What Can You Do?
The state of Florida issued permits for the first black bear hunt in a decade, which took place just last month. State officials say it's a science-based wildlife management practice needed for the growing population as human-bear encounters have increased. But of course, since we can't seem to agree on anything these days - there of course has been a heated discussion about it.
But what caught my eye was that it took a Biblical turn. Opponents argued that killing bears to 'reduce risk' conflicts with Christ's ethic of mercy. They said, "The bear does not belong to the state, hunters, or even "the public" - it belongs to God. The bear's value is not economic, recreational, or managerial - it is intrinsic, because God made it."
I'm not here to preach against animal rights groups or persuade anyone to take up hunting. You can love both God and animals. But my larger point has to do with an understanding of 'rights'. If anyone is going to discuss animal or human rights - there's a truth we need to accept.
'Rights' are not granted by man or society. Rights are only given by God - and then a person or society chooses to recognize or reject those rights. - Because there will be many different opinions on the subject, why would my opinion be any more valid than anyone else's? That's why we go to The Authority - and God says...
I. Human life is unique
Today is what is celebrated as "National Right to Life Sunday". I know I preach on this topic each year, but the fact that people are arguing for "bears' rights" because they are created by God suggests this is something vital to discuss.
Animals are great, but they're not humans. Pets can be wonderful – they can be a huge blessing and loving companions. But God wants us to value human life differently than animal life. I'm glad that people acknowledge that bears are created by God. But man was created in the image of God. Mankind has been given a very unique place in creation by God. I didn't decide that role - God did.
Let's look again at a foundational passage we read just last week…
Genesis 1:27-30 (NIV)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (28) God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
(29) Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. (30) And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
There's a reason that God placed us over the animals. Animals were given 'life' by God but were not given this 'divine spark of life' – and there's a great difference. I want to look more closely about what the Bible actually says. The Hebrew words used here translated as the phrase 'breath of life' are 'nephesh chay' (neh'-fesh khah'ee) - which means 'a breathing creature, alive - animal life from God'. Now this next part really matters, as we look at this passage from Genesis 2:7 (NIV)...
the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
That same phase 'breath of life' is used again here in the NIV. But this time, the original Hebrew words are 'neshâmâh chay' (nesh-aw-maw' khah'ee) - meaning 'vital breath', divine inspiration, intellect, soul, spirit, alive. There is a vital distinction made here - by The Creator. All of life originated with God, but only human life began with the personal breath - that divine spark of God!
Because mankind is intentionally designed and created 'in the image of God' - by God, as sacred - because we are separate from the animals - because this 'breath of life' is unique and special... killing unborn human babies is wrong.
It's never my intention to be insensitive, judgmental or mean when it comes to this difficult subject. I know that many of us here have been very personally affected by this subject and I always want to be compassionate. I'm simply trying to clearly communicate God's truth - a neglected truth. I know many woman and children have been victimized by those who reject this truth.
But when you take the time to read the first nine chapters of Genesis, to see these verses in context – you will see that mankind's role is special among all of creation. It's not arrogance to say that we are over the animals – it's God's design! Man is created in God's image – animals are not. Placing animal life on the same level or higher than human life contradicts what the Bible teaches.
Loving and respecting animals as part of God's creation is not a sin. But if you do not give human life the proper place and respect and value that God gives - yes, that is a sin. How you view human life in relation to everything else in creation is vitally important. And this truth bears repeating - as evidenced by many who completely disagree with what I've said up to this point.
How you view human life determines how you treat human life. Under the "Eagle Protection Act", in this country it is illegal to destroy an eagle egg, with a fine of up to $100,000 and up to 1 year in prison. But, the termination of an unborn human baby is completely legal in most states, as long as it's the choice of the mother.
How you view human life determines how you treat human life. When you elevate animal life to the same value as human life - you lower the value of human life. Mankind— human beings— are special, not because of our own inherent 'wonderfulness'— we were given this special status because…
A. God is the Creator
If we don't first acknowledge that God created us, nothing else really matters. I'd like to look at a short video clip…
God is in charge. He made everything that exists and He gets to decide when life begins and when it ends. All human life is sacred because God created us in His image. God is The Creator and as such…
B. God owns life
We do not have the right to decide to end an innocent life. Human life is not a choice - it's created by God. And here's a difficult passage for some...
Genesis 9:5-6 (NIV)
And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. (6) "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man."
God made us - God owns us! The things I'm sharing used to be a commonly recognized truth in our country. Now I'd be accused of being 'mean spirited', and 'anti women's rights' - 'Who are you to tell a woman what to do with her body?' Some believe that a subject that's so politically charged and potentially divisive shouldn't be addressed from the pulpit. My goal really isn't to change anyone's politics, but their heart.
We do not have the right to end an innocent life simply because a court says that it's legal. Slavery, at one point, was legal – that didn't make it right.
In the Old Testament, we find a passage that I find, as a father – incomprehensible. God commanded the people of Israel to not live like those around them…
Deuteronomy 12:31 (NIV)
You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
How could a parent burn their child in a fire in order to receive some sort of blessing from a 'pagan god'? (Little 'g') But many today will sacrifice their child to the god of freedom, or the god of financial convenience, or the god of choice. We don't have the right to vote on what is morally right or wrong when it comes to human life – that authority is God's and His alone.
Now, as I say these things – I'm painfully aware that unborn children are not the only victims of our nation's current laws and attitudes. The odds are that there is someone here today who either knows someone who has felt the pain of intentionally ending a pregnancy, or who has themselves. It needs to be said...
II. God's Church is for imperfect people
I do stand in opposition to anyone who supports and promotes the killing of an unborn life - but they are not my enemy. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost and hurting.
In our minds, we see some sins as small sins and others as big sins. And we may rationalize that other's sins are worse than our own, or even perhaps – beat ourselves up believing that our sins are worse than everyone else's and that we're not worthy of forgiveness. Both of those attitudes are dead wrong. - We understand that there are different consequences here and now in this life for different sins... However, the Bible says that 'sin separates us from God', not 'little sins separate a little bit and big sins separate a lot'.
James 2:10-13 (NIV)
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (11) For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. (12) Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, (13) because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Statistics claim that 1 in 10 women in the Church have had an abortion. But another statistic is also true - 10 out of 10 Church members have committed multiple sins – some of them within this past week. Choosing to end an innocent human life goes against God's Will and is a tragedy – but what better place for all of us 'broken people' to be than the Church? It's so easy to condemn, but we are called to…
A. Show grace
The only way that any of us can even think about approaching God is by having our sins covered by the blood of Jesus; by admitting our sin and by accepting His gift of grace!
Society is quick to focus on freedom of choice but slow to focus on the results of such choices. We can't forget that there are two victims in choosing to end a pregnancy – the child and the mother who bears the emotional and psychological scars. With no acknowledgment of the loss of life, there's no funeral - no healthy grieving process.
Author David Reardon in his book, The Jericho Plan wrote, "Abortion is an act of despair." He notes that over 70 percent of women undergoing abortion believe the procedure is morally wrong. They act against their conscience because they feel they have no other choice. He points out that those who are experiencing doubts, grief or regret about the abortion are then unable to share that pain.
He wrote, "They don't feel they can share with their own family, much less within their church, because they're afraid of the rejection." If they try to share their grief with someone who is pro-choice, they are going to be told: "Just forget about it and go on with your life. It really wasn't a baby yet." Sadly, those who favor a woman's right to choose don't want to acknowledge the woman's loss for fear of casting the decision as immoral.
We need to forgive, just as we have been forgiven.
Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace (8) that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
God understands and is ready and willing to forgive! We need to forgive others and ourselves, when necessary. If we truly believe that God is The Creator, we also have to accept the responsibility of demonstrating His grace! And that requires…
B. Action, not just words
If I am going to follow Jesus, I need to give everything over to God - including all of my personally held beliefs. I have to let God's Word inform and shape everything I am and believe, even when it's hard or unpopular or may cost me a great deal. I can say I believe in the sanctity of human life – but it's another thing to actually do something about it. We find this challenge in Proverbs 24:11-12 (NIV)...
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. (12) If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
This passage doesn't say "feel bad for those being led away to death" – it says "rescue, hold back". Those are actions.
At the beginning I talked about the group who's protecting bears because they believe animal life is just as sacred as a human life. I may disagree with their Biblical understanding - but at least they're living out what they say they believe. Even though I disagree - I respect their consistency and willingness to take an unpopular stand.
Wouldn't it be great if someone would feel compelled to say the same thing about the people of Deep River regarding our stand for the sanctity of human life?
So What?
Every time I speak about this subject - people seem to ask, "Well what about this circumstance, or that one...? I can't answer every single circumstance - but as followers of Jesus we should still value life in every circumstance. If you believe that human life is sacred, you need to act on that belief.
A lot of people have done a whole lot more to minister to women and the unborn than I have. But it's our belief - that life created in the image of God is sacred - that prompted my wife Erin and I to adopt. We couldn't save all of the millions of children – but we could provide an option for one mother who found herself in a desperate situation. We could make a difference for one child who might otherwise not have been given a chance for life. And because of our choice to work with a Crisis Pregnancy Center - we're blessed to have our oldest son Winston.
I'm asking you to consider what you can personally do to help change one life. God doesn't ask you to personally rescue every child, but everyone is called to respect and value human life. Not everyone is called to adoption, or foster care – but perhaps you are. Just a few years back I certainly wouldn't have thought I would be. But can you help someone who is?
I encourage you to support the ministry of the Women's Center here in Northwest Indiana - financially and through volunteering and through prayer and in any other way in which you are gifted. Check out the bulletin board in our foyer! Seek God's will in how you are to be used by Him to make a difference for His glory!