Whose Life Matters?

Sanctity of Life Sunday

We see all over the news today, in virtually every news outlet and form of social media people calling for people to recognize the value of lives. Black Lives, Blue Lives, have all been in the headlines recently, the Pro-life, Pro-choice debate has also been a key issue for quite a while. Many politicians have taken hard stances on one side of these issues or another.

Well, this can be a very sensitive topic. It can arouse quite a bit of conversation and communication, both in healthy and edifying ways and also in unhealthy, unharmonious, and hurtful ways.

Today I would like us to consider from God’s point of view the question, Whose life matters? We will look into Scripture (beginning in the beginning, in the book of Genesis, and we will identify from the playbook of the Creator, whose lives matter. I believe abortion, euthanasia and racism are key issues that are specifically relevant to this question. These social issues are not merely social issues. I believe they are spiritual issues. I find it interesting that Sanctity of Human Life and Martin Luther King Day are back to back as they both relate in their own way to the question of “Whose life Matters?”

Man was created in the image of God

Genesis 1:26–27 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

,

This truth is fundamental to our understanding of “Whose life Matters”.

What does that look like? What does that mean?

What does that look like? What does that mean?

Stated simply, the method is this: First, determine from Scripture as many attributes of God as you can; second, determine all the attributes of man that distinguish him from the rest of the animals; third, determine which of these attributes are found in both lists, and in just these ways is man to be considered the image of God.

“The early Church Fathers were quite agreed that the image of God in man consisted primarily in man’s rational and moral characteristics, and in his capacity for holiness ….” Louis Berkhof Systematic Theology

I don’t know that Scripture clearly identifies the specifics of exactly how man was made to be “like” God or exactly which aspects of man are a result of being fashioned in God’s image. However, one writer suggested the best method for narrowing the list down would be to do the following:

First, determine from Scripture as many attributes of God as you can; second, determine all the attributes of man that distinguish him from the rest of the animals; third, determine which of these attributes are found in both lists, and in just these ways is man to be considered the image of God.

Whether this is the best method or even whether it is necessary for us to understand what aspects of Man are a picture of the Creator is not relevant to our discussion today. We don’t need to and quite frankly we may be unable to completely understand exactly what being “made in the image of God” means for us today.

Some believe that sin/the fall of Man changed this. They believe we are no longer “In the image of God” because we have sinned. Certainly, sin did change things but it did not change the fact that we are still made in God’s image. This is proven in .

Genesis 9:5–6 ESV

5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Genesis 9:1–6 ESV

1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

The Result of being created in God’s Image is. . .

Man has dominion over the earth and all that is under Heaven.

Man should not be murdered or have blood shed and whoever does so will be required to pay for it.

Genesis 9:1–6 ESV

1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Therefore, we can be assured that human life is very important to God. We don’t exactly need to know why, but it is so.

It is possible and I would say probable that GOD is so absolutely marvelous beyond our imagination that even when something that is made “in His likeness” is intrinsically of utmost value to the Creator because of its representative nature of the Creator Himself. Therefore, taking a human life requires a RECKONING.

Genesis 9:5–6 ESV

5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Genesis 9:5 ESV

5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.

The Psalmist seems to be wondering this truth in

Psalm 8:1–9 ESV

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

UNBORN HUMANS ARE HUMANS!

All Human life, no matter the race, nationality, ethnicity, gender, or age are made in GOD’s image and thereby are to be considered valuable.

All human life matters! From the womb to the tomb!!!

Racism is unacceptable, especially in the life of someone who worships the creator and understands the grace, mercy and love that God has poured out to us.

Racism and Abortion

These two sins are often committed simultaneously.

When there are more hispanic and blacks being aborted than whites it is quite possible that the abortion is racially motivated, or happening due to the affects of racism.

We need to do more, to combat racism in our communities and we can also do more do combat abortion, whether or not we realize it.

Contact government officials. Offer help and assistance to women who are considering abortion or even supporting them prior to pregnancy.

If anyone ought to be ready and willing to help it should be the church of Jesus Christ!

Fact check! There is only one race! The human race!

We may have to deal with the consequences of racism and past sins, but that does not give us a reason or excuse to not do all that we can do to prevent current racism or to help heal the wounds of the past.

James 3:1–9 ESV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

James 3:9 ESV

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

James cautions us to be careful to control our tongues, so that we do not curse those created in the likeness of God. That would include all humans.

All humans matter!

This has more implications than abortion and racism. It means that all humans deserve to be treated with love, grace and dignity. This relates to people with handicaps, (mental, physical, emotional etc. . .) It means that elderly people are important and their lives matter. It means that we respect everyone equally- (James tells us not be be a respecter of persons based upon their wealth)

James 2:1–10 ESV

1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

James 2:1 ESV

1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

James 2:

Your life matters!

You are important, you are significant, you matter, because you are made in the image of GOD! Over the past half century the Theory of Evolution has increasingly become the accepted and most prevalent teaching within our public schools and universities. This creates a problems of epic proportions, relating to the issue of morality and one’s understanding of their purpose and place in this world. It is no wonder we have many experienced such violence, anxiety and depression among teens and young adults. The message that evolution sends is that we are simply highly evolved beings, who are merely attempting to survive as any other animal/organism is attempting to survive. There is little room for the fundamental truth, that man has an important role in managing the world.

It also creates a false perspective about one’s moral purpose relating to God’s plan for the world.

MOVING BEYOND THE PAST-

Your life matters!- You are important, you are significant, you matter, because you are made in the image of GOD!

FORGIVENESS is offered to those who confess their sin. Abortion and racism are not beyond the reach of God’s grace, mercy and love.

Accept that fact that God has made you in His image and that means you have a very special purpose in this life. Thank and praise Him for who you are!