Podcast Summary: Thinking Fellows – Abortion: Serious Questions Christians Should Be Prepared to Answer

Release Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, Adam Francisco
Podcast: Thinking Fellows (1517 Podcasts)
Duration: ~45 minutes

Overview

This episode of the Thinking Fellows delves into the subject of abortion, focusing on how Christians should approach, understand, and respond to the issue in theology, advocacy, and care for those involved. Framed around the anniversary of Roe v. Wade (and its subsequent overturning by Dobbs), the hosts confront both the ethical clarity Christians possess on abortion and the social complexities surrounding it. They also examine Christians’ historical and present roles addressing this issue—offering facts, wrestling with cultural language, and discussing the twin calls to upholding justice and showing compassion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Abortion in the Post-Roe Landscape (02:05–06:57)

• Continued Prevalence: Despite Dobbs overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022, abortion remains widespread in the U.S.
  • Statistics: CDC counts ~615,000–622,000 abortions yearly, but more comprehensive data (e.g., Guttmacher Institute) suggests >1 million per year. This does not include unreported or online abortion-pill use.
  • Quote (Caleb, 03:21):
    “Dobbs was not an end of abortion in the United States, despite what the media would have you believe...”
• Reporting Challenges: Many abortions, especially those using self-managed pills, likely go unrecorded.

2. The Language & Euphemisms of Abortion (05:32–07:09)

• Problematic Language: Society uses softened terms ("morning after pill," "reproductive rights") that obscure the reality.
  • Quote (Scott, 06:05):
    “We use euphemisms... Instead of calling it an abortion pill or a baby killing pill, we call it a morning after pill... It’s not euphemistic. Literally, what we’re talking about is the ending of a baby’s life.”
• Desensitization Effects: Such language sanitizes abortion's reality, making it seem less significant.

3. Is Abortion Murder? The Christian Stance (08:08–11:47)

• Biblical & Historical Basis: For Christians, abortion is murder because it unequivocally ends a human life—location (in or out of womb) doesn’t affect moral gravity.
  • Quote (Adam, 08:35):
    "Because it ends a human life... it’s also biologically, like, if you will, scientifically, it’s human life. There’s no way around it."
• Not Uniquely Christian, But Deeply Christian: Some secular or non-Christian individuals arrive at pro-life convictions through logic or personal experience—but Christianity uniquely upholds intrinsic value for all human life, even enemies.
• Universal Christian Advocacy:
  • Quote (Caleb, 11:47):
    “It’s not enough to just convince our church members to not have abortions... It’s something we want to see for the whole world, not just for ourselves.”

4. Christian Action – Historically & Today (12:39–16:44)

• Historical Compassion: Early Christians were known for rescuing exposed infants and caring for pregnant women in crisis (e.g., 2nd-century writings by Justin Martyr).
• Modern Involvement: Christians are often the primary participants in foster care and crisis pregnancy assistance, despite increasing state regulation and values discord (e.g., required “LGBTQIA+” training for foster parents).
  • Quote (Adam, 14:48):
    “Historically, Christians have always gone out of the way to... actually do stuff about it.”

5. Shifting Rhetoric: From ‘Not a Baby’ to ‘Personal Autonomy’ (17:48–25:22)

• Old Argument: Previously, abortion was justified by dehumanizing the unborn ("clump of cells," "fetus").
• Current Argument: Now, pro-choice rhetoric often acknowledges fetal humanity but contends that the unborn aren’t “persons” until sentience/preference.
  • Reference to Peter Singer’s utilitarian philosophy (25:21) about personhood developed after birth—only if the parent assigns value.
• Moral Double-Standards: Cultural cognitive dissonance is revealed in how animals are ascribed more protective rights in the womb than humans, and how “wanted” pregnancies are immediately ‘babies.’

6. Underlying Worldview Clashes (22:03–29:13)

• Clash of Moral Universes:
  • Quote (Adam, 23:27):
    “There’s certainly more, but at least two very different moral universes people live in.”
• Ideologies at Play: For many, personal autonomy (especially women's bodily autonomy) is a near-religious conviction, untouched by counter-arguments about biology or the separate body of the unborn.
• Modern Paganism: Some cultural commentators (e.g., John Daniel Davidson) describe abortion culture as a form of revived pagan child-sacrifice to self-interest and sexual freedom (27:15).
• Abortion Motivations:
  • "I do not want a child"
  • Finances
  • Instability with partner
  • Interference with work/education (28:09)

7. Gospel Response & Distinguishing Law and Gospel (29:13–35:30)

• Pastoral Concern: Churches must not only condemn abortion but also speak the comfort of Christ’s forgiveness to women who have had abortions.
  • Quote (Scott, 31:29):
    “...Christ’s death and resurrection is sufficient for even that. Even that was buried with him. And you have been risen to life, a new creature.”
• Task of the Preacher: Distinguishing whether a person requires the “proclamation of God’s righteous law” or the “soothing... forgiving voice of the Gospel.” (Scott citing Luther, 32:30)
• Pro-Life Motivations: Advocacy should be “gospel-motivated,” not merely focused on law or punishment.

8. Cultural Failures Within the Church (36:59–41:18)

• Loneliness and Pressure: Many women choosing abortion are isolated—unwed, pressured by societal values promoting success, career, or financial security over family.
• Repentance for Church Contribution: Churches have, sometimes unwittingly, adopted and perpetuated these cultural values, contributing to the problem.
  • Quote (Caleb, 39:46):
    “This anti family rhetoric... does exist in our churches... the anti family rhetoric that we sometimes see amongst our own children and young people that, that we are at fault of contributing towards...”
• Sexual Ethics: Sexual activity is powerful; Christians are misunderstood as merely “anti-sex” but should provide a positive, honest, open, joyful view of sex within marriage.
  • Quote (Scott, 41:18):
    “Sex within marriage is a wonderful blessing and is one of the really awesome parts about being married... Your children should know that...”

9. The Importance of Marriage & Family Over Socioeconomic Priorities (46:34–51:25)

• Upholding Vocations: Marriage and family are more important than career or financial milestones.
  • Quote (Caleb, 46:34):
    “Marriage and family is more important than financial stability. You can be married with a family and not perfectly financially stable. Will that bring all sorts of challenges in life? Absolutely. It is not a good reason not to get married or to have kids.”
• Language Audit: Christians must examine (“audit”) how they speak about children, family, priorities, and related topics, ensuring they do not unintentionally perpetuate secular priorities.
  • Quote (Adam, 51:25):
    “We need... to audit our language... Be a little more serious about this, a little more intentional.”

10. Forgiveness and Hope for All (51:51–End)

• Grace for All: The show ends by affirming that forgiveness in Christ is available to all—not just those who never sinned in this way, but also those who participated in or promoted abortion.
  • Quote (Caleb, 51:51):
    “If we want to be consistent, we can say that we repent of that... And we extend that forgiveness to those who have been drawn up, who have committed these sins, who have committed murder. We offer to them the forgiveness of sins through the preached word, just as we receive it.”
• Promoting Resources: Scott plugs his forthcoming book, Being: Passing Down the Faith through the Generations, which addresses these family and faith issues more deeply (49:21).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scott (On language, 06:05):
  “Literally what we’re talking about is the ending of a baby’s life, the killing of a baby.”
• Adam (Historical Church, 14:48):
  “Christians have always been the ones who have stepped in to take care of those people.”
• Adam (On moral universes, 23:27):
  “We inhabit two different moral universes and then throw in emotion and... no conversation.”
• Scott (On pastoral care, 31:29):
  “Christ’s death and resurrection is sufficient for even that... And that guilt has to be given unto Christ because he not only wants to take it, but has promised that he has taken it.”
• Caleb (On church complicity, 39:46):
  “The anti family rhetoric that we sometimes see amongst our own children and young people that, that we are at fault of contributing towards... even if it’s passively.”
• Final Affirmation (Caleb, 51:51):
  “We extend that forgiveness to those who have been drawn up, who have committed these sins, who have committed murder... just as we receive it.”

Important Timestamps

• 03:21 — Post-Dobbs: Abortion numbers and misconceptions
• 06:05 — Euphemistic language and its dangers
• 08:35 — Biological and theological rationale: “Is abortion murder?”
• 14:48 — Christian history of caring for vulnerable children
• 23:27 — Worldview breakdown and conversation barriers
• 29:13 — Law & Gospel distinction in addressing abortion
• 41:18 — The necessity of open, positive Christian talks about sex and family
• 46:34 — Marriage and family as highest priorities
• 51:25 — The need to “audit our language” within the church

Tone & Language

The episode is somber, intellectual, and pastoral throughout, blending robust theological, historical, and philosophical analysis with practical concern for both justice and mercy. The hosts are frank about Christian doctrines and the challenges of the modern context, but careful to offer gospel hope and realistic pastoral advice.

Summary

The Thinking Fellows approach abortion as both a clear moral matter for Christians and a public crisis complicated by secular worldviews, euphemistic language, persistent cultural idols, and systemic pressures. Through historical reflection and contemporary insight, they urge Christians to be consistent in their advocacy—championing life for all, examining their words and priorities, and extending forgiveness and tangible care to those wounded by abortion. The law convicts, but the gospel offers hope—even for this sin.