Expert: Dr. Ronald E. Shultz - 2/28/2008

Question
Have the independent Baptists, southern Baptists, American Baptists or the african American Baptists taken a stand on abortion? If so what is it? What is significant about this?  

Answer
Howdy James,

Although, there are associations and conventions most Baptist Churches will adopt their own statement of faith and position on various social issues.

I would have to say that almost 100% of independent, fundamental Baptists would say that abortion on demand is sin.  There may be some disagreement on abortion in the case of rape or incest and if the life of the mother is at stake but I don't think it will vary much.

Personally, I do not see rape or incest as a reason to kill a child. Two wrongs do not make a right.  I personally know of a fifteen year old who was gang raped and has just delivered the child and she and the family have chosen to keep it.  Had they chosen to place it for adoption I could have understood and supported that decision but not abortion.

In this society, I doubt that many women are in real danger of losing their life to childbirth.  I am afraid that many cases of abortion have used that line but it was just an excuse to be rid of the child or a misdiagnosis. Before technology such decisions were left up to God and in many cases both survived so there was no need to make a decision.  

Many a child has been diagnosed by a doctor as having severe disabilities and will probably be born dead or die shortly thereafter and yet have been born whole and healthy or not as badly handicapped as was predicted and lived normal lives.  Those who were badly handicapped still became a blessing and often an inspiration to family and community. If we must err, let us err in favor of life, not death.

A woman has a right to contriol her body.  Well, sex is basically about reproduction.  That is what it is for, not recreation.  God did make it enjoyable because bringing forth children should be a time of joy for the parents.  If you don't want children, don't have sex.  Very simple.  Once you expose yourself to the risk of pregnancy by couplating your choice is made.  The best birth control fails and if it does the child does not deserve to die because you gambled and lost.  Put the child out for adoption but accept the responsibility for your choice. That is pro-choice because you are for living with your choices.   

Anyway, that is my position and the position of many Independents.
As to the other groups the Convention or Association may have taken a stand on a particular issue but in the end it is the pastor and the church who will determine their stance.  You will most likely find all of the varied positions in all the groups.  One position may be in the majority but there are always a few who will hold to the others. You basically have to ask this question to the pastor of each type of Baptist Church in your neighborhood.

What is significant about this?  Sadly, it shows that many Baptists have erred from sound doctrine in this and other issues.  We are not completely immune form the apostasy that surrounds us.  Albeit, for the most part Baptists, Independents mainly, still hold to the foundations of the faith once delivered to the saints because we still believe in the infalliable, inerrent, verbal-plenary inspired Word of God and rightly divide it using historical-grammatical interpretation.

If all Christians, not just Baptists, would return to the Book for their convictions and took a stand by living and voting for those convictions we would be living in a far better country then what we are and maybe the discoverer of the cure for aids or cancer might not be aborted though it may be too late. Until we get to glory we will never know how much talent or wisdom in many areas that God wanted to give us but we sacrificed the bearer of that talent to the rapier of abortion.

Prov 6:16-19

16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. KJV

Can there be more innocent blood than that of an unborn child?

Ps 106:36-42
36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
39 Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
40 Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. KJV

People today worship at the idol of sex and self.  They will readily sacrifice the innocent blood of children that they may please themselves or not have to take responsibility for their actions.  

Note, that God does not take lightly the shedding of innocent blood no matter what the reason.   

I am not sure if I answered all the facets of your question but it doesn't matter what a particular group teaches.  It only matter what the Word teaches.  Study that faithfully while seeking His will and you will come up with the right position.

John 7:17 If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. KJV