value of life christianity
faster than a runner and quicker than an eagle diving after prey (Job 9:25-26). The disabled and the sick not only suffer from physical pain and discomfort, they are also often troubled emotionally and spiritually. Even those rarer men who think beyond themselves at all have an eye, not for this universal life, but for fenced-off portions of it. The Australian Evangelical Alliance joins with all those who believe that Christian values have relevance for society as a whole. For Christians, human life is sacred and is a gift from God which is to be respected and protected. They are principles for life, for relationships, public life and even legislation. 14:14) but also for those with physical, emotional, and spiritual needs (e.g., Matt. Perhaps the best we can hope for is maintenance of the status quo. Philip Wijaya Christianity.com Contributing Writer 15:21–22). God is the life-giver. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” 18:4). Societies and people see the world through their own sets of value… Based on God’s love, Christians are to extend self-giving compassion and care to those who are suffering or vulnerable—unborn or born, young or old. On his second missionary campaign, Paul came to the city of Athens (Acts 17:16ff). The whole purpose of man’s existence is to reverence God and obey his commandments (Eccl. It is therefore vital, and deeply Christian, to provide compassionate care, to both body and soul, to those who are suffering. Andrea William, chief executive of Christian Concern, described the book: “This beautiful story helps those who want to teach children how precious early life is. The lives of all humans, both their own and others’, are to be cherished and guarded. The Christian truth is that all humanity is made in God’s image and, therefore, of equal value. Imago Dei; Flawed; Redeemable; So God created mankind in his own image,in the image of God he created them;male and female He created them Genesis 1:27. swifter than a weaver’s shuttle (Job 7:6). It is also referred to as the cost of life, value of preventing a fatality (VPF) and implied cost of averting a fatality (ICAF). A child, disabled person, or elderly person is no less the image of God than anyone else. 14:14). —Teaching point one: The pursuit of happiness is not the purpose of life. He “hates . Let me summarize the secular/atheist and Christian foundations for the value of life, then you tell me whether it's any wonder that many people today are feeling like they, their lives, and the lives of … —Teaching point two: Life is priceless because God gives it. There is no baptism-for-the-dead by which the reward of obedience can be transferred. We’ve been saved by grace. 20:3–6; compare Ex. Regarding quality of life, it is certainly tragic for a baby to be born into poverty, or with physical deformity. 4:13-17). An exception was made only when the life of the mother was threatened. We ought to want to honor our Creator and lovingly serve him. For the Christian. Third, the Bible calls us to weep with those who weep (Rom. Yet when we listen carefully to the teaching of the Bible regarding what it means to be a human being and what it means to take the life of another, we find that the Bible speaks very clearly on the issue of abortion. Murder has been wrong since the beginning of time. Since life belongs to God, humans do not have absolute autonomy over their own lives but are stewards of the life given to them by God. A Christian worldview should result in an adherence to moral absolutes and to belief in miracles, the value of human life, and the possibility of forgiveness/redemption. Why did this prominent scientist adopt a position that he conceded was an irrational view? A somewhat different question is whether doctors are ethically able to withhold futile treatments that do not improve the prospect of recovery and only prolong the process of dying when death is imminent and inevitable. Christianity: Nature of Human Life. The value of human life is intrinsic, for it derives from God, who made human beings in his own image (Gen. 1:26–27). Christians don’t have to pretend to be perfect. 21:12, 14, 20) but also to human death caused by carelessness or negligence (e.g., Josh. When he beheld the metropolis brimming with idols, he addressed the Grecians regarding the true God. Human worth does not fluctuate with the level of perceived usefulness of a person to society or the degree of suffering they are experiencing, for human worth is grounded in the image of God. Of course, this still leaves open some very important questions regarding how Christian values are to be realized in society. We have this intrinsic, burning desire to know what we are made to do, but before can get on board with developing into that, we need to understand why we are here. It expressed opposition to abortion-on-demand as a violation of human dignity and the moral law of God. Peace and reconciliation do not appear to be attainable. We can find strength and ultimate hope in Christ, who has conquered death and can sympathize with human suffering (Heb. Many Christian ethicists believe that withholding natural means of life-sustenance from helpless patients is comparable to withholding the same means from an infant, as it will directly cause death. Other biblical writers have employed similar figures to emphasize how very fleeting our earthly existence is. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And this, he said, we are just “unwilling to accept” (1954, 46). Human life—is it precious? Life is a gift from God. 21:13). Suffering should bring us not to end life prematurely but to entrust ourselves more completely to our faithful God no matter what befalls us or those whom we love (1 Pet. In many studies the value also includes the quality of life, the expected life time remaining, as well as the earning potential of a given person especially for an after-the-fact payment in a wrongful death claim law… How we do that is through prayer and study of His Word, the Bible, so that we might better know what He has for us. A good reflection on a Christian's purpose. Consider the Live Value to be the foundation of the house (as in, part of the house) and the Christian worldview to be the foundation under the house… rock or sand (as in, what the house is built on). The purpose of life from a Christian perspective. Value #3 Authenticity. Religion and Life – THE VALUE OF THE WORLD The Value of the World Both Christianity and Islam would say that the world is very special. A value or ethic is a principle or standard about what is important in one’s life. If only Christianity weren't around, everything would be better. Murderers multiply while the justice system ignores this chaos. Proponents of abortion also put forth other reasons for abortion, such as the choice of the mother, the case of rape, and the issue of quality of life. The lives of all humans, both their own and others’, are to be cherished and guarded. The process of dying is frequently accompanied by illness, suffering, and pain. In such cases, according to some Christian ethicists, it is morally acceptable to allow such a person to die, though whenever there is a reasonable chance of recovery or improvement of the quality of life this should be pursued. Access date: March 14, 2021. https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/338-the-value-of-life. In social and political sciences, it is the marginal cost of death prevention in a certain class of circumstances. One of the dangers of which James warns is the pursuit of material interests to the exclusion of the Lord’s will (cf. hands that shed innocent blood” (Prov. I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.Romans 7:25 . Within that discussion, the inspired writer asks, “What is your life?” In the immediate context, James addresses the matter in terms of life’s brevity. We first remember that Jesus had compassion not only for the sick (Matt. On top of established medical conviction, however, the Bible teaches that a fetus within a womb is a living human being bearing the image of God. The question here, then, is not one of murder but of the lesser of two evils—losing one life instead two. As believers engage those who are suffering, trite answers, however true theologically, may prove counterproductive emotionally. Our lives are: But there are additional ways in which this question — “What is your life?” — can be answered. Penetrating Questions from the Book of Job. Core Christian values include hope, righteousness, love, and putting God first in our lives (humility, godliness, and so on). Clearly, that is not the case. Ending someone’s life in order to relieve suffering or inconvenience is not only unjustifiable; it violates God’s clearly defined moral order. You would think these questions would be easy to answer, but depen… 5:12–14; 1 Cor. Or is it no different from the life of a mosquito? Jas. A wise person once said: “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again” (2 Sam. 94 Bible Verses about Value Of Life. For decades, scientists have been attempting to create life in the laboratory and the results have been nil. 12:15). If human life is a gift from God, then it is a sacred essence, and no man has the arbitrary right to take it from another or to destroy it within himself. Amos 5:4. What is a truly purposeful life for a follower of Christ? There is now widespread consensus within the medical field that human life begins at conception, when the egg and the sperm fuse together to form a human embryo. —Teaching point three: Love defies logic. This act of negligence leading to death is thus also viewed as being prohibited by the sixth commandment. Now — in this life — is the time for preparation. Since life belongs to God, humans do not have absolute autonomy over their own lives but are stewards of the life given to them by God. That Statement, representing the consensus of the denomination, affirmed the historic Christian conviction that life begins at conception. Yet the answer to a difficult life for an infant is not to deny life itself to the infant, who is created in God’s image. As we look at the Bible’s teaching, the prohibition of the physically disabled to serve as priests may seem at first glance to be a prejudice against them (Lev. As indicated above, many labor under the illusion that life is a personal possession that we may do with as we wish. George G. Simpson of Harvard acknowledged that the question of the origin of life is “among the greatest of all evolutionary problems” (1954, 14). Its source is God. Today our world is filled with conflict, division and war. Christian values are based on spiritual things versus material things. 12:13). "The Value of Life." Save a human baby? Its approach encourages a view that however small a human life, it has huge value.” You can also watch a full read aloud of the book below. . He went on to affirm, however: “Yet here we are — as a result, I believe, of spontaneous generation.”. Likewise, Paul exhorts believers to “put on . From this divinely assigned purpose, however, stem limitations of value and, therefore, different orders or classes of life. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sin of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). Three comments are in order. Seek God, not sin. And so the complexity of life is an evidential tool that argues for the existence of a living Creator. These are serious questions that impact life or death—perhaps your own one day. We must exercise wisdom and care for the suffering with deep sympathy. We would be wise ourselves to “walk in the steps of that faith” which characterized Abraham (cf. 2:14–18; 4:15–16). Consequently, the person who takes the life of another will be held accountable and punishable by God through his human representatives (Gen. 9:5–6; Rom. Adam became a living being by the breath of God (Gen. 2:7), and if God were to withdraw his breath from humans, they would perish (Job 34:14–15). James 4:13-17; 1 Chronicles 29:15; Job 7:6; Job 9:25-26; Job 14:1; Psalm 39:5; Acts 17:16; Acts 17:25; Genesis 9:6; Ezekiel 18:4; Isaiah 43:7; Ecclesiastes 12:13; 2 Samuel 14:14; Hebrews 11:9-10; Romans 4:12; Matthew 25:1-13, Jackson, Wayne. Far too many entertain the views of the infidel poet William E. Henley, as expressed in his haughty composition “Invictus”: “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.”. It by no means devalues the disabled. The religious leaders determined that Jesus' life was worth, to them, 30 pieces of silver. Each principle is centered on the Lord, bringing the glory to Him alone, and the fulfillment of each is essential to the healthy Christian life. 1:8–9; Heb. Abraham recognized that life is but a sojourn that eventually leads to the eternal beyond, and so he cast his eyes toward the city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Heb. It is clear that Scripture regards life as a gift from Heaven. And in the case of rape, a heinous crime (rape) should not be compounded by adding to it another heinous crime (abortion). . We are the beloved children of God, created by our heavenly Father to reflect His glory, walk in His love, and do His will in our lives. Therefore, we can be authentic with our victories and our failures. But the Jews did not dignify Christ's life with that valuation. It is important to note, however, that in the Old Testament, the prohibition against taking a person’s life is to be understood as the taking of life outside of the boundaries set by God (such as capital punishment or war). As a result of the fall, physical death is inevitable for all people (Rom. On the contrary, Moses exhorts God’s people to treat the disabled and the elderly with respect (Lev. The Value of Life : Christian Courier Every life is a sacred gift from heaven intended to honor the Creator and prepare us for eternity. The Bible does not mention explicitly the practice of abortion. The child, the disabled, and the elderly, even when they are dependent on others or are sick or dying, deserve the same respect granted to anyone else. Those unprepared were not (Mt. 23:7). An abortion can be legitimately considered only in the event of an ectopic pregnancy, in which the pregnancy starts somewhere outside the uterus (usually in the fallopian tubes). All rights reserved. Some years ago, Professor George Wald of Harvard wrote an article on the origin of life in which he conceded that spontaneous generation (the accidental origin of life) is impossible. Yet surely a mother’s “choice” does not include choosing to end another person’s life any more than a murderer should be allowed to “choose” to end another’s life. He argued that the Deity is both Creator and Sustainer of the universe. How tragic it is, though, that many use their lives in a vain, egotistical fashion. We are compelled to conclude that destroying a fetus amounts to taking the life of a person, which the sixth commandment directly prohibits. The value of life comes from within. Jehovah declared that, ultimately, all souls belong to him (Ezek. Second, although suffering in itself is not good but a result of living in a fallen world, suffering serves redemptive purposes in the life of the believer. Our worldview affects everything we do, whether we recognize it or not. Or made in the image of an animal? Active euthanasia is clearly prohibited by the sixth commandment, regardless of the ill person’s request. 25:1-13). This truth is fundamentally at odds with the definition of humanity that says a life is more valuable because it is American. There is no second-chance reincarnation whereby we’ll get to return to this planet to “get it right.” There is no purgatory in which we’ll expiate our sins after this precious earthly life ends. Today life is treated as a cheap commodity. 4:12). Therefore, Christian values are the principles that a follower of Jesus Christ holds as important—the principles of life that Jesus taught. The value of your life cannot be measured by … In considering this question, we must remember that the value and dignity of human life is grounded in the fact the God is the giver of life. Human life—is it worth living? 11:9-10). Adam became a living being by the breath of God (Gen. 2:7), and if God were to withdraw his breath from humans, they would perish (Job 34:14–15). The main issue concerning abortion revolves around when life and personhood begin. Christian values promote peace and good will among people in accordance with the purposes of God. As parents who believe in the sanctity of human life face challenges in their quest to raise pro-life children at a time when mainstream society is exposing kids to pro-abortion points of view, a parenting expert has shared tips on how pro-life parents can influence their kids from an early age. Abortion was a known practice in the ancient world. The Statement on Abortion grounded opposition to ab… 6:16–17). As stewards of the life God has given, we are to uphold its sanctity from conception to the grave. In seeking the Lord, I have discovered what I believe to be 7 non-negotiables for life. 2:14–18; 4:15). I would say that the Life Value is present in everyone because, well, that’s how God made us. 21:16–23). Since only human beings can have moral responsibility, full personhood must, according to the Bible, begin at conception. In contrast, when the Amalekite brought news of Saul’s death to David, claiming that he had killed Saul at the king’s own request in order to end his misery, David executed the Amalekite for taking Saul’s life (2 Sam. 51:5). Anyone who does not acknowledge this truth lives as a rebel and defies the very reason for his existence. This requirement, however, has to do with symbolic wholeness in relation to God’s holiness. 1. The value and dignity of human life is derived from God the Creator and is rooted in the fact that all humans have been created in God’s image. Hardships of various kinds have the unique power to deepen our awareness of human frailty and mortality, to disengage our affection for the things of the world, and to lead us to depend more on God and to cherish more meaningfully the grace and mercy of God in Christ (see 2 Cor. ChristianCourier.com. Or should we just kill whomever we want? The person who is ill may have given informed consent (voluntary), may have withheld consent (involuntary), or may have been incompetent to give consent (non-voluntary). compassionate hearts” (Col. 3:12). Furthermore, David speaks of himself being conceived as a sinner (Ps. Or sacrifice our children? Human life is like a vapor that appears momentarily and then is gone. The meaning of life is connecting with the purpose, and for that purpose to guide us into development and service. Moreover, both Jews and Christians in ancient times explicitly condemned the practice of abortion. Even though Christian values are spiritual in nature, the evidence of these values come through deeds and actions. With this basic principle of the value of human life in place, we will consider a number of ethical issues concerning the beginning and the end of life such as abortion, euthanasia, and the treatment of children, the disabled, and the elderly. . This teaching is called the sanctity of life. From the baby in the womb to the elderly in the nursing home—are they made in the image of God? value of human life. Genesis 1:27 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. The Hebrew word for “murder” (ratsakh) in Exodus 20:13 not only refers to intentional killing (e.g., Jer. Respect for life means respect for the originally designated purpose for each category. Such suffering is real and painful and must be tenderly addressed. 4:19). Passive euthanasia involves withholding either natural life-sustaining means (e.g., food, water, air) or unnatural life-sustaining means (e.g., life-supporting machines) in order to cause death and thus end suffering. This moral principle is seen in the case of King Saul. 1 Samuel 16:7; Value #4 Leadership. E veryone has something to say about life.I often use the French saying “C’est la vie”; in English it means “Such is life”. Euthanasia occurs when a terminally ill person dies as a result of a deliberate act of commission (active euthanasia) or omission (passive euthanasia) by another person seeking to hasten the ill person’s death in order to end his or her suffering. In Psalm 139:13, David speaks of how God formed his “inward parts” while he was in his mother’s womb. All human lives are equally valuable Christians believe that the intrinsic dignity and value of human lives means that the value of each human life is identical. The outrage God feels at the murder of the unborn is underscored in his forbidding the taking of innocent life (Ex. 20:13), and its explanation in Exodus 21:12–32 clearly teaches this. Meanwhile we hope that an outbreak of violence does not reach where we live. Moses recorded: Whoso sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man (Gen. 9:6). 19:14, 32). Leviticus 27 states that a male whose life was previously dedicated for a type of religious service, such as in the tabernacle, could be redeemed for 50 shekels. The Lord has the sovereign right to dictate how human lives should be regulated.