REQUIREMENTS FOR HUMANITY:
RESPECT FOR LIFE
By Steve Zeisler
The last two times that I saw Ray Judnich he was lying in the same bed.
On Tuesday, I spoke to him. The following day I went to the home early in
the morning after a call from the family saying Ray had died. He was still
lying in the same bed, but the circumstances had changed dramatically. The
visual impression was not much different. The room looked the same. He occupied
the same place in the bed. The furniture had not been moved. Yet an event
of tremendous import had taken place. Ray had gone to be with the Lord.
It was an occasion of jumbled emotions for me: joy and sorrow, fear and
hope, gratitude and concern. What remains in me is reverence for God. A
remarkable man had lived a godly life and had died.
HUMANITY DEVALUED
But we are living in a time when human life is valued less and less. Judges
are killed in Colombia because they are an economic impediment to the drug
lords of that country. A black teenager trying to buy a used car in New
York was killed recently because he had wandered into a neighborhood of
angry whites. Fertilized ova in a refrigerator in Tennessee have been battled
over in a divorce court as if they were furniture. Lawyers argued, judges
ruled, and newspapers reported, but all without a sense of the magnitude
of the issues involved. Babies are aborted every day because they are the
wrong sex.
We are losing a sense of the critical nature of human life in this age,
and many are making crucial decisions without regard for consequences. Ray
Stedman made a comment recently that brought these issues into focus for
me. He said, "If you lose God, you lose man." That is, there is
no adequate basis for human worth apart from the love of God for us.
"YOU SHALL NOT MURDER"
The sixth commandment of the decalogue will be the subject here in our continuing
study of the Ten Commandments. It is short in length, just two words in
Hebrew which are translated most properly in English, "You shall not
murder." The Hebrew word refers specifically to individual acts of
violence, not all killing. The issues of capital punishment and warfare
should be considered separate from this brief command. To understand what
is behind the commandment, we must reassert the value of human life from
God's perspective rather than the viewpoint which our culture is gradually
adopting, that those who do not contribute are expendable.
Evolutionary theory proclaims that humanity is an accident of nature, the
end of a process that began in the random collision of chemicals and energy.
Those who are the most fit survive, while the weak pass away. There is no
basis for belief in human worth if chance and competition are absolute.
However, the scriptures proclaim the particular investment and concern of
the Lord God in the race of man. Therefore, every individual is valuable,
whether they are strong, beautiful, and powerful, or weak, sickly and hurting.
We may offer no material contribution from the world's perspective, but
God says we are valuable to him.
CREATION AND INCARNATION
I want to make the argument for human life being worthwhile from two theological
points. The first has to do with our creation. In Genesis 1 and 2 it is
clear that the zenith of God's creative works was his creation of humanity.
We are made in the image of God, from the heart of God, with the concern
of God, and therefore we are valuable human beings.
The second theological argument for the value of humanity is the incarnation:
God himself became human. Our rebellion at the Fall did not make us any
less precious to God. Rather, he became man and ultimately gave up his life
for us on the cross so that we might live. Therefore, we must insist from
the Lord's point of view that human life is worthwhile and valuable.
GOD'S IMAGE AND LIKENESS
In the first five days of creation, the Lord spoke all of nature into being,
and saw that it was good. On the sixth day, he did the crowning achievement
of his work by creating mankind. The scriptures record that the triune God
took counsel with himself, saying, "Let us make man in our image and
likeness." At the apex of his creation he looked to his own nature
and fashioned that which corresponded to himself. Seeing that it was good,
God gave man responsibility for all that he had made.
Genesis 2 is an intimate picture of a father's relationship to his children.
The Lord made provision of food and responsibility, marriage and home, and
regular, loving association with himself. Nothing that he made mattered
more to him than mankind. We are valuable because we are humans made in
the image of God.
Centuries later, King David contemplated the place of people in creation
and wrote a magnificent poem, Psalm 8, in response:
O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Thy name in all the earth...
When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers,
The moon and the stars, which Thou has ordained;
What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him?
David compared his body and its short life span to the immensity and everlasting
quality of the stars and heavens and questioned, "What is man?"
Yet the Spirit witnessed to him, "God has made humanity a little lower
than himself and crowned him with glory and honor."
It is a remarkable testimony. Despite appearances, the human race has been
made lower than only God himself, crowned with glory and honor, and invested
with the concern of the Creator. Thus when the decalogue calls on us not
to murder it is because any human victim is valuable in God's sight.
Self-worth will never be gained by surveying our accomplishments. Comparison
and competition will ultimately declare our shortcomings. David felt puny
having surveyed the heavens. It was God's word, not the circumstances, that
elevated him. Nebuchadnezzar, one of the greatest potentates of the ancient
world, tried to establish worth from accomplishment. Surveying the city
of Babylon, he said, "Is this not Babylon the great which I have built
as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?"
Within a short time period, however, he lost his mind, and only regained
it after he was humiliated. He could not sustain belief in his own genius.
Our weakness and failure always intrude on the symphony of self-congratulation.
And yet one truth never changes--God has made us lower only than himself
in all creation. He has crowned us with glory and honor.
GOD BECOMES MAN
The second theological reason for believing human life is worthy in God's
sight is the incarnation. God became human, and therefore we must believe
that there is something worthwhile about being human. John 1:14 tells us:
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld
His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace
and truth.
In Revelation 21:3-4, we read,
"I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the
dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them, they will be his
people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. He will wipe
away every tear from their eyes. There will no more be death or mourning
or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'
Even after the new heaven and the new earth are called into being, the dwelling
place of God remains with men.
Hebrews 2:11 tells us that Jesus is not ashamed to be known as our brother
since we are all from one Father. This reminds me of an incident that took
place when I was about twelve. My sister, who was in third grade at the
time, was being harassed by a classmate on her way to school. Finally, she
told her tormentor that she had a big brother, but he ignored her until
she finally asked me to walk her to school. Since I was big for my age and
this boy was not, I managed to convince him to leave my sister alone. I
remember feeling a sense of pride that I was able to do something for her
in that kind of setting. The family relationship meant that she was valuable
to me, and I would defend her against outside threats.
The testimony of God to us is that Jesus is not ashamed to be identified
as our big brother. We matter to him, regardless what the world says about
us.
Let me suggest some implications that flow from this. First, we must refuse
to estimate people on utilitarian grounds. We must not decide that an individual
who is accomplished deserves more of our attention and concern than one
who is poor or sickly. If we are to uphold the sixth commandment by refusing
to kill or take life, it must be borne out of our conviction that God honors
all people.
James 2:1-4 exhorts us to this attitude:
My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus
Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into
your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also
comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the
one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good
place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or
sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves,
and become judges with evil motives?
There must not be distinctions made between people based on their prominence.
One who advocates that point of view may at some point conclude that some
people may not be worthy of life itself because they have nothing to contribute.
The scriptures are clear: Basing people's worth on their accomplishments
or their utility will turn us into judges with evil motives.
DEADLY SPEECH
Let us consider occasions when we might violate the command and commit murder,
perhaps without realizing it. Remember Jesus' words in his Sermon on the
Mount. He commented,
"You all know the commandment, 'Don't commit murder'. .
. But I say to you, anyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty."
Jesus went on to say that those who speak with viciousness and anger are
lawbreakers. When we who might never physically injure someone take a life
by tearing the individual apart with our tongue, then we are guilty of breaking
this commandment.
In my experience, the people who most effectively commit murder by their
speech are those closest to the victims; people in families or close working
relationships. They know each other so well that they know the precise word
that will hurt the most. However, such words are in direct violation of
the commandment. Do not commit murder by tearing at someone by angry and
violent speech.
NEGLIGENCE
Another area where we can be guilty of endangering human life in violation
of this command is through ordinary laziness and negligence. I can think
of two occasions when I might have caused a fatal accident by being foolish
and irresponsible. Once when I was driving in a rainstorm too fast, the
car hydro-planed and shot onto an embankment. It might have have hit a pedestrian
if God had not been gracious. Although it was raining, I indulged myself
by driving too fast because I was in a hurry.
Another time I was driving home from a day at the beach with a car full
of people on a major Los Angeles freeway. I started out in the fast lane
and I woke up in the right lane, six lanes over. I had fallen asleep in
heavy traffic, but I made it across without hitting anyone, by the mercy
of God.
I know people who have taken a life through foolish choices such as mine,
and experienced the awful regret that comes from extinguishing the life
of one who is made in the image of God. Let me urge you not to allow self-indulgence
to put you in a situation where you take a life negligently.
MEDICAL INTERVENTION
We may sometime be called upon to make painful and difficult ethical choices
about people close to us who are dying. There is an important distinction
to be made between prolonging the dying process and taking medical steps
that can actually save a life. Allowing suffering to end by avoiding intervention
may well be God's will. If we come to such a situation we will need the
prayers, wisdom, and support of the body of Christ in the decision process.
Medical science can act, but should it act? The Lord must lead us in these
matters.
ABORTION
There are few things that are of more concern to the populace in this country
than the questions regarding abortion. One and a half million babies are
aborted in this country every year. In a congregation of this size I am
almost certainly speaking to some who have had abortions and possibly some
who are considering one. Let me urge you, for the sake of the Lord, if you
are considering an abortion, please don't make that choice. There are better
answers to unwanted pregnancies, and a community of people who are willing
to respond to your need. Christians cannot hear the word of God and say
that abortion does not matter. If we believe that human life is valuable,
then it ought not be terminated by our actions.
Let me say further, however, if you have had an abortion, you have not committed
the unforgivable sin. There are ten commandments, all of which are violated
by rebel humanity, but paid for on the cross of Christ. Ephesians 2:4-6
proclaims:
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with
which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us
alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us
up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.
Abortion is not singled out in the list of sinful acts.
ANTI-ABORTION TACTICS
An important issue regarding abortion involves the tactics we employ opposing
it. Although confrontational tactics are necessary at times it concerns
me, that some Christians see such tactics as the only way to challenge the
tragedy of abortion. There is more we must do.
Not everybody who wants abortion legally available in this country is selfish
and hard-hearted. Many want to help desperate young women and are blind
to the awful consequences of what they advocate. We need to approach such
people with understanding and love, not with confrontation alone.
Another thing worth noting in terms of tactics is that we cannot remove
choice from the woman involved. It is one thing to talk about "pro-choice"
or not as a matter of law, but in the final analysis choice cannot be denied
a pregnant woman. The woman will make choices affecting the child regardless
of what the law says so we must leave open the door for dialogue and persuasion.
Even if the law forbids abortion, women had abortions when it was illegal
and will do so again. Babies can be mistreated in utero and after birth
if the mother does not choose to care for the life within her. If all we
do is forbid people by law or some other constraint without taking steps
to persuade and help, then we have not gone far enough. We cannot be so
confrontational that we lose our ability to persuade people that there is
hope and reason to choose life.
SUICIDE
The last application of the sixth commandment I would like to focus on is
suicide. There may be some here who have actually attempted suicide, while
others hate themselves sufficiently that they are slowly killing themselves.
Such people act self-destructively precisely because they do not believe
that they are valuable, made in the image of God, loved by him, and redeemed
by him. They do not believe that the dwelling place of God is with men and
will be forever. So they take drugs, or engage in other high risk behavior
subconsciously hoping to injure themselves in some way. They repeatedly
choose abusive relationships because they think they deserve the abuse.
They have stopped valuing themselves and act in ways that hurt. If you are
caught in such a syndrome, please get help! No matter what any other voice
tells you, the Word of God proclaims your absolute value to the Lord God,
who is master of all.
The commandment is simple: Do not commit murder. Any choice we make to take
human life is an affront to God
NO FEAR OF DEATH
I would like to make one final observation about life and death. The Ten
Commandments must retain all of their teaching power for us as Christians.
We should believe that murder is wrong. I am urging us to do all that we
can to promote life among others, to care for and nourish it, and stop any
behaviors of ours that would diminish life. However, I am not urging us
to be afraid to die. To a degree there is an irony here. Those people who
know the Lord and are the least afraid to die are the most free to promote
life because our hope is in the Lord. We value those around us because we
believe what God said. Yet we are not to afraid to die, knowing that death
is only the doorway to his presence. The apostle Paul said, "For me
to live is Christ, to die is gain."
Ray Judnich was in the same place the last two times I saw him, but what
had intervened was the remarkable transformation of mortal to immortal.
On Thursday, when I called the family, Ray's voice greeted me on the answering
machine. For a moment it was jolting to hear him invite me to leave a message
at the beep, because I knew he was gone. Those who do not know Christ will
frequently grasp at anything that prolongs this life, even in pretense.
Tapes and pictures and mementos can serve us in remembering, but nothing
will allow us to cling to those who have died. Our hope must be in Christ
and life with him beyond the grave.
Let us conclude by reading I Corinthians 15:53-57. In this passage, the
apostle Paul says that death itself will die. It is because we follow the
Lord of life that we love life. We can value, as he does, every single person
who comes within our sphere of influence. And we can face death with boldness,
because he is the victor.
For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal
must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable,
and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying
that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where
is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death
is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing
that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Catalog No. 4185
Exodus 20:13
Steve Zeisler
Sixth Message
October 1, 1989
Copyright (C) 1995 Discovery Publishing, a ministry of Peninsula Bible Church.
This data file is the sole property of Discovery Publishing, a ministry
of Peninsula Bible Church. It may be copied only in its entirety for circulation
freely without charge. All copies of this data file must contain the above
copyright notice. This data file may not be copied in part, edited, revised,
copied for resale or incorporated in any commercial publications, recordings,
broadcasts, performances, displays or other products offered for sale, without
the written permission of Discovery Publishing. Requests for permission
should be made in writing and addressed to Discovery Publishing, 3505 Middlefield
Rd. Palo Alto, CA. 94306-3695.