Remembering the Sanctity of Life

January 22 is the day set aside to honor the "Sanctity of Life" in 2006 and remember those who never experienced it outside of the womb due to abortion. It is estimated that 6 million Jews were exterminated by Nazi Germany and 20 million people died under Stalin's tyranny in the Soviet Union; but America surpasses their combined total with over 35 million lives having been lost to abortion in just 25 years.

Many women claim they have the right to decide what happens to their body, but Mother Teresa said, "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." Ronald Reagan noted that, "Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born." Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, stated that not once in his entire medical career, did he ever see one instance in which an abortion was necessary to save a mother's life. The truth is that abortion is not a medical issue, it is a moral issue. It is not a medical decision, but it is a selfish one.

The following bumper sticker slogans give cause for contemplation. "Aren't you glad your mother was pro-life?" "Abortion doesn't make you unpregnant, it makes you the mother of a dead child." "If it's not a baby, then you're not pregnant." "Abortion stops a beating heart." And one of my favorites, "As a former fetus, I oppose abortion."

Ronald Reagan said, "We cannot diminish the value of one category of human life - the unborn - without diminishing the value of all human life." While abortion is a devisive issue, even among Christians, it is not the only "Sanctity of Life" issue. On "Sanctity of Life" day, let us also consider other issues such as 1) Research on human embryos, 2) Physician assisted suicide, 3) Violent crimes toward others, and 4) Quality of life issues - i.e. Terry Shiavo.

Listen to the following mission statement of one pro-life group: "We believe the weak, vulnerable, infirm, handicapped, preborn, and needy deserve our respect and our care. We reject the notion that there are some lives not worthy of living and embrace the belief that we should graciously receive and protect all human life God gives."

Listen to the Scriptures: Gen 1:27 - "God created man in his own image..." Jer 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." Ps 139:13-16 - "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place... 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Ex 20:13 - "Thou shalt not kill."

Challenging thoughts for Changing Times will call us to do some introspection. Where do you stand on these "Sanctity of Life" issues? Do your personal views conflict with Scripture? Knowing that James 4:17 (Message) says, "In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil (sin)." Where will you stand and what will you do with the issues of life?