Choose life, Virginia

The Imago Dei is the foundational doctrine of the biblical worldview. Across two millennia, Christian traditions have held – albeit imperfectly – that people, all people, all races, and of all abilities have God’s imprint on them, like a painting bears the mark of its creator. “We are his workmanship,” says St. Paul.

Herman Bavinck, an early 20th century Dutch Reformed theologian put it this way: “Imago Dei means the whole person is the image of the whole deity.” 

However marred we are by the world’s brokenness and the realities of sin and death, each of us bears the divine likeness as a glorious disguise. Humans are God’s image bearers from womb to tomb. 

Bavinck again: “Every creature in its own way and degree is the embodiment of a divine thought. But among creatures, only man is the image of God, God’s highest and richest self-revelation and consequently the head and crown of the whole creation.” 

What an unspeakable honor to be humanborn. That God chose this way to bring his light and life into the world ennobles women, conception, pregnancy and birth. 

Descending from heaven’s expanse to the infinitesimal point of human embryo, Jesus gave dignity to – and stood in solidarity with women and men all along life’s continuum.  Life – new life – eternal life is the biblical “through line.” Death is the enemy, and never the solution. That’s why Christians have such a tough time with abortion.

Next week, Virginians will be asked to enshrine “reproductive freedom” as a fundamental right in the state’s constitution. The ballot summary of the amendment might appear innocuous, if not superfluous, so we encourage all to read the entire amendment prior to voting. Note that it doesn’t mention women, rather “pregnant individuals.” Euphemisms abound.

Current Virginia law allows unlimited abortions in the first and second trimesters, and in the third trimester upon the agreement of three physicians. The amendment would decrease existing third-trimester protections to the approval of the physician doing the procedure, who can approve third-trimester abortion for any health reason. The lowering of protections and broadening of qualifying circumstances effectively expands elective abortion up to birth; the viability of the child is irrelevant. Additionally, the amendment’s language of “individual” puts parental consent at risk of being overturned, as seen in many other states. This would give even minors a constitutional right to abortion at any stage or age. 

Going far beyond Roe or Casey, the amendment will make third-trimester abortion unborn children a constitutional right in the state of Virginia. If approved, another constitutional amendment would be needed to reverse it. 

For Christians, abortion is de-creation. What other species would choose its own destruction? Choose life, Virginia.

Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, God and Creation, Volume 2. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic) 2004, 530-531.