I’m a pastor.

Not a lawyer.

Here’s what that means for me and how I interpret my calling.  I teach the Bible in an effort to make disciples of Jesus.  I want people to believe in Jesus, to know Jesus, to follow Jesus, and to live and love like Jesus.

As a general rule, I don’t usually comment on constitutional issues or deep legal issues or purely political issues.  But I am definitely willing to teach the Bible and to take a stand on what I believe the Bible teaches.

Abortion is a big issue right now, and I have had many people ask me to state clearly what I believe the Bible teaches.  I have done so before, but I want to again be clear.  I believe that the Bible teaches that abortion is wrong.  There are times in which there is no other good option—for example, when the life and health of the mother is at stake.  But my advice to anyone who has ever asked me about it is simple, “No.  I don’t believe abortion is what God wants.  Your life and future is important, but so is the life and future of the baby inside you.  So let’s look at other options.”

If you’ve already had an abortion, I won’t judge or put you down.  I will talk to you of God’s forgiveness and His eternal love for you and encourage you to give any guilt to God and let him heal you.  I will tell you that God still has an incredible plan for you.

The Bible is clear that human life is sacred and special and made in the image of God.  The Bible may not give full details on the scientific and biological processes involved, for it is a book that reveals the nature and truth of God and His relationship with man rather than a science or biology textbook.  But the Bible is clear (Genesis 1:26) that human life is made in the image of God, and that (Psalm 22:10) God is involved in our lives even in the womb.

And for those who say this is merely a “religious argument,” know that it is in full agreement with science.  A baby in a womb is a unique individual, with separate DNA and identity from the mother.  

Therefore, I believe that life even in the womb is a blessing from God and should be protected by the mom and the dad.

But let’s put abortion into a larger context.  The Biblical understanding of human life fits perfectly into God’s design for the family, in which a man and a woman wait until marriage for sex and then come together to form the heart of a family in which children are considered a blessing.  Even “unplanned” and “surprise” pregnancies within the family are a blessing of God.  I know this from personal experience.  Several times my wife said, “We need to talk.  I’m think I’m pregnant.”    My “shock” turned to “joy” within a matter of seconds.  There were obvious changes of plan—housing, jobs, lifestyle, finances, etc.—but even the unplanned has turned into a huge blessing.

I know that the Bible’s teaching on the family sounds old-fashioned to many.  And I know that the Bible’s teaching on life sounds old-fashioned as well.  But it is God’s plan. 

And it works.

So I view the issue in a larger context.  Yes, we have an “abortion” issue in our country.  But it’s only part of a much larger “family issue.”  I will work to improve the family, and that includes more love and compassion for babies and children. 

So as a pastor, I will continue to teach God’s plan for the family, including God’s plan for life.  I will leave the picketing and the public protests to others.  I won’t sign any proposed constitutional amendment as they are currently being circulated.  I won’t publicly debate the various Arizona laws and legal judgments (1864 vs. 2022) that seem to change from day-to-day.  I won’t tell you which “candidates” are “right,” and which are “wrong,” for I don’t denounce or endorse candidates.  I won’t declare what the “penalty” for doctors or others involved should be, for that is a legal issue. 

I will stick with the Biblical issue—human life is a great gift from God in His image and we should thank Him for it.

It’s not that I don’t have opinions on the laws or the candidates—I do.  But I’m a pastor, not a lawyer, legislator, or judge.  I want to look at and teach God’s truth:  There is a God.  He is real.  He loves us.  He died for us.  He has called us to believe in Him.  He wants us to live by his principles and commands.  And even when we’ve blown it, His love is still real and will never change.

Living for Jesus is more than lip service to Him.  It includes living by God’s pattern for the family.

And for life.