Toward a consistent ethic
Aaron Carr
Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: Opinion
Recently, many Christian churches celebrated "Sanctity of Human Life Sunday," a day originally set aside to protest the ruling of Roe v. Wade. While I admire the desire of the church to take a stand on issues it deems critical, I am dismayed by the lack of a consistent ethic they present in their preoccupation with abortion over other issues of human life.
The reality is that either all human life is sacred or none is. If the church is going to celebrate the sanctity of human life, it should celebrate the sanctity of all human life. If abortion is an issue for the church to address, then so are war, genocide, murder, poverty, euthanasia and capital punishment.
In Psalm 139, the Psalmist paints a loving picture of a God who knows and cares deeply for individual humans, even in the womb. In spite of this Psalm's popularity among pro-life Christians, the reality is that God's attitude in the Psalm continues from birth to death and into eternity.
If I am "fearfully and wonderfully made," then I continue to be such long after I am born. If "my frame was not hidden from (Him) when I was made in the secret place," will He not continue to have my frame before Him? Will not the God who took the time to "knit me together in my mother's womb" continue to care for His creation long after the womb has ceased to be my dwelling place?
This radical love has been extended to more than just babies. This kind of love and knowledge is given to the inmate on death row and the jihadist currently battling coalition forces in Iraq or Afghanistan (or wherever it is that we're fighting now). The homeless invalid on the street, regardless of previous life choices, has been extended this love as well, a love that does not care about situations, class, possessions or life choices.
The harsh reality is that one form of life is simply more acceptable to us than another. The innocence of the unborn appeals to us more than the face of hardened criminals on death row. To pick criminals over babies would be a bad PR campaign, true, but God's not in the PR business. He's in the redeeming business.
The reality is that either all human life is sacred or none is. If the church is going to celebrate the sanctity of human life, it should celebrate the sanctity of all human life. If abortion is an issue for the church to address, then so are war, genocide, murder, poverty, euthanasia and capital punishment.
In Psalm 139, the Psalmist paints a loving picture of a God who knows and cares deeply for individual humans, even in the womb. In spite of this Psalm's popularity among pro-life Christians, the reality is that God's attitude in the Psalm continues from birth to death and into eternity.
If I am "fearfully and wonderfully made," then I continue to be such long after I am born. If "my frame was not hidden from (Him) when I was made in the secret place," will He not continue to have my frame before Him? Will not the God who took the time to "knit me together in my mother's womb" continue to care for His creation long after the womb has ceased to be my dwelling place?
This radical love has been extended to more than just babies. This kind of love and knowledge is given to the inmate on death row and the jihadist currently battling coalition forces in Iraq or Afghanistan (or wherever it is that we're fighting now). The homeless invalid on the street, regardless of previous life choices, has been extended this love as well, a love that does not care about situations, class, possessions or life choices.
The harsh reality is that one form of life is simply more acceptable to us than another. The innocence of the unborn appeals to us more than the face of hardened criminals on death row. To pick criminals over babies would be a bad PR campaign, true, but God's not in the PR business. He's in the redeeming business.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 48
Mary Carr
posted 2/03/10 @ 10:35 PM CST
This is a well written article that really causes one to look around us and see what all else needs to be "worked on". Excellent job, Aaron.
Deborah Halbrooks
posted 2/04/10 @ 1:24 PM CST
What kind of church are you involved in? because there are MANY churches who reach out to the homeless, the poor, the prisoners, and even missionaries that go to places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran! Because we acknowledge a Sanctity of Life Sunday does not negate that. (Continued…)
Aaron Carr
posted 2/04/10 @ 5:52 PM CST
Yes, Deborah, I do have a problem with putting human prisoners to death. That was kind of the point of the article. And the supporting evidence for that point was grace. (Continued…)
Bryan Kessler
posted 2/04/10 @ 8:14 PM CST
Aaron-
I had a realization moment earlier today. Usually in the Crimson, one Opinion column will dominate the discussion on campus, and it correspondingly dwarfs the other ones. (Continued…)
Aaron Carr
posted 2/04/10 @ 8:31 PM CST
Bryan,
Thank you for that comment. And thank you for this week's discussion. I understand better now the conversations we've had in the past and I empathize with you established-columnist types. (Continued…)
Wes Spears
posted 2/04/10 @ 9:25 PM CST
A point well-made indeed, and an issue that absolutely must be discussed in the church if we claim to value the sanctity of life as we do. The death penalty is a particular problem that mandates addressing in Protestant circles, particularly Baptist ones. (Continued…)
Stephen Moss
posted 2/04/10 @ 9:39 PM CST
Excellent column. You make a very interesting point, although I disagree with you on your premise that the government should not execute criminals. I certainly believe that the church should be involved in more than just 1 or 2 issues. (Continued…)
Aaron Carr
posted 2/05/10 @ 12:16 AM CST
Stephen,
What do you define as "the gravest of offenses"? It seems to me that our criteria for capital offenses is a bit arbitrary.
And while it is the place of the government to punish those who break their laws, who is to say that such a punishment is a just one? The system itself is inherently unjust. (Continued…)
Adam Gadberry
posted 2/05/10 @ 12:51 AM CST
Excellent article! At the basic level, a Christian being for the death penalty and against abortion comes across as a hypocrite and is just fodder for those who dislike Christians. (Continued…)
Jonathan Newman
posted 2/05/10 @ 9:56 AM CST
But, Aaron, I want to pick and choose which life I think is sacred!
In all seriousness, though, great article. While people who are pro-choice and anti-death penalty are the most inconsistent, pro-lifers who are pro-death penalty aren't far behind. (Continued…)
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