On May 26, 2019, The Atlantic published an article by Emma Green on the topic of abortion - A Pastor’s Case for the Morality of Abortion. It is an interview with Jes Kast, a minister in the United Church of Christ. The article can be found here at The Atlantic site or here for a PDF. Kast believes that not only should abortion be legal, but that no one including God should have any say in the matter.

Below is my response to her views, which she claims are biblical.

Introduction

God doesn’t have the final say over how we make the choices that are best for us - Reverend Jes Kas

This statement by Kast is probably the most revealing in the interview and sums up the overall position that she takes with respect to her definition of “Christian living” and, in this case, with respect to abortion. Ultimately, while she claims to be a Christian and to be a follower of Jesus, her statements are in opposition to this. As one of my seminary-trained (DTS) friends said, “There is little in Kast's interview that is recognizably Christian”. Her position is actually that of a non-Christian, that being completely autonomous and apart from God:

I am my own moral authority.
I am the definer of life.
I am the one who directs my life.

Below are responses (essentially in order of appearance within the interview text) to specific claims and statements by Kast. Since Kast is presenting her view as Christian as well as one with authority (Pastor), the responses are formed on a Scriptural basis.

On Bodily Autonomy and God

What about bodily autonomy? Isn’t that justice? How would God ever infringe upon that? - Kast

Bodily autonomy is defined as the right to self-governance over one's own body without external influence or coercion.

This question (“how would God ever infringe upon that [bodily autonomy]”) is a loaded question, implying that God controls the actions of an individual. God does not control the choices that a person makes. However, this does not mean that God approves of every choice a person makes. If he approved of all choices, there would be no such thing as “sin” (acting against the will of God) in a believer’s life (of which there is an abundance of testimony and commandments against in the New Testament).

On Bodily Autonomy and the Unborn

I believe every person I encounter, including myself, has the right to their body. When that bodily autonomy is taken away, to me, that is against Christian scripture, and is against the Gospel I believe in. - Kast

Science has established that the unborn—though physically dependent on and inside of the mother—is a distinct, self-developing individual with his or her own DNA, brain, arms and legs, etc. Since this unborn child is a separate and distinct body, they themselves have the right to bodily autonomy as well, and thus no one has the right to take their life.

God himself states that (1) an unborn child is a ‘life’ and (2) the consequence of taking that life (in Israel’s civil law) is ‘life for life’ (Ex 21:23) [22]

When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. [23] But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, [24] eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, [25] burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. - Exodus 21:22–25 ESV

God also states that He alone has the authority to give life and to take life (one of many: 1 Sam 2:6):

The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. - 1 Samuel 2:6 ESV

Lastly from a Biblical view, Christians are to act justly (biblical justice) and this includes standing for and defending those that are the most vulnerable in our society. Surely a baby, especially an unborn baby, is among the most vulnerable. Therefore, God would have Christians defend the life of the unborn (their “bodily autonomy”), speaking and acting in defense of those that cannot speak or act for themselves.

Kast’s Christian theological argument for Abortion (Part 1)

When people talk about, “Our body is a temple of God, and holy,” I see that as, I have the right to choices over my body, and the freedom to make the decisions that are right for me.
In Genesis, it says that God breathed God’s spirit into our lives—Christians would say “the Holy Spirit.” Because of that, we’re not puppets controlled by God. Because of the image of God in us, we have freedom. That’s what’s really clear to me, is freedom. - Kast

This is Kast’s complete “Christian theological argument” for abortion? Given that there really isn’t one, Kast must attempt to twist Scripture into one.

Kast is referring (primarily) to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the body of a believer in Christ (a Christian):

[19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price. - 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV
[18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. - Ephesians 2:18–22 ESV

When God says in His Word (Scripture) that our body is a temple of God and holy, he means that it is a place for God to dwell by His Spirit. From a Christian, biblical perspective, this indwelling is not present in all people at all times, but occurs only when a person is “born again”. At that time, the Holy Spirit enters the believer, never to leave again.

This indwelling of the Holy Spirit has two primary purposes:
To place a seal (a mark) on the individual, showing that they are a child of God

To act in the individual’s life, reforming their heart and mind into one of Christ-likeness That individual is “free” from the power of sin and death. This freedom was bought by the blood of Christ through the final atoning sacrifice, once and for all, on the cross, and appropriated to themselves by their profession of faith in Christ, turning from their self-defined, self-directed life of sin, to a life informed, defined, and directed by God.

While a believer is indwelled by the Holy Spirit, this does not mean that every action and decision that a believer makes is “good” (i.e. holy; not a sin). A believer can still rely on their natural self and mind in these acts, following their own “wisdom” and not God’s. God allows the believer to make these decisions, but this is not to be interpreted as God condoning them. Unholy acts are just that – unholy. Christians are not “free to make any decisions that they think are best”; they are to make decisions that God would see as best.

Kast’s claim leaves out the inconvenient part: “You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV)

Kast’s Christian theological argument for Abortion (Part 2)

There’s this little passage in the Gospel of John that continues to stay with me. Jesus says, “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” The Greek word that’s used there for “life abundance” is this word “zoe”, which means not just that you’re living and breathing, but that God’s plan for our lives is to actually have a meaningful life with loving contentment and satisfaction. Because of that—because I value life, and I believe Jesus values life—I value the choices that give us the type of life that we need. - Kast

The standard BDAG definition for the usage of “zoe” in John 10:10 is as follows:

“life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last forever.” - BDAG for John 10:10

The full passage sheds a bit more light on this verse:

[7] So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. [9] I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they [the Jews] may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:7-10 ESV

So “the thief” comes to “steal and kill and destroy” (i.e. the taker of life) is compared with “the door” (Jesus) that came to “give life and give it abundantly” (i.e. the giver of life). Please note, the Greek uses the definite article. I AM the door. It doesn’t say — I’m one of many doors. Jesus makes it unmistakably clear — I AM, to the exclusion of all others, the one and only door.

That Jesus is the one and only path to salvation (eternal life in the presence of God) is the main point of this passage and indeed of the entire section (John 10:1-20). This life Jesus gives is eternal and starts when a person is born again. It is true life, where those in Christ find true joy and satisfaction in knowing God and all that comes with it.

“Knowing Jesus IS abundant life — Abundant Life could be translated “that they may live completely.” Apart from Jesus we only live physically and emotionally — we merely exist! But knowing Jesus means that we live “completely and wonderfully.” Going in and out speaks of liberty and security! Finding pasture describes the life-sustaining force that is given to the believer. We find in Jesus the bread of life and the water of life — and he provides his sheep with pasture that sustains them.” – Richard Cimino

Thus, when Kast states that “God’s plan for our lives is to actually have a meaningful life with loving contentment and satisfaction”, that is true. However, what Kast means is different. Kast means that we derive “loving contentment and satisfaction” from this world and thus it is justified to abort a fetus if not doing so would rob the mother of contentment and satisfaction in her life. God means to have “loving contentment and satisfaction” in Him and nothing else.

Kast and the value of the Unborn Life

Green: I often speak to people in what you might call a gray space on abortion. They might say something like, “I believe in a legal right to a safe and accessible abortion. But on a personal, one-on-one level, I believe in encouraging people to choose to carry pregnancies to term.” Would you say that perspective resonates with you, especially in those pastoral counseling contexts?
Kast: No. I still think encouraging someone to carry a fetus and give birth to a baby might not be the most life-giving decision. For instance, let’s take a more extreme case: a 12-year-old who gets raped. I think it’s evil to ask that 12-year-old to carry that baby to term. I don’t think that’s life. I don’t think that’s valuing a 12-year-old’s life.

Note that Kast’s response is completely focused on the life (in a worldly sense) of the mother and does not address the life of the “fetus” (i.e. unborn child) in the womb. And here again, Kast is placing herself in the position of being the definer of “life”.

Kast and the Morality of Abortion

Green: Do you think there’s any context in which it’s immoral to have an abortion?
Kast: I don’t. I really don’t. I don’t think I do. For me, it’s a health-care issue.

For Kast, taking the life (i.e. killing the unborn child) – for ANY reason – is always a moral act. Why? Well, for her, there is no taking of a life here. “It’s a health care issue”. There is a complete neglect and recognition of the life in the womb. As shown above, God does not view life in the womb this way, but rather claims it to be a life (in Law; Exodus 21:22–25).

Kast and Moral Authority

I wish those who are considering the choices in front of them were honored and respected, and that government and institutions and even God doesn’t have the final say over how we make the choices that are best for us. - Kast

Here Kast makes her position clear – God is not the final authority, man is. Man defines what is moral and good. Man makes “the choices that are best” for their lives. God has nothing to say in the end.

Here what we see is a “pastor” that puts herself above God and his Word. Scripture has no authority, so therefore everything she believes is “right in her own eyes”.

For a Christian, God is the definer of morality – good and evil. There is an objective good and an objective evil that exists outside of ourselves and our own thoughts:

[9] Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. - Romans 12:9 ESV

God himself is the definer of what is good (and what is evil).

[2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:2 ESV

Kast – That Baby is not “my neighbor”

I am Christian, and I follow this guy named Jesus who said, above all, love your God with your whole heart and soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. - Kast
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” - Luke 10:25-29 ESV

Kast claims to be a “follower of Jesus”, affirming his statement of what the greatest commandments are. However, what she claims (regarding abortion) to be “moral” and affirmed by Scripture actually contradict it – denying love to her neighbors, who are in this case the unborn children. In her argument for abortion, she is attempting to justify herself, just like the lawyer does in Luke 10:25-29 in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. There, the lawyer argues that those that he has not shown mercy, love, and kindness to are not actually his “neighbors”. Jesus shows him that he is wrong.

Kast - Self-informed, Self-defined, Self-directed

People by nature have a desire for very basic things, which then drive their decisions and actions:

Sexual Lust
Possessions
Power and Position

God’s Word speaks against these desires of the heart:

[16] For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. - 1 John 2:16 ESV

By nature, man says:

I am my own moral authority.
I am the definer of life.
I am the one who directs my life.

The consequence:

I want to enjoy the pleasures of sex outside of the covenant of marriage, but I don’t want to deal with the potential consequences. Therefore, I will make it morally ok to (1) define the child as a non-life and (2) have that non-life removed from my body as I choose.

We see this clearly on display in the claims that Kast makes:

Man is the definer of moral authority.
Man is the definer of what it means to live.
Man is the one who makes the choices for their life and decides what is best.

God is nowhere in the picture, actually.

Appendix 1 – The Didache

The Didache (“The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations”) is an ancient Christian writing, composed either in the 1st or 2nd century. It gives a summary of the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. While it is not equal to Scripture or a replacement for it, it has been found to be a useful source of information when trying to ascertain what the early Christians understood from these teachings. Chapter 2 includes statements on both abortion and infanticide (highlighted below). Following is the text (English translation) of Ch 1 and Ch 2. The full text can be found online in several locations including here.

The Didache

The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.

Chapter 1. The Two Ways and the First Commandment. There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you. And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If someone strikes your right cheek, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect. If someone impresses you for one mile, go with him two. If someone takes your cloak, give him also your coat. If someone takes from you what is yours, ask it not back, for indeed you are not able. Give to every one who asks you, and ask it not back; for the Father wills that to all should be given of our own blessings (free gifts). Happy is he who gives according to the commandment, for he is guiltless. Woe to him who receives; for if one receives who has need, he is guiltless; but he who receives not having need shall pay the penalty, why he received and for what. And coming into confinement, he shall be examined concerning the things which he has done, and he shall not escape from there until he pays back the last penny. And also concerning this, it has been said, Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give.

Chapter 2. The Second Commandment: Grave Sin Forbidden. And the second commandment of the Teaching; You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit pederasty, you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal, you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born. You shall not covet the things of your neighbor, you shall not swear, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not speak evil, you shall bear no grudge. You shall not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is a snare of death. Your speech shall not be false, nor empty, but fulfilled by deed. You shall not be covetous, nor rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor evil disposed, nor haughty. You shall not take evil counsel against your neighbor. You shall not hate any man; but some you shall reprove, and concerning some you shall pray, and some you shall love more than your own life.