Jeremiah, Paul, and David–Prophet, Preacher, and King–all testify to God’s relationship with them before they were born. God told Jeremiah that he knew him before he formed him, and consecrated Jeremiah and appointed him a prophet while he was still in the womb (Jer. 1:5). David confesses that God had ordained all his days on earth while he was still in his mother’s womb. Even as God was forming David’s physical body inside the womb, he was also "forming" David’s life and calling (Psalm 139:14-16).

The New Testament prophet, John the Baptist, while still unborn himself, joyously responded to the Mother of his Lord while his Lord was a tiny embryo newly conceived in the womb of Mary (Luke 1:44). And, of course, that tiny embryo–already both God and human being–was the evidence of how deeply God cares for and seeks to redeem every human being.

Such an intimate relationship
How can a Faith that confesses such intimate relationship between God and human beings ever even entertain the thought that the unborn might not be human, or might not be persons, or that killing them before they are born is a necessary evil? Yet Presbyterians today offer up their unborn brothers and sisters in a blind allegiance to the god of Choice.

True conscience: The love that will not let us go
The reason, he says, is conscience. Not the conscience that is easily swayed by the persuasion of the masses that turn wrong into right. But the conscience deep down that suddenly rises up unexpectedly and accuses us.

The research that now, after thirty years, is beginning to give us statistics in reliable numbers, reveals the physical and psychological price of abortion. While the physical effects can be quite serious, it’s the psychological effects that support Budziszewski’s thesis on conscience.

Women who have had abortions frequently report that their first heavy use of alcohol or drugs was linked to attempts to alleviate the "stress" related to abortion. Women who have repeat abortions (nearly 50%) have a higher rate of suicide attempts than women who have a single abortion. A Finnish study found the incidence of suicide in women following induced abortion was six times higher than suicide following childbirth.

There is growing evidence that women who have had induced abortions frequently will exhibit a high level of anxiety, may fear they will be punished or that they deserve punishment, show paranoid behavior or fear of death.

Repentance: The way out
The reality is that preserving a woman’s health is a good reason not to have an abortion. Budziszewski told his audience that the only resolution for real guilt—and taking the life of an innocent unborn child is real guilt—is repentance, and the forgiveness and restoration available through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other price that can be paid for our sin than that which has already been paid by Jesus.

Those who refuse the avenue of repentance look for other avenues of atonement for their sin and absolution for their guilt. Some of these avenues are as simple as finding an affirming group who blesses the abortion decision. Other avenues are more self-destructive.

The reality remains that real guilt requires real grace. And, praise God, God has provided that for us in our Savior.

The G.A. abortion policy does not yet point women and men to that grace, but it is there anyway. Let us pray that more of our churches will point the way to life and health for women and men who have made abortion decisions and need to hear the Gospel applied to their sin.