There is a dichotomy, I’ve found, in regards to how people view human beings—either as a credit to society or as a debit. Climate activists across the world describe humans as a drain on resources. Politicians across the US have been quoted this year citing babies as a financial burden. We hear things like “eliminating the right of women to make decisions about when and whether to have children would have very damaging effects on the economy”. 

Speaking from a practical standpoint, humans are the reason we have commerce, technology, medicine, transportation, and all the wonderful inventions and industries that span our world. Societies that kill off future generations before they’re born do not fare well historically. The simple fact is, people are overwhelmingly beneficial, not detrimental, to societies and economies. But there’s a hint of social Darwinism and an undertone of Malthusian dread entwined in the pro-abortion arguments that I cannot ignore, because it’s frankly incompatible with a Christian view of humanity. 

Here’s the simple truth that we’ve been distracted from: EVEN IF a child is born into stark poverty, destined to be a financial burden in every way, draining the earth’s resources, and never contributing one good thing to society in all of his life, he is still a human being. It is the mere fact that he is human that gives his life value and worth. Will he be a credit or debit to society? It doesn’t matter. It is not a person’s usefulness that makes them valuable! Christians understand that human value is innate from the moment of conception. No matter the size, age, ability, or productivity — he has more dignity and worth than anything in all of creation, because he is made in God’s image. 

There are plenty of compelling economic, scientific, and moral arguments against abortion, but they fail to explain why a person in the womb matters, and why they have the right not to be murdered. The dystopian view of the pro-abortion movement claims that human beings are nothing more than clumps of cells, meaningless matter, able to be discarded for financial reasons or as women see fit. But Christians, here’s the profound truth: it is God who created humans, and therefore ascribes us value. Our humanity is inextricably intertwined in every cell of our DNA from the moment of our conception. 

With every exchange, I’m reminded that this is indeed a debate of light vs. darkness and even life vs. death. If you’re using worldly arguments in the life-affirming arena, you can bet they’ll be picked apart. If you’re standing on the truth of God’s Word, you’ve already won. Ultimately, the Christian reason for defending life at all ages is theological: we believe and agree with what our loving God says about His most precious creation. Human beings are no accident.