Explore: Value human life

This LifeWay Explore the Bible Series lesson for Jan. 20 focuses on Genesis 1:26-27, Exodus 1:15-17, and Matthew 11:4-6.

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This LifeWay Explore the Bible Series lesson for Jan. 20 focuses on Genesis 1:26-27, Exodus 1:15-17, and Matthew 11:4-6.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation naming the third Sunday in January of that year as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. Since then, whether following an annual presidential proclamation or not, many churches have observed Sanctity of Life Sunday at that time. Reagan chose the date to correspond to the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade court decision that legalized abortion. While believers certainly should raise a clear voice against this practice, our concern for the sanctity of human life also must address issues throughout the full span of life.

Along with abortion, the many reports of child abuse, domestic violence and recent shootings at malls, movie theaters and schools appear as terrible symptoms of a society that no longer places high value on human life. Debates over end-of-life and quality-of-life issues also reflect our level of reverence for the dignity of human life.

While the Bible does not directly address many of these specific questions, even a cursory survey of the Bible shows the high value God places on human life and reveals God’s call to all believers to demonstrate great respect for and protection of all human life.

 

Affirm the value of human life (Genesis 1:26-27)

What is it that gives human life value? In the initial acts of creation, God placed a high value on human life by creating humanity in the image of God. The phrase “image of God” involves a great number of characteristics, including humanity’s place as God’s representative and co-regent within the rest of creation. In giving humanity the task of caring for creation, God placed significant trust and responsibility on us. Whatever the full significance of the phrase may be, it is clear this unique characteristic of humanity is what gives human life its value. Apart from Genesis 1:26-27, the only other place in the Bible where the phrase “image of God” is used in relation to humanity is Genesis 9:6, which connects this phrase with God’s design for capital punishment.

The idea of humanity being in God’s image also likely lies behind the psalmist’s declaration in Psalm 8:5, which literally reads, “You have made him (humanity) a little lower than God.”

Finally, this conviction that all humanity was created in the image of God may also have been as the foundation of Israel’s laws that gave even slaves significant rights as individuals (see Exodus 21-24). Human life has great value and sanctity because God declared it to be so in creation by making humanity the unique bearer of the divine image.


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Protect the vulnerable human life (Exodus 1:15-17)

Within the larger narrative, the story of the two Hebrew midwives who defy Pharaoh’s order to kill all male Hebrew newborns sets the stage for the birth and protection of Moses. But this brief account also demonstrates the need all believers face in protecting human life in the face of all threats. It perhaps is significant (and certainly ironic) that we know the names of these two lowly Hebrew midwives while the name of the pharaoh (the most powerful man on earth at the time) is not recorded. Protection of human life does not require any special status, position or education. These two brave women did not make a big scene of their defiance; they simply and quietly did what they could do. Both Jesus and James made it clear that believers have the same responsibility today (see Matthew 23:23 and James 1:27).

While today we certainly have more freedom to publicly oppose threats, often focusing on big productions or protests to attack the larger problem causes us to miss opportunities to protect individual lives closer to us. Counseling unwed pregnant women to consider other alternatives, such as adoption; participating in local groups that offer counseling; and advocacy for life-protecting laws and public policies concerning children and the elderly often are more effective and personal ways to protect society’s most vulnerable human lives.

 

Demonstrate Jesus’ view of human life (Matthew 11:4-6)

To see the full value and sanctity of human life, one needs to look no further than the ministry of Jesus. Jesus constantly revealed the value of all human life by never turning anyone away who needed help—often going out of his way to touch and change lives. He always sought to touch these lives in a way that elevated the status of those who society overlooked or pushed to the edge of the community, such as women, the poor and the disabled. He reached out to change the lives of those whom the religious leaders proclaimed unclean, including even lepers.

While we may not have Jesus’ ability to heal miraculously, we certainly can follow his example of valuing all human life by doing the things listed in Matthew 25:35-40. None of those actions requires any special training or ability. Each simply requires a willingness to cross racial, economic, social, religious or any other line of distinction humans have drawn in order to touch, raise up, protect and reaffirm the inherent value, sanctity and dignity of all human life.


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