Speak up for those
who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed. Speak up, judge
righteously, and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9
This past Sunday was Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. On this day we, as a church, declare our
belief that human life is of inestimable worth and significance in all its
dimensions, including the unborn, the aged, the widowed, the mentally handicapped,
the unattractive, the physically challenged and every other condition in which
humanness is expressed from conception to the grave. We believe life is sacred.
Sanctity of life does not always only pertain to unborn
babies. There are many others at risk because
of their perceived imperfection and loss of value of life. Those with special needs and the elderly are
just a couple of examples. What actually
makes us valuable? What is it that gives
our lives value in the eyes of others when we have no control over what happens
to us?
There are many different aspects of our lives that give us
value. The fact that God made us and
that He loved us enough to sacrifice His own son for our salvation makes our
lives valuable. What greater honor than
to be adored and sought after by the King of Kings? There is also the fact that humans were made in the image of God:
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image,
according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the
sky, the animals, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the
earth." So God created man in His own image; He created him in the
image of God; He created them male
and female. (Genesis 1:26-27)
Being made in the image of God means that in our nature and
personality; in our moral and spiritual capacities; in our emotions, intellect,
conscience, and will; in our functions and actions we stand apart from the rest
of creation.
Only human beings are given this status. Not even the angels are made God's image
bearers and most certainly not the animals.
Genesis 2:7 says Then the LORD God formed man of dust from
the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a
living being. God not only created the first pair but in an intimate
gesture of love; he breathes a bit of Himself into His creation. He continues to give each human being a
living soul.
Each human carries within his or her being the likeness of
the Creator. Therefore, each human life exists as a unique expression of God
and His character. Men, women and children created in God’s image should be
respected, regardless of their mental capacity, physical ability, age, faith
(or absence of faith) or social position.
Every human life, Christian or not, is sacred and of
inestimable value because each life is created in the image of God. The
likeness of Yahweh is impressed upon each human spirit.
Human dignity is an innate value, bestowed on us by God by
being made in His image. It is not based on the ability to care for ourselves
or competence to complete a task. Every life deserves to be respected and
valued just because God made them and made them in His image. He expects that of His people. He expects us to value all human life.
Scripture to Claim:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10