Ten Arguments for the Value of the Pre-born

1. Humans Are Created in the Image of God 

The most basic tenet of the Judeo-Christian faith is stated in Genesis:

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it …’” (Genesis 1:27-28, NASB)

This passage clearly states that God charged His first man and woman to reproduce. He did not intend to limit humanity to that one couple. Of course, anyone who sincerely believes that the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God cannot argue with the most basic premise that all life is God-created. So, our children have been created by God, and their lives are as valuable as our own.

While we live in a generally secular society that allows for either the freedom of religion or freedom from religion, those who truly believe in the God of the Bible cannot really argue this fact. It is black and white for them. So how can anyone who calls themself Christian support the destruction of the preborn human?

2. After Adam and Eve, God Formed Every Person in the Mother's Womb 

Psalm 139, which was penned by King David, specifically says that God formed us in the womb of our mother:

“For you formed my inward parts; 

You covered me in my mother’s womb

I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully

made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.”

(Psalm 139:13-14, NKJV)

In fact, David elaborates on this, saying, “My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed …” (v. 15-16)

So, in this Psalm, David portrays God as the Master Craftsman who fashioned David into a living person while he was being developed in the womb. This would obviously apply to all humanity, with the exception of the first man and woman God formed outside the womb because until then, there were no wombs to be formed in. With that in mind, how could anyone believe that ripping a preborn baby apart is a good thing?

3. Exodus Emphasizes the Human Value of a Pre-born Child, Prescribing a Penalty if Harmed (Even Accidentally) 

“If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Exodus 21:22-25, NKJV)

This is a law given directly by God to Moses. The meaning that can be gleaned from this passage is that if a pregnant woman is even accidentally injured in the course of a fight, and the child born prematurely experiences no harm, then God recommends only a monetary penalty. However, if the child who is born prematurely experiences harm, in any way, the harm done to the child will result in a corresponding penalty from the man (or men) who caused the premature birth. It clearly says that if the child dies from being born prematurely, then the penalty of death must be enacted upon the person who hurt the pregnant woman.

This makes the value God places on preborn life very clear. One can only surmise that if God considers an accidental death of a preborn baby to be so serious that anyone who accidentally causes the baby’s death would be deserving of death, how much more guilty would someone be who deliberately terminates a pregnancy? Yes, we do live in the age of grace (also known as the “Church Age”). This means that the grace of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ extends to every person while they live on earth, and they can repent and be saved anytime before their physical death when they will be accountable before God for the way they lived their life. It appears, however, that God clearly expressed His care for the preborn.

4. God Creates Not Only the Body but the Soul of Each Human

According to Bible.org, there are a variety of views regarding when the soul of a preborn child is given life by God.

One view that is widely accepted by Christian scholars is the “Traducian Theory.” This teaches that both the human body and soul are created through the parents. It is based on the view that God’s direct creation ended with the creation of the first man and woman on the sixth day of creation. However, God is very much involved in the creation of human bodies and souls, but He accomplishes it through reproduction.

One support for the Traducian theory is found in the following verse penned by David:

“Surely I was sinful at birth, 

sinful from the time my mother conceived

me.”

(Psalm 51:5, NIV)

The verse clearly speaks of the soul, the inherited sin nature, being present in the preborn child. Every child, beginning with Cain, has inherited this sin nature, meaning that their soul exists before birth, even though that child has not had the opportunity to sin yet.

The Scientific Perspective

An article from LIVEACTION states that many scientists have been silent regarding irrefutable evidence of the humanity of preborn babies as borne out by biology, genetics, embryology, physiology, and anatomy. The following points testify to the humanity of the developing baby in the womb from a scientific viewpoint:

Photo Credit: ©Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash

5. Biology

LIVEACTION asserts that the basic principle of biology: living cells grow and multiply, growing into parts of the anatomy such as the heart, liver, brain, limbs, etc., while dead cells do not. Ergo, the cells multiplying to form the developing baby are living, so the preborn baby is a living human.

6. Embryology

Embryology is concerned with the development of embryos, which are defined as unborn or unhatched offspring as they are developing. This refers specifically to the period of development from the second to the eighth week after fertilization. Then, what we call a fetus refers to an unborn baby approximately eight weeks after conception. Once again, this development requires the orderly multiplication of living cells.

7. Anatomy

The study of anatomy is the branch of science referring to the physical structure of humans, mammals, and other living organisms. LIVEACTION says it all: “If an embryo or fetus has bodily structures (and both do), then we can study the anatomy of that human being.”

8. Physiology

This scientific discipline is very telling in terms of the preborn baby being a separate person. It observes the functions of living organisms or specific body parts. The physiology of pregnancy demonstrates that the placenta and umbilical cord separate the physical body of a preborn baby from the mother’s body. Thus, the baby’s circulatory system is separate from the mother’s. This pokes holes in the pro-abortion slogan, “My Body, My Choice.” The article says, “If the preborn baby were only a part of the mother’s body, he could simply grow inside one of her body cavities like a tumor without any barriers like a placenta and umbilical cord to protect the two of them.”

9. Genetics 

Genetics determines all of the characteristics of every living organism, including whether that creature is human, animal, bird, etc. Genetics determines a human baby’s characteristics - what makes him or her a separate, distinct human being - at the point of fertilization. Those characteristics include hair color, hand shape, eye color, predisposition to certain diseases, etc. 

Thus, genetics, our DNA code, is impossible without the presence of an independent, living being. To identify genetics is to identify a living creature. 

10. Scientific Technology

The ultrasound test is generally used in obstetrical care to track the development of a preborn baby, determine gender, check for possible multiple births, and to evaluate the general health of the baby, such as heart activity. This scientific marvel has provided great insight into life developing in the womb. 

In fact, Calvary Chapel in Old Bridge, New Jersey uses a mobile ultrasound unit to show pregnant women who are considering abortion their babies and share the love of Jesus with these fearful mothers-to-be.

With all this evidence of the humanity and value of the preborn at our fingertips, it is so important for all who understand this to share it, with love, whenever we have the opportunity.

"but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:15-16, NKJV)

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/EKSTAZA