Q: What is our ELS statement on abortion? How do we stand in cases of rape and incest?”
A: The statement to which you are referring is located in the 1978 Synod Report (p. 63). Since there may be others, too, who are not aware of the precise wording, we include the entire resolution:
WHEREAS, the Scriptures teach that human life begins at conception (Matt. 1:20, Ps. 51:5, Ps. 139:13-15), and WHEREAS, each Christian must recognize that abortion is the taking of a human life, and is therefore a grievous sin, except in the rare instance of it being used to save a mother’s life, therefore
- Be it resolved, that we ask each congregation of our synod to study this issue, and
- Be it further resolved, that our Evangelical Lutheran Synod encourage its congregational members to confess publicly that the unborn child is a living person whose right to live must be protected.
Statistics show that only 3% of all abortions performed are because of danger to the mother’s life or physical health, rape, incest, or fetal handicap. This means that 97% of all abortions are for the obvious sake of convenience. The question on whether an abortion could be granted in the case of a pregnancy resulting from either rape or incest frequently is used to arouse an emotional appeal to beg the question as to when God enables human life to begin. Since the Bible does establish human life as encompassing the moment of conception, as well as the entire term in the womb, and since God is always viewed as the giver of that life, even when a child is conceived in a violent manner or an illegitimate manner (Gen. 19:36), all measures should be taken to preserve the life of the child once begun. Even when faced with the rare circumstance of a mother’s life threatened by the life of her unborn child, the Christian will seek to preserve the life he can with the desire to save both lives if possible.
No Christian should ever slight the utter repugnance of rape or incest. But in those most unusual cases where a pregnancy has resulted, abortion is not to be sought as a “corrective measure.” Seeing the life to full term and even suggesting adoption, if need be, is the Christian advice. Because of the Christian’s knowledge of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, even through much past pain and shame the “cross” can be borne. “If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God,” (I Peter 2:20).
