Matters of Life and Death

Prenatal testing has exploded into defining moments that compel individuals to make life and death decisions, often with limited or one sided information.  A significant number of today’s women will choose abortion when faced with major birth defects.

Some will argue that abortion should remain a choice for these women and their families.  They may even be counseled that abortion is the best solution rather than to continue a pregnancy only to watch their baby struggle or even die.

If the unborn is fully human, however, then allowing abortion in the case of an adverse diagnosis is similar to promoting the execution of all handicapped people.                  

Despite the difficulties, tragedies and challenges of life, one fact remains:

Every life matters - born and preborn - every created life matters.

And yet, throughout history, individuals have made remarkable achievements and contributions despite debilitating physical and mental ailments. For most of us, they encourage us and serve as examples of overcoming adversity.

Consider Nick Vujicic.  An otherwise healthy baby boy, Nick was born with neither arms nor legs. Imagine the shock his parents felt when they saw their baby boy for the first time. How would their son live a normal happy life?

Today, God uses Nick to touch lives and bring the hope of Jesus Christ to people across the globe.  Vujicic is the President and CEO of Life Without Limbs.  He travels the world sharing his personal story of faith, hope and purpose - in spite of his personal struggles.

Imago Dei, or "image of God", is a term which symbolizes the relationship between God and humanity.  Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…...”  Humans, then, reflect God and His qualities which make them unique among God’s creatures.

Every life matters – born and unborn – every created life matters.

Controversial Princeton University Professor Peter Singer holds a distinct view on the killing of disabled newborns.  When asked, “Would you kill a disabled baby?” Singer replied, “Yes, if that was in the best interests of the baby and of the family as a whole.”

Singer rejects the concept that mankind is created in the image and likeness of God.  It follows, then, Singer believes there is no sanctity of human life.

Singer's philosophy should come as no surprise.  His philosophy, and others like it, is the logical conclusion to our current 'culture of death'.

The quality of a society is largely defined by how it treats its weakest and most vulnerable members.  Killing the innocent, however, can never be justified.

We may use dehumanizing language or even talk about ‘quality of life’, but it changes nothing.  Pastor and author Randy Alcorn says, “A bruised apple is still an apple.  A blind dog is still a dog.  A handicapped child is still a child.”

Alcorn goes on, “We talk tenderly about children with MS, spina bifida and leukemia.   We sponsor Special Olympics and cheer on competitors.  But when we hear that a woman is carrying one of these special children, we say, ‘kill it’ before it is born.” 

Life is full of challenges, yet how can we deny another’s existence before they even have a chance?  Quality of life will always be subjective.  Some may think that their own life is not worth living – or may even judge another's life as not worth living.

If we are to affect the current culture of life, we must affirm this basic truth:  human life has an inherent, incomparable value because we are created in the image and likeness of God.

Jill Stanek, a prolife nurse and blogger, tells about a couple pregnant with a much anticipated baby boy.  The baby had been diagnosed with spina bifida, an opening in the spinal cord.  After making the decision to abort, the father learned that the baby had no spinal lesion at all.

Stanek wondered if the man would ever tell his wife that they aborted their perfectly healthy baby boy – or if he would take that secret with him to his grave.

Prenatal testing results and information put some in a position to choose death – information that may be wrong.

What does it mean if we, as a society, assert that certain preborn human beings are to be denied their right to life simply because they have a certain physical deformity or mental handicap?  Will we not ultimately approve of the killing of those that have already been born with the same features? 

This is not the kind of society that our forefathers dreamed of…or our God, the creator of life, commends.

Every life matters - born and preborn - every created life matters.

by Suzanne L. Ward Georgia Right to Life Public Relations/Education suzanneward@grtl.org