The Deceptive Mantra of “My Body, My Choice”
On a chilly Saturday morning in April, I sat on a bench in Eastown Grand Rapids, Michigan, observing three young adults gathered around a sign with a graphic image of an aborted baby. The volunteers from Protect Life Michigan were attempting to spark conversations with passersby about abortion. While some stopped to engage, others hastily walked away, and a few shouted their disapproval.
The phrase “my body, my choice” has become a rallying cry for pro-abortion advocates, echoing through protests and social media platforms. However, this mantra overlooks the intrinsic value of the unborn child’s life and the reality that there are two bodies involved in every pregnancy.
A Brief History of the Phrase
The earliest recorded use of the phrase “my body, my choice” dates back to December 1969, when a reporter for The Boston Globe described a protest outside a Massachusetts courthouse. The phrase evolved over time, with variations appearing in different contexts. In 1970, a women’s health pamphlet titled Women and Their Bodies included a chapter on abortion, which later became the book Our Bodies, Ourselves. While the phrase itself was not used in the book, the authors emphasized the importance of women’s autonomy over their bodies.
Ignoring the Unborn Child’s Humanity
Despite the availability of ultrasound technology and medical knowledge about fetal development, the phrase “my body, my choice” persists. It disregards the fact that there are two bodies involved in every pregnancy: the mother’s and the unborn child’s. This oversight is not new; historical records show that even in the 17th century, people recognized the humanity of the unborn child.
Scriptural Perspective
In Scripture, we find the image of a potter and clay, where God is the potter who forms and shapes human life. This image highlights the error of the “my body, my choice” mantra, which reduces the unborn child to an object subject to the mother’s whims. The Bible reminds us that our bodies are not our own; they belong to God, and we are called to glorify Him in our bodies.
The Lie of Autonomy
The phrase “my body, my choice” promises autonomy and self-sufficiency, but it delivers slavery to sin and death. True freedom can only be found in Christ, who created us to glorify Him in our bodies. As the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Conclusion
The “my body, my choice” mantra is a deceptive and misleading phrase that ignores the intrinsic value of the unborn child’s life. It promises autonomy but delivers slavery to sin and death. As Christians, we must recognize the error of this phrase and instead affirm the biblical truth that our bodies belong to God, and we are called to glorify Him in our bodies.
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