Pro Personal Autonomy: The Sacredness of Choice
By Pastor Steven T. Morrow
What does it mean when we’re debating something that was never meant to be debated—something personal, with multiple perspectives, but ultimately a choice that belongs entirely to the individual? When it comes to issues like abortion, it often feels like we’re wrestling with personal beliefs, religious convictions, and societal opinions around a decision that is deeply personal. It’s a choice, just like the choice each person has to believe in Jesus Christ, to accept God, or to walk a moral path.
Many scriptures are often cited in the abortion debate, but they don’t directly address it. Instead, they offer principles we’re left to interpret. Any stance we take on this issue largely rests on how we apply these principles, making the debate as much about opinion as it is about moral conviction.
The Role of Personal Choice in Faith
My argument is neither to declare abortion right nor wrong, but to emphasize that it is a choice—a choice as personal as one’s decision to believe in God or to follow Christ. The decision to believe in Jesus, that He died and rose again, is deeply individual. That choice to believe is what brings salvation, not compulsion. In the same way, other choices, including those about one’s body and life, carry a similar weight of autonomy and personal responsibility.
In Jeremiah 1:5, God says, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” This indicates God’s intimate foreknowledge of every person. In Romans 8:29-30, Paul speaks to God’s knowledge and purpose for His people, stating, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” God’s foreknowledge doesn’t take away human freedom; rather, it respects our autonomy. If God knew us before birth, He also knew the choices we, and our parents, would face, including difficult decisions about life itself. This is not to say every choice aligns with God’s ideal; rather, it acknowledges that our Creator respects human autonomy within His sovereign plan. In a world where belief in God is a choice, shouldn’t other deeply personal decisions remain choices as well?
Pro-Life Beyond Birth: A Holistic Perspective
Being pro-life should mean being pro all life, not just life in the womb. Pro-life means standing against senseless violence, such as school shootings, by supporting laws that protect our children. Pro-life is about ensuring that children and families don’t go hungry, that communities in need have access to resources, and that those seeking asylum are met with compassion. Yet often, we see an inconsistency: some who are pro-life on one issue are less supportive of life-affirming policies in other areas. True pro-life values are holistic—they support life in all its forms and stages.
Acknowledging God’s Foreknowledge and Human Autonomy
Scriptures like Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139:13-16 emphasize God’s intimate knowledge and purpose for each person even before birth. God, who knows every heart, is also aware of the choices people face. His foreknowledge doesn’t force or predetermine each decision; it allows for the complexity of human life. This understanding of divine omniscience and personal choice opens a compassionate path, one where we, as believers, can empathize with others without judgment.
If God allows people to choose belief, even knowing some will choose otherwise, then we too must respect others' autonomy without condemnation. This perspective is about living with humility, understanding that only God knows the entirety of each person’s journey.
Avoiding Hypocrisy: Choosing Compassion Over Condemnation
Consider this: the Bible commands us not to be drunk (Ephesians 5:18), yet we give people the freedom to choose whether or not to drink. Why, then, would we deny the same freedom over deeply personal matters? Condemning one act while overlooking others—like ignoring the harm of excessive drinking or neglecting those in need—reflects selective morality. Let’s not be hypocritical, condemning one choice while turning a blind eye to others that similarly impact life and well-being. If we truly value life, our compassion should extend to all, and our response should be rooted in empathy, prayer, and support.
In Conclusion: The Sacred Nature of Choice
My goal here is not to condemn or to condone but to make aware the sacred nature of choice. Personal autonomy isn’t a secular concept; it’s embedded in the fabric of faith itself. Choosing Christ is deeply personal, just as following any moral path is. We must, therefore, offer empathy and respect toward others’ choices. By focusing on compassion, prayer, and understanding instead of condemnation, we can embody Christ’s love and avoid the pitfalls of judgment and division.
Scripture reminds us, as in 1 Peter 3:15, to “Always be prepared to give an answer…with gentleness and respect.” As people of faith, we’re called to uplift and to walk alongside others, not to dictate their choices. Each person must answer for their own journey, and we are called to support them with grace and love, trusting that God, who knows every heart, will guide each soul as they walk their path.
