Every Child is a Gift from God

With Canada’s election on Monday, I decided to do some digging regarding the various party platforms on abortion.

I have just learned the extent of Canada’s abortion laws. There are none. I am grieved.

According to Wikipedia, abortion in Canada “is legal at all stages of pregnancy (regardless of the reason) . . .”

Also, according to Wikipedia, “(i)n 1969, the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968-1969 legalized some abortions, as long as a committee of doctors certified that continuing the pregnancy would likely endanger the woman’s life or health. “In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in R. v. Morgentaler that the existing law was unconstitutional, and struck down the 1969 Act. The ruling found that criminalization of abortion and legal restrictions violated a woman’s right to “life, liberty and security of the person” guaranteed under Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms established in 1982.

So let’s talk about rights for just a moment. Is there ever a time when citizens give up certain rights? Yes. When, you say, do we ever give up our rights? We give up our rights to a sexually promiscuous lifestyle when we take marriage vows. We give up our right to live outside of a prison cell when we steal from another person, or when we commit murder, or other lesser crimes. These are choices we make where we surrender certain rights in favor of gaining something we want more.

I often tell people I am pro-choice. Knowing that I am a generally conservative retired minister, most people to whom I say that, give me a strange look. After getting their attention in this rather unorthodox way, I then conclude with, “We women make our choice when we have sex.” Sometimes I even express it a little more crudely than that. My response is usually met with silence.

The point is, we make choices every day. Every choice has a consequence. When we choose to skip work we no longer have a right to get paid. When we choose to cheat on our spouse we no longer have the right to be a spouse. When we choose to have sex, we choose to have children, and therefore give up the right to be without child.

I can hear the screams of protest! “What about rape?!” This is definitely a harder situation but every baby, no matter how conceived, is a gift of God and deserves to have the same right to life, liberty and security of the person as every other woman and man.

When does a baby become a baby? Apparently in Canada’s definition, not until it exits the womb and cries. Even then, it is apparently questionable if it were an intended late-term abortion.

According to the scripture, a baby is a baby before it is even formed in the womb. In other words, even before conception. Psalm 139:16 -

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

* * *

You saw me precious Father,

When I was yet unformed.

Your eyes gazed on my substance,

You knew I’d never be born.

You heard me cry in terror

As they tore me from her womb.

“It’s her right,” they argued,

Her life, her rights, my tomb.

Now before I take my first one

My final breath’s been taken

If she could have only known my love

She would know she was mistaken.

The law says you have a right to life

So mine must be given in exchange

Your right of liberty gives you the choice

So I will never be named.

If a law is passed to protect my right

To life and to feel the sun

They say it will cause you such terrible harm

You’ll be physically and mentally undone.

Liberty, life, and security of the person

These are your personal rights.

But when you decide what to do with me, please,

You’re the best one who for me can fight.

I love you,

Your Baby

Please know, if you’ve already had an abortion, God forgives when you ask and repent of your sin. God loves you! Live in that love! And remember, you have a precious baby waiting for you in heaven! Celebrate that gift and look forward to meeting him/her one day!