God Gives Life

Posted on October 1, 2009 
Filed Under Life, Parenting, Social Concern, Spiritual Life

Looking ahead to the weekend, I’m eagerly anticipating this year’s Life Network Gala. This local ministry is having a great impact on many lives, and I’m privileged to be the emcee for the evening. If you live in or near Colorado Springs, I hope you’ll join us Saturday evening for a celebration of life.

Related, I recently wrote some reflections about the sanctity of life. In light of Saturday’s event it seemed appropriate to share those here:

I hate the “quality of life” argument that is used to justify some abortions. Genetic testing has brought more information to parents about their preborn child, and while the technology has and is used for some good, it has also unlocked a Pandora’s Box of “choices” about who can live and who will not. The notion that there is some subjective “quality of life” standard by which we measure the value of an individual is ludicrous. Yet, some physicians and parents will see that a preborn child may have some abnormality which is so significant that is is somehow “best” for that child to be aborted.

Years ago I read Koop and Schaeffer’s book, Whatever Happened To The Human Race, in which they powerfully argued that the “handicapped” individual is quite capable of being happy, of having a rich and meaningful life. The authors asked, “Who are we (the presumably healthy individuals) to suggest they aren’t worthy of life?” Indeed. What we see in our culture, though, is that very argument being applied to those outside of “normal.”

We hear about value judgments being made about who might receive medical treatment. There’s a real possibility that in a nationalized health care system, the elderly, or those with “incurable” conditions, will not receive the level of care they deserve. I am troubled deeply by such “quality of life” arguments. What audacity. What recklessness. What an affront to the Maker of Life.

Quality of life? I’m glad my friend Roger and his wife didn’t accept their doctor’s advice to abort because of a potentially terrible brain condition in their baby. She wouldn’t have much of a life, they were told, if she even lived past the birth. Probably be unresponsive and have no real mental capacity. How wrong that advice was! Thirteen years later, she is a vibrant girl who is active in performing arts, has a vivacious personality and is  loved by all who know her. I’m glad her parents chose life!

Coach Gene Stallings, a broadcast guest, shared powerfully about the incredible joys his son experienced as an individual – and the joy he brought so many others. Despite Down Syndrome, or perhaps because of Downs, Johnny touched many and was loved by all. Coach Gene Stallings said it wasn’t easy raising his son, but he accepted the boy as God designed him, and the love that man had for his precious Johnny was easily seen by all. Who had an unacceptable “quality of life?” I was deeply moved as Coach shared about his son.

The handicapped, the physically frail, the special needs person, the “less fortunate” among us is still created in the image of the Almighty. Let’s not “play God” any more. Let’s accept the gifts the Creator gives us. Even those packaged differently than we expected. Let’s honor God by honoring His beloved creations, and let’s give every person the respect he or she deserves. And let’s see God moving through the least of His people. Every life is sacred, every life is valued.

Focus on the Family has a number of online materials on the topic of abortion and the sanctity of human life:

For statistics and quick facts about abortion, as well as scriptural evidence supporting the sanctity of every human life, visit the Bioethics area of CitizenLink.org.

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