5.02 David Closson, David Schrock & Stephen Wellum • Interview • “A Case for Abortion Incrementalism”

Episode 200
66 Min
January 12, 2026
ABOUT THE EPISODE
Listen in as David Schrock & Stephen Wellum interview David Closson on his COA Longform Essay "A Case for Abortion Incrementalism"
Timestamps
  • 00:30 – Intro
  • 04:30 – How Did David Closson Become Impassioned about the Issue of Abortion?
  • 06:40 – What Should People Take Away from David Closson’s Book?
  • 09:00 – What Did Francis Schaeffer Argue For? Why Was No One Else Arguing Against Abortion?
  • 12:36 – Anything to Be Encouraged or Discouraged By in Recent Years?
  • 16:53 – The Differences Between Abolitionism and Incrementalism
  • 19:00 – Is There a Way These Movements Can Work Together?
  • 22:50 – Bill HR3755 and Abolitionists
  • 25:50 – Are Incremental Bills More Effective?
  • 27:47 – Is It Necessary for Pro-Life Advocates to Oppose Abolitionist Bills?
  • 30:20 – Are Pro-Life Advocates Against Equal Protection Under the Law?
  • 33:00 – The Different Roles of the Three Branches of Government
  • 37:11 – Different Strategies Available to Us
  • 40:20 – The Need for Cultural Renewal
  • 45:05 – Has There Been Any Movement Towards an Abolitionist Bill in Texas?
  • 48:38 – What Would Be Effective Against Chemical Abortions?
  • 51:28 – An Area Where Abolitionists & Incrementalists Could Unite
  • 52:35 – Are Pastors Being Trained on the Doctrine of Humanity?
  • 55:43 – Are There Particular Places in Culture Where Christians Should Be Involved?
  • 1:00:00 – The Responsibility Our Churches Have Toward This Issue
  • 1:02:05 – Final Thoughts & David Closson’s Prayer
  • 1:04:36 – Outro
Resources to Click
Books to Read
ON THIS EPISODE

Authors

  • David Closson serves as the Director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council where he researches and writes on life, human sexuality, religious liberty, and related issues from a biblical worldview. David is completing a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. David is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., Th.M.). David lives in Washington, D.C. and is a member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church.

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  • David Schrock is the pastor for preaching and theology at Occoquan Bible Church in Woodbridge, Virginia. David is a two-time graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a founding faculty member and professor of theology at Indianapolis Theology Seminary. And he is the author of Royal Priesthood and Glory of God along with many journal articles and online essays.

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  • Stephen Wellum is professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He received his MDiv and PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the author of numerous essays, articles, and books. He is also the co-author with Peter Gentry of Kingdom through Covenant, 2nd edition (Crossway, 2012, 2018) and the author of God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of the Person of Christ (Crossway, 2016) and Systematic Theology, Volume 1: From Canon to Concept (B&H Academic, 2024).

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