A Whole-Life, Pro-Life Ethic: Reflecting the Heart of Christ
The decision to have an abortion during my college years is undoubtedly one of the most regrettable choices I’ve ever made. I wish I had been compelled by some sense of safety, support, and biblical guidance to choose differently, but at the time, I felt utterly lost—burdened by sin, confused about life, and without hope.
Looking back, I wonder what it might have been like to experience the safety and support of the Church in those days. Instead, I feared that I would be seen as nothing more than my sin and circumstances, and I simply could not see a way forward as a young, unwed mother.
Even now, I ask a broader question: How can the Church become a place of safety, support, and biblical guidance for women considering abortion? How do we, as believers, fight for the unborn beyond words or public policy? While both are important, the biblical call to protect life extends further—it calls us to a whole-life, pro-life ethic that reflects the heart of Christ.
Bearing One Another’s Burdens (Galatians 6:1–5)
Galatians 6:1–5 provides a clear call to believers to be deeply invested in the lives of others, especially those burdened by sin or hardship:
Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each person examine his own work and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. For each person will have to carry his own load.
If believers are called to bear one another’s burdens, then perhaps this passage serves as a reminder that protecting life goes beyond affirming its sanctity; it involves burden bearing, gentle restoration, and walking side-by-side with others. A biblical pro-life ethic challenges us to come alongside those facing unplanned pregnancies and to help them see that their burdens can be shared. Most importantly, as believers, we are called to affirm and communicate that their lives, as well as their unborn babies’ lives, are treasured by God.
The Apostle Paul describes this as fulfilling “the law of Christ,” which echoes Jesus’ call to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34). This love is sacrificial, active, and invested. It doesn’t stop at condemnation of sin but moves toward restoration and support.
The Sobering Reality of the Church and Abortion
For many years, I lived in the shadows of my shame because I had chosen abortion. Even after surrendering my life to Christ, I still struggled to walk in the freedom He provides. The weight of my sin was heavy, and I feared talking to other believers about my struggles, dreading the possibility of judgment and rejection.
But God, in His mercy, provided safety through His Son and His Bride, the Church. As I began to open up about my sin, I experienced the freeing power of confession and grace. Rather than condemning me, I encountered fellow believers who helped lift the burden of my heart, pointing me back to the gospel.
The more I shared my story, the more freedom I found—and the more aware I became of other women who shared similar experiences but were bound by fear and silence. This awareness deepened when I read a 2021 Lifeway Research study that revealed heartbreaking statistics about the Church and abortion:
- 7 in 10 women who have had an abortion identify as Christian.
- 36% were attending church regularly at the time of their first abortion.
- 65% of women believe church members are more likely to judge or gossip about single women who are pregnant than help them understand their options.
- For 76% of women, local churches had no influence on their decision to have an abortion—positively or negatively.1
I remember reading this data and thinking, Why is this not a discussion happening in our churches? And then it dawned on me that the enemy thrives in the silence. He wages war through the unspoken struggles and hidden shame of so many women, keeping them bound and isolated, even in the midst of God’s people.
This study revealed the gaps in how we approach life and discipleship in the Church. It’s not that the Church doesn’t care about life; it’s that our care often stops at affirming the sanctity of life without addressing the relational, emotional, and practical needs of the women carrying it.
If the Church is to be a beacon of hope and life in a culture of despair and death, then we must confront these gaps. We must ask ourselves how we can become a place where women feel safe to share their struggles, supported in their decisions, and loved despite their past. As Galatians 6:2 reminds us, this is our calling: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (ESV).
A Call to a Whole-Life Pro-Life Response
A whole-life, pro-life ethic requires more than a stance; it demands action. Here are some ways that I believe the Church can step into this calling:
1. Create safe spaces.
For many women, the Church is perceived as a place of judgment rather than grace. This perception must change. We can begin by training leaders and members to respond to unplanned pregnancies with gentleness and compassion. This includes offering support groups, partnering with pregnancy resource centers, and intentionally communicating that the Church is a refuge for the broken.
2. Meet tangible needs.
Adoption is often the first suggestion in response to abortion, and it’s undoubtedly a beautiful and necessary choice. Statistically, believers are among the top adopters of children, reflecting the heart of God for the fatherless. However, the Church needs to consider other tangible ways to choose life in addition to adoption—ways that address the relational, emotional, and material needs of women and families in crisis.
By broadening our approach, we can more holistically reflect Christ’s love and bear one another’s burdens. Bearing burdens involves practical care. How can we help single mothers or families in crisis? Perhaps by providing financial assistance, childcare, parenting classes, or mentorship. Churches can host baby showers, create benevolence funds, and walk alongside women in ways that meet their immediate and long-term needs.
3. Proclaim the gospel.
Our first response to women considering abortion should not be condemnation but Christ. Believe it or not, I did not need anyone to convince me that choosing abortion was sinful. I already knew that. I carried the guilt of my decision even before I made it. What I needed most was to see a way forward despite my sin, despite the ugliness of my situation. I needed to see and experience redemption bigger than my seemingly insurmountable circumstances.
At its core, the sanctity of life is rooted in the Imago Dei—the truth that all humans are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27). Every life has inherent value and dignity. This is true not only for the child in the womb but also for the mother who carries that child. By proclaiming the gospel, we remind women that their worth and identity are found in Christ, not in their circumstances or choices.
4. Reflect grace.
When women feel judged or alienated, they are less likely to seek help. May the Church be known for extending Christ’s grace and forgiveness, reminding all that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1 ESV). This grace doesn’t excuse sin but invites women into a transformative relationship with Christ.
A Vision for the Future
The fight for life is not only about legislation or rhetoric; it’s also about reflecting the heart of Christ. As we approach Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, let’s remember that the pro-life movement isn’t just a cause—it’s a calling.
Imagine a future where the Church is the first place a woman turns when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. A future where women know they will find safety, support, and biblical guidance within our walls. A future where our love for the unborn is matched by our love for their mothers, fathers, and families.
This is what it means to bear one another’s burdens. This is what it means to fulfill the law of Christ. Let’s commit to this vision—not just for one Sunday but for every day.
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1 Aaron Earls, “7 in 10 Women Who Have Had an Abortion Identify as a Christian,” Lifeway Research, May 3, 2022, https://research.lifeway.com/2021/12/03/7-in-10-women-who-have-had-an-abortion-identify-as-a-christian/.
