A matter of life and truth

Is seeing believing? For photojournalist Michael Clancy it was when he caught an amazing image on film. USA Today hired him to photograph a 21-week-old fetus in utero at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The year was 1999, and at the time 21 weeks was the earliest a surgical team would consider surgery in utero, for fear of causing premature delivery. After a nerve wracking one hour and 13 minutes of surgery, the surgical team breathed a sigh of relief. Moments later Clancy observed the uterus shaking without any external manipulation. Then a little hand and arm emerged through the opening. The doctor then reached over and took baby Samuel's hand. The infant grabbed the doctor's finger and Clancy squeezed off a spell-binding photograph.
The profound impact of this image demonstrated the truth that unborn babies are living human beings whose lives are worthy of protection. Perhaps the single greatest impact took place in Clancy's own heart and mind.
In that instant, Clancy went from being pro-choice to being pro-life. "I was totally in shock for two hours after the surgery … I know abortion is wrong now — it's absolutely wrong."
Advancements in medical technology provide a window into the womb and reinforce the uniqueness and dignity of personhood. However, there are those that would suggest the unborn is part of the woman's body. Philosopher Mortimer Adler reflected this disposition.
"The unborn is a part of the mother's body, in the same sense that an individual's arm or leg is a part of the living organism. An individual's decision to have an arm or leg amputated falls within the sphere of privacy — the freedom to do as one pleases in all matters that do not injure others or the public welfare."
In his respectful and well-reasoned book, "Why Pro-Life? Caring for the Unborn Child and Their Mothers," Randy Alcorn makes a profound and rational case for protecting the unborn.
"A body part is defined by the common genetic code it shares with the rest of its body. Every cell of the mother's tonsils, appendix, heart and lungs shares the same genetic code. The unborn child also has a genetic code, but it is distinctly different from his mother's. Every cell of his body is uniquely his, each different from every cell of his mother's body. Often his blood type is also different, and half the time his gender is different.
A Chinese zygote implanted in a Swedish woman will always be Chinese, not Swedish, because his identity is based on his genetic code, not that of the body in which he resides. A child may die and the mother live, or the mother may die and the child live, proving they are two separate individuals."
Let us resolve to promote the dignity of all human life, and consider the following action steps:
• Continue to make intercession for an awakening of our moral conscience as a nation as we realize the heinous nature of abortion.
• Pray for the body of Christ to become increasingly involved in reaching out to young women facing the difficulty of an unplanned pregnancy.
• Give to the local Pregnancy Care Center which offers emotional, relational and spiritual support in addition to material resources.
• Read Randy Alcorn's excellent book, "Why Pro-Life? Caring for the Unborn and Their Mothers."
"Whatever you did to the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40)
Let us graciously uphold the grace and truth of Christ to our culture.

Sources: www.michaelclancy.com; Randy Alcorn, "Why Pro-Life?: Caring for the Unborn and Their Mothers" (Multnomah Books, 2004.)

David Doster is the pastor of Burke Community Bible Church and gladly welcomes your response to his article. You may reach him at 430-8881, email bcbc@directus.net or perhaps drop by and enjoy a cup of coffee.