A Pastoral Word to Fellow Shepherds Pastoring in this cultural moment requires both courage and care.Many in our congregations are deeply compassionate and sincerely committed to Jesus, yet have absorbed cultural assumptions about abortion without ever examining them through sustained, biblical teaching. For some, this issue is personal. For others, it feels political. As pastors, our calling is not to shame or polarize, but to disciple—bringing every area of life under the authority of God’s Word.This resource is not designed to argue or provoke. It is meant to help pastors open Scripture in a way that allows God to speak clearly and graciously about unborn human life. When abortion is framed as a political issue, defenses rise. When it is framed as a discipleship issue, hearts often open. The passages included here invite us to slow down, listen to Scripture, and allow God’s truth to shape both our convictions, and inform our compassion with objective truth. We trust that the Word of God—taught faithfully and pastorally—still renews minds and forms disciples, even on the most difficult issues of our day. Thank you for your faithful shepherding and for leading your people with truth, humility, and hope. How to Preach This Wisely 1. Lead with Scripture, not slogans Let the text do the work. Avoid political language and focus on what the passage reveals about God, humanity, and His purposes. 2. Acknowledge pain and complexity Assume that someone in the room has been personally affected by abortion. Speak with pastoral sensitivity and leave room for grace and healing. 3. Keep both men & women in view Emphasize that a biblical pro-life ethic protects both mother and child , and rejects the false choice between compassion and truth. 4. Preach hope, not condemnation Anchor every message in the gospel: Christ’s forgiveness of sin, restoration, & power to redeem even the hardest stories. Psalm 139:13–16 — God’s Personal, Intentional Creation of the Unborn “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb...” (v.13) Why this text works expositively This passage does not argue politically—it reveals ontology . David is not making a poetic exaggeration; he is testifying about who God is and what God does Expository thrust ● God is the active subject (“You formed... You knitted...”) ● The unborn child is the direct object of God’s creative work ● Personhood precedes visibility, viability, or birth Key exegetical observations ● “Knitted” (Heb. raqam ) implies intentional craftsmanship , not accident ● “I was” (v.13–16) — David identifies himself before birth ● God’s knowledge and purpose precede development, circumstance, or desire Confronts a common pro-choice assumption “It’s a woman’s body, not yet a person.” The text answers: God does not create potential persons —He creates persons with potential Heart-level impact This passage gently but firmly reorients abortion from a choice to an interruption of God’s work —a category shift that lands deeply with believers. Luke 1:39–45 — The Unborn Recognize the Presence of Christ “For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (v.44) Why this text works expositively This is historical narrative , not poetry, anchored in real events, real pregnancies, real gestational ages. Expository thrust ● John the Baptist is explicitly called a “baby” (Greek: brephos) —the same word used for newborn infants (Luke 2:12) ● The unborn child exhibits spiritual responsiveness ● God’s redemptive plan unfolds before birth Key exegetical observations ● John is ~6 months gestation; Jesus likely days or weeks ● Elizabeth interprets the movement theologically—not medically ● The unborn are portrayed as participants , not objects Confronts a common pro-choice assumption “Personhood begins at birth or later development.” The text answers: Scripture assigns relational, moral, and spiritual significance to the unborn. Heart-level impact It’s difficult for believers to maintain abortion neutrality when the unborn are shown recognizing Christ before anyone else in the New Testament. Jeremiah 1:4–5 — God’s Moral Claim on Life Before Birth “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you...” Why this text works expositively This passage establishes pre-birth identity, purpose, and calling —core categories that evangelical Christians already affirm for born persons. Expository thrust ● God’s knowledge precedes formation ● God’s purpose precedes choice ● Life in the womb exists under divine authority , not human permission Key exegetical observations ● “Knew” (Heb. yada ) implies covenantal relationship, not awareness ● “Consecrated” establishes moral value before birth ● God does not wait for social recognition to assign worth Confronts a common pro-choice assumption “Even if it’s life, it doesn’t have the same moral status.” The text answers: God assigns calling before consciousness , purpose before performance. Heart-level impact This passage challenges believers to ask: If God claims life before birth, who are we to deny it? Anticipatory Pastoral Responses to Common Objections “What about rape or incest?” These cases are horrific and demand deep compassion and care. Scripture never minimizes evil done to a woman—but it also never teaches that violence against a child is made just by the circumstances of their conception. The biblical response is greater protection and support , not another act of violence. The child is not guilty of the father’s sin. “What about the mother’s health?” Scripture affirms the equal dignity of both lives. In rare, tragic medical situations where a mother’s life is at risk, doctors may act to save life—not to intentionally end one. This is morally distinct from elective abortion and should not be conflated with it. “What about poverty or lack of support?” The Bible consistently calls God’s people to care for the poor, the vulnerable, and those in crisis. Economic hardship is a call for the Church to step in , not for life to be ended. The early Church was known for surrounding vulnerable women and children with sacrificial care—and we are called to do the same. “A woman’s body, her choice.” Scripture affirms bodily dignity and moral agency, but it also teaches that our bodies are not autonomous . We belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19–20), and pregnancy involves two bodies , not one. The unborn child has a distinct, God-given life that does not become ours to dispose of for any reason. Biblical freedom is never the freedom to harm another human being. “A woman’s healthcare decisions are between her and her doctor.” Many decisions in healthcare are deeply personal, but no medical decision is morally neutral Scripture has always recognized limits where the vulnerable are harmed. Doctors are called to heal, not to intentionally end innocent human life. The question is not who decides, but what is being decided . The Bible consistently teaches that life is sacred and deserving of protection, especially when it cannot speak for itself. “Restricting abortion prevents doctors from providing miscarriage care.” This is a common and deeply misleading claim. Miscarriage care and life-saving emergency treatment are not abortions . As Christ followers, we must be discerning and recognize political slogans or propaganda. Treating ectopic pregnancies, managing incomplete miscarriages, or intervening to save a mother’s life are long-established medical practices and are explicitly permitted under pro-life laws. Conflating these realities confuses patients and unjustly undermines trust in physicians who continue to provide ethical, life-saving care. “The Bible doesn’t explicitly mention abortion.” Scripture often teaches moral truth through principles , not modern terminology. The Bible also does not mention human trafficking, chemical weapons, or digital exploitation, yet its teachings clearly apply. Scripture consistently affirms the humanity, dignity, and moral worth of the unborn, and condemns the shedding of innocent blood. Silence on a modern procedure does not equal moral neutrality. “We shouldn’t impose our religious beliefs on others.” All laws reflect moral judgments about what a society will protect or prohibit. Christians are not asking the state to enforce religious rituals, but to recognize basic human dignity , something accessible to both faith and reason. Protecting innocent human life is not uniquely Christian—it is a moral good that has long been recognized across cultures and legal traditions. “Abortion is necessary to protect women’s mental health.” This claim is often asserted but rarely examined carefully. Many women report profound emotional and psychological distress following abortion, while long-term healing is often found through support, truth, and compassion; not through ending a life. Scripture calls us to address suffering in community, and with care and compassion, not by eliminating the vulnerable person associated with the pain. “Making abortion illegal just drives it underground and makes it unsafe.” The solution to injustice is not to legalize it, but to address the root causes. Laws exist to protect human life and signal moral boundaries. When society protects the unborn, it also has a responsibility to expand care, resources, and support for women in crisis. The Church has, and is already playing, a vital role to play in ensuring no woman feels alone or without options. To learn more about abortion recovery and healing, visit https://abortionhealing.org. For help with an unplanned pregnancy or more resources, visit https://pregnancydecisionline.org Closing Pastoral Note for Pastors When these objections arise, the goal is not to “win” the argument, but to reframe the conversation —from autonomy to stewardship, from choice to responsibility, from isolation to community, and from fear to hope rooted in Christ. Scripture References for Anticipatory Pastoral Responses to Common Objections: Rape / Incest ● Deuteronomy 24:16 ● Ezekiel 18:20 ● Psalm 82:3–4 Mother’s Health ● Exodus 21:22–25 ● Matthew 22:39 ● Proverbs 24:11 Poverty / Lack of Support ● Psalm 68:5–6 ● Proverbs 31:8–9 ● James 1:27 ● Acts 2:44–45 “A Woman’s Body, Her Choice” ● 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ● Psalm 24:1 ● Jeremiah 1:5 Healthcare Decisions ● Proverbs 16:25 ● Micah 6:8 ● Luke 10:33–34 Miscarriage / Emergency Care ● Exodus 21:22–23 ● Matthew 5:9 ● Proverbs 12:22 Bible Doesn’t Mention Abortion ● Psalm 139:13–16 ● Job 31:15 ● Proverbs 6:16–17 Imposing Beliefs ● Romans 2:14–15 ● Genesis 9:6 ● Proverbs 14:34 Mental Health ● Psalm 34:18 ● Galatians 6:2 ● Matthew 11:28–30 Illegal = Unsafe ● Romans 13:1–4 ● Proverbs 31:8 ● Isaiah 1:17