Many pro-life people make the argument that no mother should receive punishment for killing her preborn child. They say that only the abortionists should be punished, since they’re the ones doing the killing. As for abortion pills, it seems that all pro-lifers want to do is regulate them without any thought of consequences for those who purchase and use them. 

Usually, this argument is made from a genuinely compassionate perspective. Pro-life people want to emphasize the evil of abortionists without addressing the guilt of the mother. Perhaps they want to give grace and emphasize that there is forgiveness for this sin. 

There most certainly is forgiveness for mothers (and abortionists) who have committed the sin of abortion — and that forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ alone. 

But forgiveness does not mean living without consequences.

In most circumstances, a mother does not have an abortion against her will. She seeks out an abortion. There are, of course, cases in which mothers are forced or coerced into aborting their child — this argument does not apply to those cases. In the most common circumstances, wherein a mother purposefully seeks to have an abortion, the mother and the abortionist are both equally guilty of murdering a preborn child.

Those who are guilty of murder should be punished under the law — there is no rational person who disagrees with that standard outside the context of abortion. The idea of punishment for crimes has been a constant feature of most human societies and cultures throughout history. Murder has always been one crime that most obviously deserves punishment. 

This standard is not only upheld by all of human history but by scripture as well. The first recorded murder was met by immediate punishment: Cain was exiled for murdering his brother (Genesis 4). In Genesis 9:6, God says, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.” There are and should be consequences for murder.

The most oft-cited reason for punishing abortionists and mothers who commit abortions is justice; that they should receive the due punishment for their actions. This is certainly a good reason to punish them; however, I think there is another reason that is generally overlooked.

Love. 

It is not loving to enable a person to believe lies. Providing exceptions that allow mothers who commit abortions to go unpunished enables them to believe the lie that their actions were not immoral; therefore, it is not loving to allow those mothers to go unpunished.

Punishment for abortion can lead to repentance. How often in the book of Judges does Israel repent after receiving the natural consequences of their wickedness? This pattern is repeated over and over again throughout the book. The same can apply to those who commit abortions — consequences can lead them to repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and forgiveness. Repentance cannot excuse them from punishment, as that would create a double standard, but repentance is a good thing that can come from punishment.

A strict standard of punishment for those who commit abortions makes the message clear: Abortion is immoral. This can change the way society views abortion. The fact that abortion can be punished changes the cultural mindset on the issue. Some will certainly continue to believe that abortion is perfectly acceptable and that abolitionist laws violate their rights; however, abolitionist laws would send a message to those who had not previously thought the issue through. Perhaps, if this is illegal, there may be something immoral about it.

We, as Christians and abolitionists, should be motivated by love. To love properly, we must want others to believe the truth and sinners to come to repentance. We should love all people as God loves all people. We do not seek to make people angry or to propagate hate. 

We seek to provide a loving answer to the sin of abortion: criminalize that act and establish proper punishment. That is the most loving thing to do.

Aaron Holland is a college student, writer and abolitionist from Arizona who serves his church family diligently and seeks to encourage Christians everywhere with truth. Aaron is a signer of the Norman Statement.