by C. Elizabeth Evans

Created on: November 12, 2009

Roe vs. Wade has become the center of the embittered debate about a woman's right to abortion. In summary, this landmark decision expressed the United States Supreme Court's judgment that a woman has the right to privacy in matters of pregnancy and abortion and that the final decision is between the woman and the doctor, not the State.

This decision did not make a statement on the moral rightness or wrongness of abortion. Instead, it explained that as a medical procedure, the jurisdiction belongs to the medical field and not the government.

What does this decision mean for Christians, then? Can a Christian support Roe vs. Wade?

It is vital to note that when people refer to themselves as Christians they may mean a variety of different things. They might mean that they grew up going to a Christian church and that they themselves go once in a while. They might mean that they celebrate Christmas instead of some other religious holiday. They might mean they have personally embraced the moral and ethical teachings in the New Testament. They might mean that they try to follow every rule in the Bible. Or they might mean that they embrace a personal relationship with the God of Scripture. The possibilities vary as widely as the Christian denominations. Under that explanation, it is certainly possible that someone occasionally attends a Christian Church, calls themselves Christian, and supports Roe vs. Wade. The two concepts have little to do with one another.

For the rest of this article I will focus on the final category of Christianity: those who believe a Christian is one who personally has chosen to follow the teachings of Jesus and who call him brother, friend, and God. Even among these, more conservative, Christians, it is possible to support Roe vs. Wade.

First, there are some Christians who believe it is not their place to be involved in politics. While rare, these are the people who quote Serve God and honor the King to support their reasons for pursuing religion while accepting the political status quo. In their minds, while abortion is wrong and no Christian should support it personally, it is still the business of the government to rule and not their place to question.

Second, there are some Christians who believe abortion, while tragic, is not wrong under all circumstances. They see it as a moral choice that is between God and the mother and not the place of others to dictate morality. These Christians are still forgiven individuals who want to serve God.

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