We recently did a piece on Charlie Kirk and we had nothing but respect for the man and the way he handled himself with those he disagreed with. He was a model christian and practiced what he preached. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family now.

The Abortion Debate in Christianity: Torah and Modern Arguments

Welcome to Shabbat Lounge! Matt and Jake here—thanks for joining the conversation. Today, we’re diving into one of the more controversial issues in both society and religious circles: the debate over abortion. We recently watched a campus interaction featuring Charlie Kirk, who’s known for debating college students and bringing his Christian beliefs into political discussions. This particular conversation stood out because it addressed the topic of abortion from a biblical perspective, and we wanted to break down both sides and reflect on what this says about current theology and arguments.

Setting the Scene: Abortion and Biblical Law

In this exchange, Charlie Kirk speaks with a young woman who identifies as Christian and tries to defend abortion using Scripture. The anchor point for her argument is Exodus 21:22–25, where there’s a distinction between the penalties for harming a pregnant woman and for causing her to lose her baby. She claims this passage implies the unborn child doesn’t hold the same value as the mother, since the penalty for harming the child is a fine, but the penalty for harming the mother is death.

Breaking Down the Arguments on Abortion and Scripture

The conversation quickly narrows in on scriptural interpretation:

• The passage in Exodus is tricky and can be understood in several ways depending on translation and interpretation.
• Her stance is that the Bible allows for a distinction in value between a fetus and an adult woman, hence a justification for abortion.
• Kirk pushes back, asserting that life begins at conception, with new DNA as the starting line. He favors scientific and self-evident reasoning and brings his Christian background into the discussion when pressed.

Beyond biblical text, the debate veers into questions about which biblical laws Christians are actually supposed to keep:

• Kirk introduces the familiar Christian classification of Old Testament laws: ceremonial, civil, and moral. His view is that ceremonial laws (like dietary or temple practices) don’t apply, but moral ones do.
• The counter-argument is that dividing laws this way is a human tradition, not something found within the Torah itself.

Points of Tension and Consistency in Christian Arguments

This conversation exposes some of the cracks in standard arguments about biblical law:

• Christians often point to the “613 laws” but rarely know the breakdown or who the commands are meant for (men, women, priests, leaders, etc.)
• There’s frequent confusion between kosher laws and biblical “clean eating,” as kosher implies specific rabbinic procedure, not just following Torah food laws.
• Using Colossians 2:14 (“ordinances nailed to the cross”) is a common justification for ignoring certain commands, but when that text is studied, it deals more with man-made decrees than God’s commands.

When the discussion turned to which laws still apply, the “if it’s not repeated in the New Testament, it doesn’t count” argument surfaced. This has problems: it can leave major issues out (like bestiality and other prohibitions), even though their moral weight is never repealed. There’s an overlooked Torah foundation for countless principles, such as requiring a railing on balconies to keep people safe.

The Conversation’s Tone and Its Effect on the Abortion Debate

One commendable aspect of this entire interaction was the civil tone. Both sides presented their points—sometimes clumsily, sometimes sharply—but neither aimed to shame or harm the other. That’s refreshing, especially given how heated debates on abortion can become.

Where Does This Leave Us? Reflections on Faith and Pro-Life Direction

After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the identity and direction of the pro-life movement have become less focused. There’s a risk of infighting, with subgroups arguing over what “true” pro-life means. Instead, it would be more productive to focus on goals and keep the conversation moving forward.

From a Torah perspective, what stands out is the importance of reading the whole story and considering the entirety of the Scripture, not just half or out-of-context soundbites. There’s a strong scriptural and, arguably, scientific case to be made for life beginning at conception. Passages like Jeremiah, Psalms, and the story of John leaping in the womb all reinforce the value of life before birth.

Final Thoughts: Engaging the Conversation on Abortion and Faith

Engagement on tough topics like this is crucial. Honest discussion, rooted in Scripture and respectful dialogue, is valuable—even if agreement isn’t reached. We appreciate all the comments, likes, and ongoing participation in Sabbath Lounge. The discussion is far from over, and every voice matters.

Join us next Sabbath for more conversations like this, and don’t forget to connect with us across our social platforms. Until next time, this is Matt and Jake, signing out.