WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Val Halloran writes her thoughts about birth control and abortion:
I have some thoughts about the abortion crisis that are probably not shared by many but make some sense in my mind. While there have always been those who don't value life and will look for ways to avoid consequences of their own choices, I can't help believe that since birth control became widespread, it also gave rise to the use of abortion as a means to the same end, namely, that of preventing an inconvenient disruption into one's plans and lifestyle.
The subtle acceptance that life and death are in human hands lends itself to the belief that life is just a random act of biology, rather than a foreordained creation of an almighty and sovereign God.
As readily available and fairly reliable options for birth control became widespread, so did the belief that couples could “have their cake and eat it too,” so to speak. Both married and unmarried couples could now easily engage in the pleasures of sex without the fear of having to take responsibility for a child that could come from that union. It also removed any need for trusting in God in the area of conception, financial provision, sacrifice of health and personal goals, and all that's involved with having and rearing children.
Rather than believing what Scripture says about children always being gifts from God, the subtle attitude began to grow, even in the church, to the point where society at large sees children as a burden and disruption to better and more important things. There's not time here to go into all the ramifications and negative consequences that we are currently and will in the future suffer for having that attitude, but that's a different story.
In my humble estimation, it was at that point where the subtle devaluing of human life began, along with the belief that we are entitled to have pleasure without any commitment or responsibility. If life can be prevented in the first place (by using birth control), demonstrating the perception that children are an annoyance and disruption to personal space, is it really any different of a root attitude towards the sanctity and miracle of life than the choice to have an abortion?
I believe the acceptance of and even encouragement of the casual use of birth control propagates an attitude of selfishness and the idea that we are sovereign over our bodies and lives. I'm certainly no authority, but these are some of my thoughts on where the widespread devaluing of life may have started.
VAL HALLORAN
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