Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry

by John Piper

1973,

Roe v. Wade

July 1, 1976,

1.5 million babies every year.

It is irrelevant that Job’s mother was probably a freedwoman and the mother of the servant was probably a bondwoman. Why? Because mothers are not the main nurturers and fashioners during the time of gestation, God is, the same God for both slave and free.

But the Bible treats the unborn in the same way it treats babies that have been born (see Gen. 25:22; compare Luke 1:44 and 2:12; Exod. 21:22–25).

Let me say that again positively: the destruction of conceived human life—whether embryonic, fetal, or viable—is an assault on the unique person-forming work of God. And therefore to the degree that we recognize even in fallen personhood a unique value, because of its potential to glorify God with conscious obedience and praise, to that degree will we shrink back with reverence and fear from assaulting or obstructing the divine work of God fashioning such a person in the womb.

The issue was whether the taking of human life is warranted by the greater good of a woman’s right’s. I have found this position repeated in talking with other pro-choice professionals;

kill”

rahaz.

It is never used of killing in war or (with one possible exception, Num. 35:27) of killing in judicial execution.

“put to death”

mut)

Innocent blood includes the blood of children (Ps. 106:38).

“Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Rom. 6:1).

The word for infant

is the same word Luke uses for the unborn infant in Elizabeth’s womb