In recent weeks this issue has come to the fore as the abortion debate typically heats up around election time.  I remember, vividly, watching a youtube video of a woman at the Democratic National Convention screaming passionately, “It’s my body!”  And, as usual, it got me thinking.  Is it her body?  This led to the question, “Was she a Christian?”

I can see from the non-believer’s point of view how you can come to the conclusion that you are the one who should be in  control of your body, and that you will do what you want with it.  That is natural to the unsaved person.  The bible confirms this in the concept of being dead in trespasses and sins.  You do what a sinner does because, well, that is all you know!  Paul explains that the natural man is at a disadvantage, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  (1 Corinthians 2:14.)

But that all changes when you get saved!  You are made alive!  You can see with spiritual eyes! You are a new creation in Christ!  Suddenly, you can understand what God is saying.  Another point that Paul makes clear in this conversion that we experience is stated in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “…do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  Clearly, for the Christian man or woman, our bodies are not our own to do with as we please.

This will fly in the face of our culture and anyone believing that they have a right to do with their body as they will. This will anger people, but, in light of the scripture I have shared,  the Christian simply cannot make that claim.  But let’s go further.  Is there an example in the bible of a woman relinquishing that control?  Could this possibly be a great blessing and not the oppression the world believes it is?

One only needs to look as far as the mother of Jesus, Mary.  Hers was not a voluntary pregnancy.  God intervened in her life.  Determined to use her and her body for a great calling, the birth of the Promised One.  Her response?  “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38).  She simply gave control of her body to the Lord for His purpose.

This will be a great challenge to the Christian woman of today.  It cuts across all that she has been told.  It also seems to elicit great fear.  One response might be that, because I am a man, I cannot possibly understand.  But it is not essential that I completely understand, it is only essential that we hear and do what God has said.  Mary moved in concert with the Lord, for His will.

In our day, millions have died at the hand of “freedom of choice”, to the will of the mother, but not in concert with God. His will in the garden was to “go forth and multiply”.  Why are we afraid of doing His will?  Mary again is our example.  The maidservant of the Lord.  Willing.  Trusting.  Not following her example, sadly, only reveals the depth of our pride and rebellion, and breaks God’s heart.

If you are grappling with this issue, may I encourage you?  God will never put you in a position that He will not give you the grace to go through.  Trusting Him is, in our day, a daring, exciting Christian life!  Daring to give complete control to God so that your life can live out His purposes and not your own is on the edge!  But, it is certainly the place of blessing!