Christians on each side of the political aisle share a belief in God’s sovereignty and the value of human life. They share a concern for the well-being of both women and children.  

They share an understanding of the complex social, emotional, medical and financial factors at work when it comes to abortion. They even agree that many abortions occur for unethical reasons. But some disagree over whether abortion should be legal, and some disagree over whether a Christian position on life should be imposed upon women who don’t share Christian convictions.

Christians who hold a variety of positions on the legality of abortion – and indeed, non-Christians – can nevertheless work together with common concern for the lives and well-being of women and children in order to reduce the number of abortions and increase the quality of life for everyone involved. Perhaps some Christians will lay down the labels of pro-life and pro-choice and address the tragedy of abortion outside of the legal sphere. Over one million abortions are performed each year. What can we do to care for and protect both women who face an unexpected pregnancy and the children they never intended to have?

This article originally appeared in the NAE Insight.

Amy Julia Becker

Amy Julia Becker is the author of “Small Talk: Learning From My Children About What Matters Most”, “A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations and a Little Girl Named Penny” (named one of the Top Books of 2011 by Publisher’s Weekly), and “Penelope Ayers: A Memoir”. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary.