Sanctity of Life: Beyond the Womb

Faith in the Public Square
Lompoc Record
April 8, 2007

With all the chocolate eggs and bunnies, along with those marshmallow chicks, filling Easter baskets, the children today will be all atwitter from their sugar induced high. As a secular and commercial holiday, Easter celebrates spring's arrival in festive ways.

Even in its more commercial expressions, Easter celebrates life. As a Christian celebration, Easter is the most important day of the year. It is, in fact, the pivotal moment in our religious life, for it celebrates God's no to death in the resurrection of Jesus. And so, whether you take this doctrine literally or metaphorically, it stands for Christians as God's no to death and yes to life.
Looking at life through the lens of Easter, we discover how precious it is. Indeed, to use a politically charged word, Easter proclaims the “sanctity of life.” It's unfortunate that this phrase, like the equally politicized word “pro-life,” has come to mean only a concern for “life before birth.” Shouldn't life's sanctity apply not just to life in the womb, but include all of life, especially that life existing between birth and death?
“Reverence for life,” theologian Jürgen Moltmann writes, “always begins with respect for weaker life, vulnerable life.” And that would include “the poor, the sick, and the defenseless.” It also includes concern for nonhuman life. Regard for nature considers “the weaker animal and plant species, the life of which is at present condemned to extinction because of human barbarism” (”The Source of Life,” 49-50). If we're to be truly pro-life, then we must expand the category considerably.
The Psalmist says that the earth belongs to the Lord, along with all who dwell in it (Psalm 24:1). Although Genesis does suggest that God takes a special interest in his human creation, it doesn't appear that God is concerned only about humankind. It is all of life that stands in the purview of God.
So, what does it mean to be pro-life? In my thinking, to be pro-life would include concern about war and its impact on life. Christians often talk about just war, but with so many “civilians” dying or being displaced by modern war, it has become increasingly difficult to consider any war just. War may sometimes be necessary, but it's difficult to justify it on the basis of faith.
To be pro-life is to be concerned about the environment, because the environment is our habitation, and clean air and clean water are essential for healthy living. It would also include concern about poverty, because poverty undermines the quality of life and even the longevity of life. Indeed, if one wishes to reduce abortions, it would seem appropriate to focus on reducing poverty. Finally, to be pro-life is to be concerned about affordable and effective health care. AIDS, cancer, diabetes, any number of infectious diseases, and more are scourges on life. They can and do cut lives short. And with so many uninsured in this country, families must often choose between food and shelter or health care, because they can't afford both. I could continue the list, but I don't have space to do so. But, if we wish to claim the mantle of being “pro-life,” then we should be concerned about what happens between the time of birth and the time of death.
For me, Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus and its witness to the sanctity of all life. It's a call to be concerned about matters of life and death and a call to action that includes not just Christians, but everyone, religious or not. Because a true solution requires government involvement, it will of necessity become a matter of politics. After all, it's the politicians who send young men and women into battle and decide what a minimum wage is. They decide how medical care will be distributed and how to fund education. They pass the laws that will protect our water supply, or they won't.
Although politicians will of necessity play a leading role, our nation's political system gives us the right and responsibility to choose our leaders and hold them accountable. On this Easter Sunday, let's all, whether Christian or not, commit ourselves to cherishing life, especially that life which is the most vulnerable, whether human or not. This, I think would be in tune with the message of the resurrection.

Dr. Bob Cornwall is Pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Lompoc (www.lompocdisciples.org). He blogs at http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com and can be contacted at lompocdisciples@impulse.net or First Christian Church, P.O. Box 1056, Lompoc, CA 93438.
April 8, 2007

Comments

Anonymous said…
aw Bob.

Being pro-life, in the vernacular, is being anti-abortion. It is being against killing children for sexual, lifestyle convenience. Stop trying to change the subject just because you feel bad about your fence walking. Just say it, you are for abortion if it gets all the governmental stuff done that you think is important. You are pro-abortion, Bob. You may try to say that you are not, but killing children is a worthwhile compromise for you as long as all your social justice gets done. Fact is, killing children does not get filled under social justice for you. I wonder why.

Seriously, stop trying to change the subject.

Jason
Anonymous said…
Jason is... not very good at arguing rationally. I came across this blog researching an assignment for my Biology class, Science and Religion, and found this to be a wonderful piece that coherently discusses the discrepancy between how "Sanctity of Life" is interpretted and acted out in politics. Great job defending your faith rationally without trying to sugarcoat the logic flaws of some people who stand behind the phrase, from an athiest.

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