VIENNA — The Rev. Chris Slocum at First Baptist Church in Vienna encourages voting yes on Amendment 3 because he believes that the Bible demonstrates that life matters.

“We believe God. We’re made in the image of God. We want to protect life,” he said.

Amendment 3, if passed on Nov. 3, will expand protections for the unborn by allowing the legislature to regulate abortions. It will also prohibit transgender procedures for minors. The current section of the state Constitution only allows abortion regulations after fetal viability around 24 or 25 weeks’ gestation. When considering abortion and transgender procedures, Slocum looks at how God portrays life and gender in the Bible.

For transgender issues, the Bible says in Genesis 1 and throughout that God created humans as male and female in His image, which is the created order.

For abortion, Slocum said that while the Bible doesn’t mention abortion, the Bible supports life. For example, in Psalm 139:13-14, David explains that God formed and designed him in the womb. And before the prophet Jeremiah was born, the Lord called him to be a “prophet to the nations.”

While Amendment 3 allows for abortions for rape and incest up to 12 weeks’ gestation, Slocum referred to Deuteronomy 24:16, saying that children should not die for their fathers. While a man who takes advantage of a woman should be punished, he said that the child should not be killed for that.

But most importantly, Slocum referenced Deuteronomy 30:19-20, in which Moses urges Israel to choose life instead of death “by loving Yahweh your God, by listening to His voice, and by holding fast to Him.”

Slocum said that choosing life in the context of abortion means taking care of and providing for children.

“We’re His children, and we need to be good stewards of them,” he said. “But here in Deuteronomy, it just says, ‘Choose life.’”

Furthermore, Slocum said that outside of specific instances, humans should not be the “judge of condemnation” over life and death. He also said that abortions tend to happen out of fear, but society is starting to teach that it is right and beneficial for the woman. Christians are to think about others, not themselves.

“If we are choosing to abort, then we are actually making a judgment on whether this child deserves life or not, and that’s evil,” he said.

For concerns that limiting abortions would cause more mothers to die, Slocum said that the statistics don’t support that claim. He also said that women can also travel to a less restrictive state.

Instead of abortion, Slocum said that there are options to take care of the child, including adoption and foster care. Slocum suggests that pregnant women visit the Rolla Pregnancy Resource Center, which can help with answering questions and providing ultrasounds, housing, vehicles and other resources necessary to care for a child after birth.

The church also helps families with financial needs, such as providing Thanksgiving meals, giving gas vouchers, helping with utilities, giving food to the school and giving away clothing.

“We wouldn’t say, ‘Oh, I’m struggling financially. So my 2-year-old, I need to let him go because of it.’ We would all be terrified of that kind of scenario,” he said.

Slocum also addressed Christians who believe that Amendment 3 doesn’t go far enough to prohibit abortions. He said that while he would love for all abortions to be eliminated, this measure helps prevent some.

“I think there’s a good heart behind individuals in that mindset, but we also have to be realistic within the world we’re in and what can be done,” he said.

For non-Christians, Slocum said to consider that life matters, even if they don’t agree with Scripture. He said that unborn children have their own DNA, and abortion prevents a child from developing.

He also pointed to the resources in the area and that good can come from a bad situation, even if it means working hard.

“I don’t believe you have to be a Christian to not want harm,” he said. “Eliminating a child will not fix things.”