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Image Bearers: Shifting from Pro-birth to Pro-Life
Being pro-life means that not only do we see abortion as a murder, but we also see our apathy against injustice toward outside of the womb as a coconspirator in the fight for life. It means that we fight for racial equality. It means that we love the woman walking into the abortion clinic passionately with the love of Christ, and it means we embrace life no matter what label may be attached to a person's identity. There are many books written about being pro-life, the pro-life and right-to-life movement,and combating abortion arguments, but my hope is this small volume will bring awareness that the pro-life movement ethic is so much bigger in presenting a case for life than just being pro-birth. Lifeline Children Services Author Herbie Newell is the President & Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services and its ministry arms. Lifeline Children’s Services is a non-profit 501c3 ministry and licensed agency founded in 1981. The mission of Lifeline Children’s Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children.Lifeline Children’s Services exists to provide a hope and a future through the Gospel for children around the world by discipling, engaging, and equipping people towards adoption, foster care, and orphan care.Lifeline promotes the sanctity of life through ministry to young women in the midst of unplanned pregnancy, domestic and international adoption services, foster care, and orphan care through (un)adopted.Since its founding, Lifeline’s commitment has remained focused on working with Christian families, to ensure that children are raised with the truth of who Jesus Christ is as their Lord and Savior. Lifeline currently has offices in 14 states.
- GenresNonfiction
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 4, 2022
Read this one with my book club and found it pretty disappointing. I felt like the author sidestepped a LOT of important issues and context, oversimplified a super complex discussion, based a lot of his points on arguments that beg the question, and boiled everything down to “life is precious” (I don’t disagree that life is precious, but also there is so much additional important and nuanced discussion to be had).
To be fair, I don’t think I am the demographic this book is speaking to. I think this book would be beneficial to the person who claims Christ but also pickets outside of an abortion clinic with callous and hateful signs. I think this book would be beneficial to the person who claims Christ but ascribes to any Nationalist/Kinist/Racist ideology. I think this book would be beneficial to the person who claims Christ but sees abortion as a crime perpetrated by a mother.
But I also don’t think it is nearly radical enough in proposing any solutions — ie free access to birth control and healthcare, addressing sexual assault, etc. I really was hoping for a practical “so what?” that never came. Meaning, I wanted more of a picture of what it looks like to build a social safety net that cares for infant life but also for the lives of mothers and fathers and families who are making the hardest decisions of their lives.
Overall, I see the heart behind the work, but I wish there was more diversity of thought included and less black-and-white explanations of issues that are suuuuper nuanced in my opinion.
*Revised after letting my thoughts organize a bit more*
To be fair, I don’t think I am the demographic this book is speaking to. I think this book would be beneficial to the person who claims Christ but also pickets outside of an abortion clinic with callous and hateful signs. I think this book would be beneficial to the person who claims Christ but ascribes to any Nationalist/Kinist/Racist ideology. I think this book would be beneficial to the person who claims Christ but sees abortion as a crime perpetrated by a mother.
But I also don’t think it is nearly radical enough in proposing any solutions — ie free access to birth control and healthcare, addressing sexual assault, etc. I really was hoping for a practical “so what?” that never came. Meaning, I wanted more of a picture of what it looks like to build a social safety net that cares for infant life but also for the lives of mothers and fathers and families who are making the hardest decisions of their lives.
Overall, I see the heart behind the work, but I wish there was more diversity of thought included and less black-and-white explanations of issues that are suuuuper nuanced in my opinion.
*Revised after letting my thoughts organize a bit more*
October 3, 2022
A for attempt. D for execution. The author seems to take a topic that is deeply complex and simplify it down to a few things - focusing on fatherlessness and oversimplifying the medical complexities of the nature of abortion. He cherry picked statistics to support his points. I applaud the work he does, but, the repetitive use of “beloved” when addressing the reader and the personal stories of being a white man kneeling down to look in the eyes of those less fortunate felt icky.
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December 3, 2025Do not recommend.
Extremely simplistic, which is exactly what cannot be done with these topics.
Extremely simplistic, which is exactly what cannot be done with these topics.
October 14, 2022
A very complex issue written as if it is simple. I appreciate and agree with the urge for Christians to be pro-life over pro-birth, and the messages on racial reconciliation, adoption, foster care, elder care, etc. are so needed. However, the perspective Newell writes from is one of power and privilege. He writes from experience, which does not include experience as an orphan, someone who has considered or been through an abortion, or experienced poverty. These points of view are VITAL to have in the conversation concerning abortion. The second to last chapter on “identity” focused only on LGBTQ+ issues. Without touching on the opinions shared in this chapter, I felt that it was irrelevant to the topic of this book. There was also mention of euthanasia and stating that we do not “have the authority to determine when life should end;” but Newell never touches on the issue of the death penalty and its place in this argument.
While filled with truth and scripture, this book felt unfinished, biased, and single-minded. 3/5 stars.
While filled with truth and scripture, this book felt unfinished, biased, and single-minded. 3/5 stars.
December 27, 2022
"Being pro-life means that not only do we see abortion as murder, but we also see our apathy against injustice toward life outside of the womb as a co-conspirator in the fight for life. It means we fight for racial equality. It means we love the women on the way into the abortion clinic passionately with the love of Christ, and it means we embrace life no matter what syndrome may be attached to a person’s identity."
I thought this book had good encouragements and reminders for those of us who claim pro-life ideology. Being pro-life is not just about protecting the rights of the unborn, but valuing all image-bearers, especially those the world deems as less valuable.
Newell includes some concerning statistics that highlight the brokenness of our world and culture, including that "Among Belgians put to death for mental health reasons, the most common conditions are depression, personality disorder and Asperger’s, a mild form of autism.” and this statement by Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, "Minorities crammed into impoverished areas in inner cities should not be having so many babies. And, of course, these minorities are inferior in the human race, as are the physically and mentally handicapped. We should require mandatory sterilizations of those less desirable and promote easy access to abortion." Sad reminders that the culture does not, as they claim, have a woman's (or really anyone's) best interest at heart.
One downside for me is that within some of the chapters, I didn't always feel like the information was relevant to the specific chapter. But a good read nonetheless. Here are a few of the quotes I highlighted:
"Within God’s great economy Black Lives Matter, Babies Lives in the Womb Matter, People with Down Syndrome Matter, Babies Born-With-Only-A-Brain-Stem Lives Matter, Elderly Lives Matter, Prostitutes Lives Matter, and All Lives Matter because we are created in the Imago Dei — the very image of God."
"We must despise and be as grieved about racism as we are about abortion, because the issues are the exact same. Both devalue a person made in God’s image."
"Ministry to the fatherless has consistently been the way of the Church. Unfortunately, today we are allowing the government and secular non-governmental organizations to attempt to perform the job given to the Church."
"These beautifully aged and most mature among us are made in the image of God, and while their physical selves may be fading away because of the effects of a fallen world, they are due dignity, respect, concern, and defense."
I thought this book had good encouragements and reminders for those of us who claim pro-life ideology. Being pro-life is not just about protecting the rights of the unborn, but valuing all image-bearers, especially those the world deems as less valuable.
Newell includes some concerning statistics that highlight the brokenness of our world and culture, including that "Among Belgians put to death for mental health reasons, the most common conditions are depression, personality disorder and Asperger’s, a mild form of autism.” and this statement by Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, "Minorities crammed into impoverished areas in inner cities should not be having so many babies. And, of course, these minorities are inferior in the human race, as are the physically and mentally handicapped. We should require mandatory sterilizations of those less desirable and promote easy access to abortion." Sad reminders that the culture does not, as they claim, have a woman's (or really anyone's) best interest at heart.
One downside for me is that within some of the chapters, I didn't always feel like the information was relevant to the specific chapter. But a good read nonetheless. Here are a few of the quotes I highlighted:
"Within God’s great economy Black Lives Matter, Babies Lives in the Womb Matter, People with Down Syndrome Matter, Babies Born-With-Only-A-Brain-Stem Lives Matter, Elderly Lives Matter, Prostitutes Lives Matter, and All Lives Matter because we are created in the Imago Dei — the very image of God."
"We must despise and be as grieved about racism as we are about abortion, because the issues are the exact same. Both devalue a person made in God’s image."
"Ministry to the fatherless has consistently been the way of the Church. Unfortunately, today we are allowing the government and secular non-governmental organizations to attempt to perform the job given to the Church."
"These beautifully aged and most mature among us are made in the image of God, and while their physical selves may be fading away because of the effects of a fallen world, they are due dignity, respect, concern, and defense."
October 3, 2022
👎 this is such an important topic, and I can’t imagine someone wanting to write about it without wanting to check themselves 1st. Entering this conversation as a white man with advanced education whose wife (according to him) does the lion’s share of the parenting in their family seems more than a little challenging, and I don’t think this particular author rose above these challenges. This book glosses over so much that is important on this topic - while throwing out stats on imprisonment/fathers being not in the home, he seems to basically imply that the answer is just to feel bad and love more. I can’t even begin to say how offensive it is to me, both as a woman and as a person whose heart is already broken around things like racism and abuse.
September 12, 2022
I love Lifeline and wanted to learn more about their founder, Mr. Herbie Newell.
I found this to be a good, solid read.
Interesting and inspiring subject material. Very thought provoking!!! I would recommend it. :)
07-21-2022
I found this to be a good, solid read.
Interesting and inspiring subject material. Very thought provoking!!! I would recommend it. :)
07-21-2022
July 28, 2023
SUMMARY: When looking for books on the consistent ethic of life there are plenty that focus on topics such as abortion and capital punishment while other books focus on the doctrine of the Imago Dei. Rarely does a book give equal wait to each subject. In Image Bearers Herbie Newell attempts to combine the two subjects, but fails to deliver a succinct, clear vision of a consistent ethic of life grounded in the Imago Dei.
Newell skips back and forth between subjects making the order of the book seem scattered. His use of Christianese obfuscates some of his points. Newell gives too much attention to abortion and broken families when capital punishment, war, and gun violence are scarcely mentioned. With that said, Newell does make some good points such as focusing on the doctrine of the Imago Dei as the driving force behind a whole ethic of life and including racism as a talking point.
Like other reviewers have said, it is commendable that Newell took on the subject and his heart seems to be in the right place, but there are better books on the subject.
Our recommendation for learning about a consistent ethic of life is Resisting Throwaway Culture by Charles Camosy and for the image of God, The Imago Dei by Lucy Peppiatt.
KEY QUOTE: "You see, being pro-life is not just about eliminating abortion. Being pro-life means putting our families into action to live out our passion for guarding the Imago Dei."
MORE: Visit SundaytoSaturday.com where we curate topics for a disillusioned church.
Newell skips back and forth between subjects making the order of the book seem scattered. His use of Christianese obfuscates some of his points. Newell gives too much attention to abortion and broken families when capital punishment, war, and gun violence are scarcely mentioned. With that said, Newell does make some good points such as focusing on the doctrine of the Imago Dei as the driving force behind a whole ethic of life and including racism as a talking point.
Like other reviewers have said, it is commendable that Newell took on the subject and his heart seems to be in the right place, but there are better books on the subject.
Our recommendation for learning about a consistent ethic of life is Resisting Throwaway Culture by Charles Camosy and for the image of God, The Imago Dei by Lucy Peppiatt.
KEY QUOTE: "You see, being pro-life is not just about eliminating abortion. Being pro-life means putting our families into action to live out our passion for guarding the Imago Dei."
MORE: Visit SundaytoSaturday.com where we curate topics for a disillusioned church.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews