the sins of their fathers (Deuteronomy 24:16; Ezekiel 18:19-20). Second, that child is not only innocent, but even as he or she was conceived out of such a horrific experience, God says children are a gift from Him. God also extends His grace and goodness to all - whether good or evil, grateful or ungrateful, His children and His enemies (Psalm 127:3, 145:9; Luke 6:35-36; Matthew 5:45; and Romans 2:4, 8:28). Third, I’m a witness that God can fully deliver us from the emotional pain and mental anguish that comes from rape trauma. He also promises those of us in Christ exclusive graces - His spiritual blessings, which include a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7), a renewed mind (Romans 12:2) and a new identity in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). With God’s help, it is indeed possible for a victim of rape to overcome and live a victorious life and raise her child. This has been possible for many women, including Jennifer Christie, who was a victim of rape in 2014, but decided to keep her child as a reminder that “love is stronger than hate”. Her husband, Jeff, agrees, sharing that children born of rape aren’t reminders of the trauma, but are “opportunities for healing and a way to find meaning from nightmarish meaningless actions.”
Yet, if the mother can’t process the thought of raising a child conceived from rape, adoption is most certainly an option, and there are many resources available to assist women in such situations.
Still, there are those who hold that rape should be an exception, including professing Christians. To Brothers and Sisters, I respectfully ask where in the Scriptures is such an exception is justified? Does God say children are a gift from the Lord...except those conceived from rape (Psalm 127:3)? Is God not sovereign over His Creation (Psalm 115:3; Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 46:10)? Is He not capable of bringing good from what was meant for evil (Genesis 50:18-20)? Does He not send the sun and rain down on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45)? Seriously. If it be God’s will to take a life, we should all know that He is able to do so without our help (Hosea 9:14; 2 Samuel 12:14). So to support a policy that’s helped women and men kill MILLIONS of children in the last 40 years for an exception that accounts for less than 0.5% of all abortions is grossly disproportionate and sad. To support abortion because of rape is to doubt the goodness of God, Who is faithful even when we are not, and Who can overturn the evil intentions of man for His glory. In Christ, both the mother and the child can be born AGAIN...but the child needs to be born first (John 3:4-5).