CONTROVERSY IX: What about the Sanctity of Human Life? Part Three—Capital Punishment

(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)

The final quandary to discuss is the issue of capital punishment and/or war. If one is to honor life, which is holy, then how can a nation enter into war ethically? Are all people to be pacifists in order to adhere to God’s commandments?

BUT! How can one accept such a lifestyle as ethical when God Himself declared war on the heathen nations against Israel, is deemed a Mighty Warrior, and Who charged His people to administer the death penalty as a consequence for murder and even adultery?

Again, these are very serious issues to ponder in light of the arguments posted in the beginning of this article. How can one reconcile such actions as war and capital punishment when they are attempting to maintain and honor all human life as holy? These issues can only be considered in light of Scripture:

“…(There is) a time for war and a time for peace.” (Ecc. 3:8)

“Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death.” (Ex. 21:12)

Clearly, there is an appointed time for war, as horrific and dreadful as those times may be, where death is an inevitable result of battle. The Lord knows that in war, many will die, and to serve one’s officers, nation, family, etc. one must participate in the killing of other individuals. During these seasons of adversity, though it seems the Sixth Commandment is violated, God’s grace allows such times to occur without finding fault.

In regards to capital punishment, again, the sanctity of human life is in question; should one’s life be ended in light of the sixth commandment? God’s answer is “yes.” That, which has been extinguished must be repaid in just measure, “a life for a life” (ref. Deut. 19:21). However, even this consequence must be taken in deep consideration of the Spirit’s leading. Consider David and Saul; David had every right to kill his adversary, who was seeking to destroy him. However, David felt the conviction of the Lord in this regard:

“‘Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?” (1 Sam. 26:9)

Even in this time of war, David had to follow the leadings of the Spirit to know when to destroy and when to administer mercy:

“‘“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” (Matt. 9:13)

Understanding such times is only found in seeking God’s wisdom, for man cannot know the ways or thoughts of the Lord nor understand who deserves life and who deserves death (ref. Isa. 55:8). Only God, Who sees the hearts of man (ref. Lk. 16:15) can dictate the just punishment for each individual:

“‘(I) will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.’” (Ex. 33:19)

Upon searching Scripture in depth and in its entirety, one can glean a fuller understanding of how God, the Just One, views the sanctity of human life and how He would desire it to be revered. Life is holy to Him, regardless of the circumstances surrounding its conception. Moreover, the length and quality of life lies under His sovereignty and His responsibility to bring through to fruition; man is not responsible for the ending of an aging life. In addition, there are times for war and peace, in which man must take the lives of others. Finally, the sanctity of human life requires the administration of just recompense for the life that was unjustly taken. However, such administration must be laid before the throne of God’s grace to determine the timing and instigation of such punishment.

If the Church and this nation could review God’s establishment of justice in regards to the sanctity of human life, there would be little division over the plethora of matters surrounding such issues. Many would see how one’s natural rights of privacy and pursuit of happiness do not override the inviolability of man’s rights to life as ordained by God. Such a conclusion, however, is only reaped when one takes the Scriptures as a whole, and reveres them as the very life he breaths. Without the foundation of the Word, the ethical issues concerning life remain complex, inundated in endless debate, and unresolved. The answers are within the Book, if man will simply take the time to search it.

This concludes my “dissertation” about the sanctity of human life…I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope it gave you some topics to think about and discuss…

CONTROVERSY VIII: What about the Sanctity of Human Life? Part Two—Euthanasia

(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)

The next question regarding the sanctity of human life concerns euthanasia; caring for the elderly when their very life source is held only by the technology of medicine. One article I have read poses several good questions, which are included here:

“…assume that a condition has been reached and you are the person legally stated as the one to sign to allow this person to die…What responsibility do the living have to such (the dying) persons? Does it mean leaving your job to care for a dying parent? What sacrifice is ethical? Could it involve losing your home to pay the medical bills?”[1]

These are very real concerns, very real issues, and cause very real anxiety over how one should behave in an ethical matter, especially for a Christian, whose faith is grounded upon Biblical principles. As stated above, God clearly views human life as sacred. How does He address the issue of caring for a dying parent? He states His view, again, in His Ten Commandments:

“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.” (Deut. 5: 16)

It is clearly stated that man is to honor and respect his parents. This is his heritage, from whence he was given life. To God, the parents of a man are just as sacred as his children, for they have participated in an action that is solely God’s privilege, creation. On another note, this commandment is the only one that includes a promise: that it may go well with the one, who honors his parents, in the land that the Lord has given to him. The Lord’s promises are everlasting:

“The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind…” (Ps. 110:4)

“‘Because I have spoken, I have purposed, and I will not change My mind, nor will I turn from it.’”(Jer. 4:28).

The Lord promises to prosper the hands and lives of those, who honor their parents. Honoring a parent may include caring for them in their dying hours, regardless of personal sacrifice. As extreme as this principle may sound, the child has no right to end the life of the parent; he has the obligation to care for them until the Lord takes their lives from them.

The Lord is a Redeemer of that, which is lost. The rewards and blessings of those, who honor and obey His commands, are numerous, and He is faithful to bestow them (ref. Deut. 28). The battle in this issue is not so much “whose responsibility is it to end a life,” but rather “who will believe God in the midst of pressuring finances, emotional turmoil of watching an individual die, etc. that He will restore that, which the locusts have eaten, and give a double portion for the suffering one has endured? (ref. Joel 2:25; Isa. 61:7) The concern is not one’s personal suffering, but one’s faith in the God, Who honors those Who love and obey Him.

Sanctity of Human Life discussion to be continued…

[1] http://atheneo.coccdegree.com/st06.php?id=2080&sched=812 (Article: Life and Death: Biomedical Issues).

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.