Respect For Human Life

Respect For Human Life

Ours is a world of changing values. Protests and demonstrations are mounted to stop the killing of baby seals, endangered species of birds, exotic beasts and reptiles. The same newspaper that tells of these protests for the preservation of creatures, often tells of liberalized abortion laws and of states with over 100,000 abortions annually. Protests are launched for the further weakening of laws protecting the innocent lives of the unborn.

When contemplating this problem or the kindred problems of suicide, or euthanasia (i.e. so-called mercy killing) we need first to think about life itself. Life is a gift from God (Acts 17:25). "He giveth life and breath to all things." Human life alone is "in the image of God"( Gen. 1:26). Man has always been forbidden by God to destroy another human life because man was created in the image of God. The penalty for destroying a life made in the image of God was death. The man slayer had to forfeit his life (Gen. 9:6).

Christianity was born into a world that had little respect for human life. This was evidenced in the enslavement of some 60 million people in the Roman Empire. Slaves had no rights. Even their lives were subject to the whim of their masters. Women enjoyed only a little better role. Torture and atrocities were regularly performed for public entertainment in the gladiatorial games and contests. Slaves, prisoners of war, criminals and persecuted minorities were slaughtered in the most vicious manners. These lives were considered only of economic value. One of the most gruesome practices was infanticide. "Through-out all the former history of Rome and its provinces, any infant unwelcomed to its father had been either smothered or exposed; that is thrown out to die. Some people made a business of gathering abandoned infants bringing them up, and selling them as slaves" (J. L. Hurlbert, Story of the Christian Church, p. 77). In addition to this was the wide spread and common practice of abortion.

Christ's Revolutionary Teaching About The Value of Life

Jesus introduced a new attitude towards life. All life was held to be sacred. The three parables of Luke 15 teach the value of the individual. Matthew 19:14 reveals his concern for little children. John 3:16 and Mark 16:15 reflect God's concern to save all men, regardless of their position or status in society. Acts 10:34 states that God is no respecter of persons. These and kindred passages declared a new evaluation of life. All human life is sacred. It was so created. It alone is in the image of God. Jesus died for the saving of all human beings. In Christian society there would be equity for all since all were to become one man in Christ (Gal. 3:27-28).

Today's Challenge: Abortion

Almost daily the news media reports news about abortion; most often the legalization and growing practice of it. What is abortion? Abortion is the intentional interference with a living human fetus intending to bring about its destruction. Why is such a lesson as this needed? Until some 35 years ago our society generally regarded abortion as an evil crime. It was illegal and those found securing or providing abortions were prosecuted as criminals. Exceptions were made where in the doctor's judgment the continuation of the pregnancy was a direct threat to the mother's life and in some states for cases of rape or suspected deformity of the child. Times have changed. The U.S. Supreme Court voided all state laws on abortion; and for all practical purposes opened the door for abortion on demand for any reason the mother offered.

We are affected by the society in which we live. Tomorrow's Christians will tend to accept this new philosophy unless clear and strong teaching is done now to provide all with a proper understanding of that which is moral and proper and that which is evil and wrong. Our children are hearing in the public schools and through the news media that such action is acceptable and moral. They must be taught the ugly truth about abortion.

The seriousness of this problem demands that we raise our voices. In some years New York State has had up to 115,000 abortions performed. Other states have equally permissive access to abortion.

1. Most serious is the moral question involved in abortion. It being the planned destruction of innocent human life, it is nothing short of the most heinous evil (Gen. 9:6).

2. The ensuing consequences are foreboding. When mankind hardens its conscience to annually slaughtera million and a half unborn babies, it is but a short step until they chose to legalize the destruction of the terminally ill, those too old to care for themselves, the mentally and physically defective and those considered undesirable. The civilized world stood aghast at Hitler's extermination of the defective and Jews, but noddingly approves of the mass destruction of unborn babies. The state of Oregon has enacted legislation permitting a regulated euthanasia. This pagan philosophy about the value of life is a diabolical monster that will not be easily contained once loosed.
Romania legalized abortion in 1951, they now have a strict law against it. In 1961 over half of the women in Bucharest admitted they had undergone four or more abortions.

3. The consequences to the women who undergo abortions are often disastrous. The mental anguish and guilt feelings are a veritable torture chamber. They are not easily escaped. There is no way the deed can be undone. The emotional trauma can be far worse than any or all other considerations that prompted the abortion decision.

4. We cannot ignore the spiritual consequences. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his bold be shed: for in the image of God made he man" (Gen. 9:6). Unforgiven, such sins will surely rob man of the soul's reward. Alienation from God in this life because of sin is superceded by separation from Jehovah in eternity (II Thess. 1:7-9).

Sincerely,

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