Doctor Uses Christianity to Defend Performing Abortions

Is Abortion Just Health Care?

Willie Parker, an abortionist from Chicago, performs abortions once a month in the states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. He spoke at an abortion “rights” fundraiser in Massachusetts where he said that he performs these out-of-state abortions each month because “abortion is health care” and “for me, my Christianity leads me to a place of non-judgment.” He believes that “the Christian faith means different things to different people. His [Christianity] calls his service to those in need.” Apparently he refused to perform abortions until he came across a sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan and it changed his mind. Apparently during this sermon, Martin Luther King said that the Samaritan man helped out of concern for the injured man, not worrying what might happen to him if he stopped to help. Somehow Parker is able to draw from this an application that he’s a “good Samaritan” by killing (murdering) babies in their mothers’ womb.

But abortion is not health care. Abortion is murder. Calling it “health care” or some other sugarcoated term doesn’t change what abortion really is—the taking of an innocent life. And by God’s standard of course, murder is sinful and utterly wrong. “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) and “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: . . . hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:16–17). After the Flood, God even pronounced the death penalty for those who would murder another human being. And God gives the reasoning for this—because every human being is made in the image of God (Genesis 9:5–6).

Just Being a Good Samaritan?

Using the parable of the Good Samaritan as an excuse for murder simply doesn’t work. To do so is a complete misrepresentation of what Jesus was teaching. His point was that we’re to love our neighbor as ourselves and that our “neighbor” isn’t restricted to those living near us or belonging to our same cultural or ethnic group (Luke 10:25–37). Nothing in this parable whatsoever can be used to justify murder! What Parker’s doing is ignoring that abortion is murder and saying that he’s just helping women, like a “good Samaritan.” But is helping women commit a sinful act that goes completely against God’s Word really helping them? No. Scripture says that for those who lead others into sin, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17:1–2).

Do Women Have the Right To End a “Life Process?”

Reportedly, Parker recognizes that abortion ends a life when he says, “I’m never in conflict about if abortion ends a life process. Pregnancy is a life process,” but he also admits that it’s okay to end this “life process” because “all life processes that occur in the body of a woman are subordinate to the well-being of that woman. Women’s agency and power to determine all the processes that go on inside their body allows me to place their well-being first and foremost.”

How did it become a woman’s right to decide life and death for her unborn child? Life is a gift of God (Acts 17:25), and we don’t have the right to decide when or if we will destroy an innocent life. This so-called “right” is nothing more than the outcome of our sin nature selfishly wanting what we want, ignoring the consequences for others (in this case, the unborn babies who will lose their lives).

Now, I’m sure Parker, and others like him, wouldn’t say that a woman should be allowed to end “the life process” of her newborn or toddler just because it’s convenient—but, really, what’s the difference? The only difference is the location of the baby, in the womb versus out of the womb. Because an unborn child is still in the womb, he or she suddenly doesn’t matter—all that matters are the desires of the mother. This is wrong. Murder is murder, regardless of location.

The Hope of the Gospel for All People

But for Willie Parker, other abortion doctors, and women who have made the tragic decision to end their baby’s life, there is hope. That hope is found in repenting of sin and trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation (Romans 10:9–10). Through His death on the Cross, Jesus took all sin—including the sin of abortion—upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21), suffering God’s wrath against sin for us (1 Thessalonians 5:9). He now offers forgiveness for sins and new and eternal life through His Resurrection from the grave. If you’ve had or performed an abortion, you—like every other person since Adam and Eve—stand guilty before God (Romans 3:23). But praise God that He offers us full forgiveness and a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17)! Receive the good news of the gospel, turn from your sin, and live for Jesus Christ.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.