It’s Not a Sin to Be Pregnant Out of Wedlock

There is a glaring hole in our fight against abortion. It is found in our churches among the quiet pre-service whispers as she walks by. It is heard at Sunday dinner as her name bounces back and forth across the table among interjections like, “But she comes from such a good family!” It is seen in the averted eyes and not-so-subtle head wags. The lady pregnant out of wedlock is the topic of conversation and the focus of glares.

“Wait you haven’t heard? She’s pregnant!

If you’ve experienced an unwed pregnancy in your church, your family, or your circle of acquaintances—who hasn’t?—you know the typical reaction. It’s a mixture of disappointment, condemnation, and pity. But there are places across the country where this is not the response to the girl who shamefully mumbles, “I think I’m pregnant.” They are called pregnancy resource centers (PRCs). The women and men who serve in these safe-havens have comprehended something our churches haven’t yet: unwed pregnancy is not a sin.

What’s a sin — being pregnant out of wedlock?

When a young woman walks into a local PRC, and she makes the painful admission that she’s pregnant by her boyfriend, and she’s afraid of what her family will say, and she’s pretty sure her dad is going to kick her out of the house, and she’s worried her college dreams are shot, the response she finds from her counselor is surprising.

It’s Christian love, understanding, and joy. Perhaps for the first time since she missed her period, she’s found someone who actually celebrates her pregnancy as a gift from God and does not judge her for carrying a tiny baby inside.


Chad Ashby
Chad Ashby
Chad Ashby is the pastor of College Street Baptist Church in Newberry, SC.  He graduated from Grove City College where he studied Mathematics and Christian Thought.  He then went on to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, where he graduated with an M. Div. in Biblical and Theological Studies.

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