Pro-life: A Misnomer?

A misnomer is an improper use or a misuse of a name. “Pro-choice”, for example, is a misuse of a name; for while they give one person the choice as to whether or not they will murder another, they forever take away the possibility of choice for the one murdered. For this reason the term “pro-choice” is a misleading and gross misuse of a name! It is truly a misnomer.

But what about the name “pro-life”? Flowing beneath the surface of the pro-life movement is a current teeming with various thoughts, beliefs, philosophies, principles and truths that make the movement what it is; many of which are derived from Scripture.

Being pro-life myself, and from my acquaintance with those who would consider themselves pro-life, I do not believe that I would raise any objections at all if I were to assert that the following are four of those Biblical truths that underlie the movement.

1. Life is sacred.

2. God gives life and only God should determine when it ends.

3. God loves the human race in some sense as the bearers of His image.

4. Children are a blessing from the Lord. (Ps. 127:3)

Now while many who consider themselves Christians and pro-life would steadfastly agree with these truths in the context of abortion, notice what happens when we bring the very same truths to bear on the subject of birth control: A strange contradiction in the minds and lives of many in the pro-life movement becomes glaringly apparent.

First of all, if we really believe in the sanctity of life, why would we try to prevent it by means of birth control? Whereas the abortionist cold-heartedly puts an end to a life that has already begun, we have simply been one step ahead of him by stopping it from beginning. How can we call it sacred at one time and undesirable at another?

Secondly, if we really believe that God gives life and only God should determine when it ends, then why would we attempt to tie God’s hands so that He cannot give it? If we really believe that God is the sovereign master of life, then why are we trying to control when it happens? How can we demand that people quit meddling with life's end while we are constantly meddling with it's beginning?

Thirdly, if we really believe that God loves the human race as the bearers of His image, why would we try to prevent further refractions of His glory through new members of the human race? Part of the great wickedness of murder is the fact that it is an attempt to destroy an image of God, but what is birth control but an attempt to prevent an image of God? Does anyone else see a striking similarity? In some sense aren’t we both trying to achieve the same end result (no children) just trough different means? It is all the more pathetic when we who call ourselves Christians try to prevent children when we have so many words from God encouraging us that the use of His appointed means will be used by Him to the conversion of their souls. We are, perhaps, preventing the lives of many future Christians all because of a lack of faith that God will give us the grace or the means to take care of them!?

Finally, if we really believe that children are a blessing from the Lord and a gift from His hand, how can we possibly refuse them? How can we pray for God’s blessings day after day and yet refuse the blessing of children? What are we doing but demanding that God only bless us in the ways that we give Him permission! Such an attitude reeks of the greatest arrogance and unthankfulness. What human friend would not be offended if we showed such contempt for them by rejecting a precious gift that they desired to give us and then asked them to give us some other gifts that were more to our liking? Yet isn’t that exactly what we are saying to God when we reject children and then ask for His blessings? How our attitude towards children reveals something of our attitude towards the Lord!

How sadly ironic; many Christians, while condemning abortion and holding signs in protest of it, are all the while trying to achieve the same result (no children) and often times even using forms of birth control (such as the pill and IUDs) that cause millions of abortions each year!  And the pastors who are supposed to be guarding their flocks are sitting quietly by not saying a word about the subject, or even worse in most cases, encouraging it to go on!  

While some may want to debate the use of birth control under certain circumstances (such as the health and life of the mother would be put in immediate danger by another pregnancy) let’s be honest with ourselves, the reasons most Christian couples use birth control have nothing to do with such circumstances.

My brethren, the child preventing mentality and lifestyle that many of us have been guilty of at one time or another, or perhaps are presently guilty of is contrary to Christianity, contrary to the idea of “pro-life” and contrary to the sanctity of life as set forth in the fifth commandment.  Rather than being based on faith and trust in God's provision, such a child preventing mentality is based on a lack of faith in God’s ability to wisely provide and to govern all things; and all that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). 

Dear brethren, how can we call ourselves “pro-life” when we are trying to prevent life?  And how can we expect the world to listen to us and value life while we are trying to stop it from beginning.  And how can we proclaim Christ as Lord while we refuse Him control of our reproduction?  Let’s be honest brethren, we are being hypocrites who are holding to a double standard and making the term “pro-life” a misnomer.

Lord forgive us for our hypocrisy.

JKB

Polemos Ministries
www.polemos.net