‘My Body My Choice’? What Does Scripture Actually Teach?

In today’s cultural conversations, few phrases carry as much emotional and political weight as “My Body, My Choice.” The slogan has become a rallying cry for bodily autonomy, particularly in discussions about abortion and reproductive rights. But as Christians seeking to align our thinking with Scripture, we must ask: does this modern concept of absolute bodily autonomy align with what the Bible teaches?

 

OUR BODIES: ARE WE OWNERS OR STEWARDS?

The fundamental premise behind “My Body, My Choice” is that we possess complete ownership of our physical bodies, giving us exclusive authority over them. Scripture, however, presents a radically different view: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

This passage directly challenges the notion of self-ownership. From a biblical perspective, our bodies aren’t our autonomous possessions but sacred vessels entrusted to us by their true owner—God Himself. The Reformed understanding emphasises God maintains sovereign authority over all creation, including our physical bodies.

This isn’t about restricting freedom but recognising our proper relationship to our Creator. We’re stewards, not absolute owners, of the bodies God has given us.

 

THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF LIFE

Scripture consistently upholds the sanctity of human life as something created and valued by God:

• “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:13-14)
• “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…” (Jeremiah 1:5)

These passages reveal God actively participates in creating human life from its earliest stages. The Bible narrative doesn’t recognise arbitrary distinctions about when human life deserves protection—it consistently treats life in the womb as fully human and known by God.

When the pregnant Elizabeth met Mary, Scripture tells us, “the baby leaped in her womb” (Luke 1:41). The Greek word Luke uses for “baby” (brephos) here is the same one that’s used for infants who’ve already been born. The Bible makes no distinction between pre-born and born life in terms of personhood or value.

 

BEYOND INDIVIDUALISM: COMMUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

Our modern emphasis on radical individualism (“my choice”) contrasts sharply with Scripture’s emphasis on community responsibility. The Bible consistently teaches our decisions affect others:

• “None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.” (Romans 14:7)
• “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

The Reformed tradition has always emphasized that Christian liberty is never a license for autonomous decision-making that ignores our responsibilities to God and neighbour. As Calvin noted, true freedom isn’t the absence of constraint but the capacity to live according to God’s design.

When we make decisions solely based on personal preference without considering our obligations to others (including the unborn), we operate from a worldview that’s clearly at odds with biblical teaching.

 

RESPONDING WITH BOTH TRUTH AND GRACE

The Reformed tradition has always held that Scripture speaks with both grace and truth. While firmly maintaining biblical teaching on the sanctity of life, we must also acknowledge the difficult circumstances that drive many to consider abortion and respond with Christlike compassion.

Jesus demonstrated that upholding truth and extending mercy are not mutually exclusive. The church must be willing to provide practical support for women in crisis pregnancies, care for mothers and children after birth, and offer healing for those who have experienced abortion.

 

A DIFFERENT KIND OF FREEDOM

The biblical alternative to “My Body, My Choice” isn’t oppressive restriction but liberating stewardship. Scripture teaches that true freedom comes not from asserting absolute autonomy but from living within God’s wise boundaries. As Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

When we recognise our bodies are gifts to be stewarded rather than possessions to be used however we please, we find a deeper and more meaningful freedom—one that honours both the Creator and the life He creates.

 

MY BODY MY CHOICE? A FINAL THOUGHT

We will all one day stand before God and give an account of our lives. The Reformed understanding of Scripture reminds us God’s sovereignty extends over all aspects of life, including our bodies and the choices we make with them. The question isn’t simply “What can I choose?” but “What choice honours God?”

In our cultural moment that celebrates autonomy above all else, may we have the courage to embrace the countercultural wisdom of Scripture, calling us to recognise that our bodies—and all human life—ultimately belong to God.

 

MY BODY MY CHOICE? RELATED FAQs

Doesn’t Galatians 5:1 support the idea of freedom and choice? While Galatians 5:1 states “For freedom Christ has set us free,” this biblical freedom isn’t autonomous self-determination but liberation from sin to serve Christ. Biblical freedom always operates within God’s moral boundaries and is oriented toward loving God and neighbour, not independence from divine authority. The Reformed understanding emphasises that true freedom isn’t the absence of constraints but the ability to live according to our created purpose.

What about situations involving rape or life-threatening pregnancy complications? Scripture prioritises compassion alongside truth, and these traumatic situations deserve deep pastoral sensitivity. While the Reformed tradition maintains innocent human life is sacred regardless of the circumstances of conception, it also acknowledges that physicians may need to take emergency actions to save a mother’s life that unintentionally, though foreseeably, result in the loss of the unborn child. These exceptional cases require particular wisdom, and the church should provide extraordinary support rather than judgement.

Doesn’t Exodus 21:22-25 suggest the unborn aren’t fully persons? Exodus 21:22-25, properly understood in its linguistic and historical context, actually supports the personhood of the unborn. The Hebrew text distinguishes between a case where premature birth occurs without further harm and one where harm befalls mother or child, with the latter requiring “life for life” justice. Reformed scholars note this passage places the unborn under the protection of the same justice system that guards all human life, rather than creating a separate category of less-than-human status.

How do I respond to someone who says, ‘Don’t force your religion on my body’? The core principles protecting human life aren’t exclusively religious but reflect natural law recognisable across cultures. The prohibition against taking innocent human life exists in virtually every ethical system, and modern science confirms what Scripture has always taught—that life in the womb is distinct human life. While our ultimate motivation may be biblical, our public arguments can appeal to shared ethical principles that transcend religious boundaries.

What does Scripture say about contraception versus abortion? Scripture makes a clear distinction between preventing conception and terminating established life in the womb. While Reformed traditions may differ on contraception (with most modern Reformed theologians seeing responsible family planning as consistent with biblical stewardship), there’s consensus that once conception has occurred, a unique human life exists that deserves protection. The moral difference lies in preventing the creation of life versus ending a life that has already begun.

How do I compassionately counsel someone who has had an abortion? Scripture offers both truth about the sanctity of life and abundant grace through Christ’s sacrificial atonement, which covers all sin for those who repent and believe. Counsel should include gentle truth-telling alongside the assurance that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The church should provide pathways for healing, grief work, and restoration without minimizing either the gravity of abortion or the completeness of God’s forgiveness.

Does the Bible support government laws restricting abortion, or is this a matter of individual conscience? Reformed theology has historically recognised government’s God-given responsibility to protect innocent life (Romans 13:1-7), which legitimately extends to the unborn. While spiritual transformation comes through the gospel rather than legislation, civil law properly restrains injustice and protects vulnerable members of society. Both personal discipleship and public advocacy serve different but complementary roles in a biblical response to the sanctity of human life.

 

MY BODY MY CHOICE? OUR RELATED POSTS

• Against the Tide: Why are Christians Rigidly Pro-Life?