On Jan.22, 1984, Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday in January as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. His directive encouraged all Americans to value life, both born and pre-born.
Being reminded of the value of human life is important beyond January. The World Health Organization states that there were more than 73 million abortions worldwide last year. The Guttmacher Institute records there are more than one million abortions in the U.S. each year, and today more than 60 percent of those are medical abortions, or abortions by pill.
Americans are divided on the issue of valuing of unborn children, and many professing Christians want to point to the difficulties brought on by unplanned pregnancies instead of defending the rights of the pre-born.
Fortunately for us the Bible is not silent on the value of human life. Below are five truths derived from Scripture that can help pastors, elders and ministry leaders equip others to view life biblically.
1. We must understand human life: King David said to God in Psalm 139:16, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” David knew that he was a person before he was born and that God was his Creator. Scott Klussendorf, in his book, Stand For Life, helps readers understand human life when he asks about the unborn baby in the womb, “What is it?” Since it is a human being, it deserves protection.
2. We must value human life: In Exodus 1:17 the Hebrew midwives disobeyed the infanticide directive of the King of Egypt because they feared God. God values human life and we must as well. In recent years we have heard language that we are pro-life from the womb to the tomb, meaning that we value all life, born and pre-born. Followers of Jesus must have compassion for life in all stages, but we must not neglect defending the life of the unborn.
3. We must speak up for human life: In Proverbs 31:8-9 King Lemuel’s mother counsels her son to use his leadership voice to advance human flourishing. She said, “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Pastors, elders and ministry leaders must judge between right and wrong and speak up for the well-being of the most vulnerable among us. Every day I feel the tension of when it is right to speak up and speak out — but speaking for the unborn is never a question.
4. We must standup for human life: The familiar words in Micah 6:8 remind believers, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” To do justice requires that we determine what is just in a variety of moral matters and then do the right thing. This is not always an easy task, but when it comes to the issue of standing up for the unborn, it is clear these are not people who can protect themselves, and we must stand for them.
5. We must show mercy to all people: As people who have received mercy from God, we must be those who show mercy to others who, like us, have made horrible life choices. None of us want to be permanently judged by others for the worst decision of our lives. Many women in our state have had abortions, and many men have helped pay for those life ending procedures. These men and women are candidates for the grace and mercy of God, and we must be those who help them find forgiveness and hope in Jesus.
Legalized abortion is the greatest human rights atrocity of our day, without question. Many of our elected leaders are losing their nerve to engage politically with this issue out of fear it will cost them votes.
As followers of Jesus, it is our responsibility to understand the issue, make the case and persuade our neighbors that unborn life must be protected.
Dr. Todd Gray 