The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Emily M. during the 2007-2008 League.
The Sanctity of Life
The Encarta Dictionary defines "sanctity" as "the condition of being considered sacred or holy, and therefore entitled to respect and reverence." How does this apply to life? Why do Christians consider life sacred, holy or entitled to respect and reverence?
First and foremost, we as Christians believe in the sanctity of life because we are made in the image of God. Genesis 1:26 (NIV), "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'" God made people unlike any other thing in creation. For those who say humans are just more highly evolved than other creatures, it follows that either life is not special or that all life, animal and human, is of equal importance. Unlike the animals, human beings have been given spirits that do not die, even when our mortal bodies do. We were created to be with God, and to take care of the earth. Hence, human life is more precious to our creator than animal life, Matthew 6:26 (NLT) says, "Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are?" God has created us for His special purpose, and to be with Him even after the whole earth and all of creation are gone. God has set humans apart from the rest of creation, and the very state of being set apart for divine purpose is the definition of something that is holy. That is what "the sanctity of life" means.
Therefore, because we as Christians believe in the sanctity of life, we believe that murder at any stage of life is a grievous sin. "You shall not murder," (Exodus 20:13 NIV) is one of the Ten Commandments, and Proverbs 6:17 (NIV) describes "hands that shed innocent blood" as one of the seven things the Lord hates.
Even before a child is born, we believe that he or she is a unique and fully alive person in the womb. Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV) says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Also in Jeremiah 1:45 (NIV), "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." That is why Christians are anti-abortion
The elderly are no less precious, because there is no stage in life in which people become less valuable. Leviticus 19:32 (NIV) says, "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God." That is why Christians are anti-euthanasia.
In the end, Christians believe that all human life is valuable, from before birth until last breath. Life is a gift that cannot be destroyed lightly. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do," Ephesians 2:10 (NIV).
