CONTROVERSY VII: What about the Sanctity of Human Life? Part One—Abortion

(This is a new article series that I am "trying out" with my readers. These are intended to be thought-provoking. Please see their Intro Article: Jan. 26, 2008)

Ok guys…I’m going to get real “philosophical” with you on this one…but I think that it is absolutely necessary because we have heard so many “intelligent” dissertations, which argue for “terminating the life of a fetus” (which some don’t consider a “real person”), which state why euthenasia is the “compassionate” method of medicine, and suggest that capital punishment is inhumane…I may bore some of you; but others, well, I hope this gives you some food for thought, or some ammunition for discussion if you ever encounter a fellow believer, who holds unbiblical theories. This is divided into three parts: abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment.

I believe one of our key societal ethical issues today is our lack of respect for the sanctity of human life. Granted, we do have laws against homicide, etc., and the general opinion of this nation is negative towards those, who abuse, torture, and extinguish the life of other human beings.

However, this appreciation for life has its limits, becoming vague and of much dispute in different “life/death” scenarios, such as abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment. The discrepancies are so universal in the United States that even the American Church is divided on these issues. Such a division is detrimental to the solidarity and unification of the nation as well as for the Bride of Christ because:

“‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.’” (Matt. 12:25)

How then can these divisive issues surrounding “human life” be resolved in this nation? How can the Church become united in purpose when it comes to honoring life, being good stewards of one’s life as well as respecting others’, with whom they have to do, in addition to living in accordance with justice?

To best answer these questions, one must study how the Just One views human life; how He handles the elderly and capital punishment; and how He would have us, His people, implement His perfect justice as is humanly possible for us as finite beings.

To begin our quest of discovering “ethical rightness” in regards to the above issues, the inquirer must observe God’s initial opinion regarding man.

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created man in His Own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them… God saw all that He had made, and it was very good…” (Gen. 1:26-28, 31).

God created man and woman in His image. In other words, as God is holy, God created man to be holy in His initial purpose for man’s creation. Man was intended to be holy as He is holy (ref. 1 Pet. 1:16).

What does it mean to be called “holy”? “Holy,” as defined by the Online Etymology Dictionary, is “that, which must be preserved whole or intact, that cannot be transgressed or violated.” [1] Moreover, that, which is holy is “regarded as deserving special respect or reverence.”[2] Therefore, God regards man as that, which is deserving of special reverential respect, to be preserved whole, without any violation of his sacred existence.

God continued to propound upon His reverential opinion of man when He laid down the Ten Commandments, His most basic and normative form of ethical standards:

“Thou shall not kill…” (Ex. 20:13)

God clearly made known His intentions of preserving the holiness of human life by commanding the human race to honor His position towards it.

How does this apply to abortion? Do we have a right to choice, as is apart of our human natural rights to liberty and pursuit of happiness? Does not an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy infringe upon one’s plight to attain such goals?

The answer to this is that just as man has a right to make good decisions, he also has a right to make poor ones. Should a pregnancy be untimely or unwanted, it was not the fault of the baby in the womb; but the responsibility lies with the father and mother. Just as man has a right to enjoy the good results of responsible living, he also has the right to suffer consequences for his irresponsible actions.

What about the situations of the pregnancies, which are the result of rape? The choice was not the mother’s; her status of holiness was greatly transgressed against by the perpetrator of injustice. Should she have a right to “redeem” her life and liberty by extinguishing the life of that, which is within her?

The answer is no. Upon closer examination of the scriptures, God clearly states His views of human life, regardless of circumstance surrounding its birth:

“The LORD brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up.” (1 Sam. 2: 6)

As finite creatures, man cannot possibly dictate adequately between a life that is rightfully created and that, which is a “sinful” creation. God creates life, and He has created all humans as holy, regardless of the methods of their siring. Moreover, in the situation of rape, one can only muse that:

“…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

Who is man to judge whether or not the life within the womb, be it a result of poor choices or horrendous violation, be not called by the Holy One for a purpose beyond that of human comprehension. What of the rights of the rape victim? Does she not have a right to redemption and vengeance for that, which was so viscously stolen from her? Again, the Word gives the answer:

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,’ saith the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19)

It is God’s place to avenge that, which is wronged. God is far more creative in His redemptive agencies and means; His ways pass far beyond the capabilities of one avenging one’s self. The rape victim’s rights were severely breached, but God has a way of redeeming the loss that surpasses the efforts of man’s finite abilities.

Sanctity of Human Life discussion to be continued…

[1] holy. (n.d.). Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/holy.
[2] holy. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/holy.