Why we honor life

One of the unfortunate results of the abortion/pro-life debate is how Christians have been painted into a corner. Christians have allowed themselves to painted with the brushstrokes of what we are against, rather than being known what we are "for." I believe one of the great causes of this is that so many believers don't know why a Christian is to be "for" life.

Tour #3 of The Truth Project touches on the issue of anthropology or man. A couple of key verses in Scripture help us understand why life is so important.

Genesis 1:26-27: Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 9:6: "Whoever sheds man's blood,
By man his blood shall be shed,
For in the image of God
He made man."

Both verses point to the reason why life matters. The worth and value of a person, ultimately, lies in the fact that each and every person bears the image of God. Because each person, born and un-born, bear this image, they have purpose and meaning and worth. This is no small matter. As Dr. Tackett points out this week, our meaning and morality must have an anchor "outside of the cosmic box" for it to serve all people. The same is true for valuing life.

Many people determine the "worthiness" of a person to live from a utilitarian perspective. A utilitarian point-of-view says, "This person is worthy of being saved because they can contribute to society" or "they will not be a burden on others, therefore they are OK." This is a direct result of the "might makes right" worldview.

Christians should be known for their defense of life. The only way we can avoid the label of being against something else is for us to have the ability to articulate what we are for. This requires us to know the truth and to be able to explain it in a compassionate, well-reasoned manner.

Please pay close attention to Tour 3 this week. Wrestle with the truths that are discussed and incorporate them into your life. Afterwards, begin articulating what you believe and why to others. It is through this process of knowing why you are for the preservation of life that you can begin to dialogue with those who hold a different worldview in a way that can perhaps bring transformation.

A great website that discusses pro-life issues on occasion, as well as other worldview related topics, is Al Mohler's blog. You can find a link under "My blog list."