Contending For The Sanctity Of All Human Life
How would you advise a mother who was pregnant with her fifth child based on the following facts? Her husband had syphilis. She has tuberculosis. Their first child was born blind. Their second child died. Their third child was born deaf. Their fourth child had tuberculosis. The mother is considering an abortion. Should she? If you said yes you just killed Ludwig Von Beethoven! How would you advise a 13 year old who was raped and considering an abortion? Should she? If you said yes you just killed Ethel Waters!
Article XV of the Baptist Faith and Message says, “We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death.” God values human life and judges those who treat it casually or with contempt. However, God will forgive and heal even the worst offenders if they repent of their sins. As Christians we must respond to the cultural assault on human life. Our worth as a person is not based on what we do or whether we meet certain criteria or qualities (“quality of life” ethic). Instead, our value exists because God set His image upon us, sustains us, sacrificed His only begotten Son for us and seeks to use us in His Kingdom’s work. God’s purpose in our life is tied directly to His ability to use us, no matter what our physical or mental condition. No one person, creed or nation origin has a higher standing or quality more deserving of life than another – all human life is sacred.
God is the Maker and not the one who was made. He is the originator of all things. Everything that exists came from His hands. Colossians 1:16-17 say, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” The Psalmist, likewise, tells us, “Behold, children are a gift from the Lord.” (Ps. 127:3) The Lord says, “Before I formed thee I knew thee.” (Jeremiah 1:5) The Hebrew verb used in this verse for “to know” is yada, which conveys great meaning in the Old Testament, going far deeper than mere intellectual knowledge or awareness. Yada means personal commitment and intimate experience with the person known. Yada is used for the sexual union between husband and wife in Genesis 4:1. God not only knew “about” you and me, he “knew” you and was involved in a personal way with you before you were conceived.
This personal and intimate involvement by God in individual lives extends to His personalized involvement in our conception and development. God says that each human life is “woven” (Hebrew, sakak “to weave”) by Him (Gen. 2:7; Ps. 139:13) and that He knits together (Hebrew, raqam “to embroider”) each human frame (Hebrew, estem “skeleton”) in the womb. (Ps. 139:15). This personal, detailed, intimate, divine involvement with each human life reveals that God has a “personalized” plan for each human being even prior to actual conception (Ps. 119:16; 127:3; Is. 43:7-8; Eph. 2:10).
Do not fall for the enemy’s lies. God is the power behind barrenness, and God is the power behind conception. We read in the Bible where God closed the womb of a woman and opened the womb of a woman. We are simply the human instrumentation through which God makes a baby. And you cannot, through sexual relationships create a soul – an immortal, eternal soul. Likewise, God is the creator of deformed people that are born. Listen to Moses’ words in Exodus 4:11: “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” Remember in John chapter 9 the disciples ask Jesus, “…who sinned, this man or his parents?” And Jesus said, “Nobody. This man was born blind for the glory of God.” Therefore, the circumstances of conception do not give or take away the value of life. To kill a life because it doesn’t meet our criteria of “quality” is to play God. Abortion (the killing of an unborn human being), infanticide (the killing of an infant), euthanasia (the killing of the ill and the infirm), and homicide (the murder of human beings at any stage in life) are a revolt against God and an attempt to usurp the prerogatives and plans of the Creator. It is interesting to note that the word “abortion” comes from a Latin word which means “to perish by untimely birth.” While, the word “sanctity” is defined as “sacred or hallowed character…a sacred thing.”
Like birth, death also has its appointed time established by God. There is a clear and distinct difference between allowing the death process to occur and speeding it up. As the issue of doctor-assisted suicide makes its way through the court system, Christians must stand firm against this ghastly evil. It is tantamount to saying we know better than God what should and should not be. Even many non-Christians accept the Ten Commandments as the law of God. Deut. 5:17 states, “Thou shalt not kill.” The word literally means murder. There is no exception clause for self. The argument that we have a right to decide when life is worth living opens Pandora’s box to wholesale euthanasia, for many may not be able to choose for themselves. The choice of whether or not to use extraordinary life support, which only serve to prolong the death process, can be devastating for a family. One must prayerfully ask, “Is it their time?” One must never withhold normal care and nutrition from anyone. That would be purposely hastening death. But to allow the death process to occur naturally need not be an ugly experience for the believer. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15).
We must trust in the wisdom of God in these matters. “To every thing there is a season…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). The Bible says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
In the Bible, God loathes such bloodshed and rebellion and has made it clear that He will judge those who perpetrate or condone such bloodshed (Gen. 9:5-6; Ex. 20:13). Listen to the Word of the Lord in Jeremiah 3b-6: “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle. 4. Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents; 5. They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind: 6. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.” This is a warning to mankind from the Lord God Almighty! The “Lord of hosts” in verse 3 speaks of God’s authority and power to do what HE says HE will do. The Lord says HE will “bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth…” Although the Lord is speaking literally of Judea and the city of Jerusalem in this passage, he is laying down a principle that HE will act against any nation or people that treat human life casually or with contempt.
Amos 8:11 warns such nations that treat human life casually or with contempt: “That the days will come sayeth the Lord God that I will send a famine in the land. Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord.” Such was the case in Judea and such is the case in America today. Notice the progression of sin in verses 3 through 6 of Jeremiah 19: “…they have forsaken me”, “…[they] have estranged this place”, “[they] have burned incensed in it unto other gods”, “[they] have filled this place with the blood of innocents”, and “…they have built also the high paces of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings.” What happened to Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah is a picture of America today. The progression started with the Engel v. Vitale decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1962 when the Supreme Court ruled states could not mandate prayer in school. Then came the Roe versus Wade decision in 1973 legalizing abortion on demand.
Since Roe versus Wade in 1973, 40 million unborn children have been killed by legalized abortion. Arnold Toynbee, the British historian and author of the 12 volume series, “A Study of History” said: “Of the 22 civilizations that have appeared in history, 19 of them collapsed when they reached the moral state American is in today.” Arnold Toynbee died in 1975. Can you imagine what he might say today? Today we sacrifice our unborn to the gods of embarrassment, inconvenience, immorality and greed. America must repent and ask for God’s forgiveness.
As prophesized by Jeremiah, Jerusalem was destroyed in Jeremiah’s lifetime (586 BC) by King Nebuchaddaezzer.
Therefore, the message is clear for America. We must repent, receive and proclaim God’s forgiveness to the world. Jesus said in Luke 13:3: “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” God will forgive and heal even the worst offenders of the sanctity of life if they repent of their sins. Listen to the words of hope God gave a repentant Jerusalem in Jeremiah 33:6-9: “Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. 7. And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. 8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. 9. And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.” The New Testament likewise says to those who repent, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
In Jeremiah 33: 6-9, God reveals a wonderful progression of repentance. First, the Lord grants new life: “Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them.” The word “health” in verse 5 actually means new flesh. The Apostle Paul told the churches at Corinth: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Second is abundant life. “[I] will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.” (vs. 6) The Lord was revealing the life of the soul that knows the fruits of repentance found in Christ (John 10:10). Third, is the assurance of total forgiveness of sins: past, present and future. (vs. 8) “And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.” This is the forgiveness Jesus gives the repentant: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
Because of the riches of His grace, there is the experience of joy: “And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth…” (vs. 9) Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:11)
Having the joy of the Lord is our strength for service and withstanding the trails and tribulations of this life. We can be of good cheer and in the Lord’s strength work to protect all human life.
The Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, in the book of Exodus are wonderful examples for contending for the sanctity of human life. Listen to their story in Exodus 1:15-20: “And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 18. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? 19. And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. 20. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.”
Are we willing to take such risks? We must love God more than we love the gods of this world.
Shiphrah means “beauty” and Pauh means “splendor” and the names well explain the Lord’s view of those who contend for human life. The midwives “feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them but saved the men children alive.” They followed the admonition given to us in Acts 4:19 by Peter and John: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;” The king of Egypt in these verses represents the world system we face today which espouses the “quality of life ethic” and disregards the sanctity of life. God will judge those who take innocent human life but He will also grant forgiveness to those who repent.
As Christians we must follow the example of Shiphrah and Pauh and the admonition of Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” The Bible clearly teaches that contending for the “sanctity of human life” is that which is good and acceptable and perfect in the eyes of a Holy God. You can trust the God that showed favor to the midwives and protected them to do the same for you when you contend where God has placed you for the sanctity of all human life.
