The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Zachary W. during the 2007-2008 League.
Sanctity of Life
From its creation by God in Genesis, to its deliverance by Jesus Christ in the New Testament, to the historical and present-day efforts of the church to protect it, life has been upheld and promoted by Christianity. Even today, human life is viewed by many cultures as nothing more than a cheap commodity or a valueless entity. In stark contrast, the Bible and Christianity regard life as a sanctified institution created by God and under His complete control.
Creation
This Christian viewpoint on life is first revealed in Genesis 1:27, which states, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." God created human beings in His own image and gave us the gift of life. Much as a craftsman has fondness for the things that he creates, God has a fondness and love for us, His created. However, unlike the craftsman, God loves us with an infinite, boundless love. If we acknowledge that we are created, then we in essence acknowledge that God loves us.
Value
The Bible also teaches us that life has value. However, this value is not a worldly value. Scripture instead indicates that life has intrinsic, unconditional value. Intrinsic means that all human life is inherently valuable by nature, while the term unconditional means that this value is not calculated by a measure or dependent upon a variable. The value that the God places on human life is the same for every human being: priceless. In fact, God values life so highly that He put murder (the destruction of human life) on his top ten list of things not to do. This is called the Sixth Commandment, and it is found in Exodus 20:13, "Thou shalt not kill." Depriving someone else of the gift of life is very strictly forbidden by God, and those who disobey this command will reap God's wrath. Why is all human life valuable? Because God created it (Genesis 1:27) and He loves His creation. This love is similar to life's value in that it is unconditional and limitless. God's love for us is so great that He even sent His only Son Jesus Christ to earth in order to die for us so that we could obtain salvation (John 3:16). He took the punishment that every human life deserves, accepting the blame for our sins. He loved us so much that He made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Because of God's infinite love for us, we each have value beyond worth. Not only is God's love infinite and limitless, it is also unconditional. It is not dependent on our thoughts or our actions. If it were, none of us would deserve it. God loves us whether we ask for it or not. His love is inherent in every life.
Sanctity
God created life, and He loves that which He created. This love gives all human life value, and since His love is unlimited, so is our worth. From conception to the grave, life is inherently priceless. This is in direct contradiction to the world's view of life, as the Holocaust, abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and other deeds can attest to. Today's raging debates over these issues only serves to illustrate the world's rejection of godly principles in favor of expediency or convenience. Christianity stands apart as the only religion that embraces the truth about life: Life is created, consecrated, and protected by God, and He values it highly. Psalm 139:13-14 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. Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
