FaithInk

“So God created man in His own Image, in the Image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

To answer the questions why is life precious and why should we care about other people; Genesis 1:27 give us the clear answer, life is precious because we, human beings, are made in the Image of God Himself.

So what does that phrase “Image of God” mean? I plan to write more about this in the future because the implications that we are “Image-bearers” touch so many of our present crisis/issues today. But for now, I will give a simple definition. 

To be made in the Image of God means that we, human beings, are uniquely situated apart from all the rest of creation. We are made of material matter and immaterial matter and, unlike the rest of creation, we resemble God our creator. We have a will, a sense of self, we are capable of love, we can rationalize and make choices. We were created to be in community as well as created (originally) innocent and righteous. 

Unfortunately, that Image was marred at what we call The Fall. The moment that the first man and woman sinned against God all of humanity was infected with sin. It is as though we look at a mirror that is dim, dirty, and cracked. Thankfully, through Jesus that Image can be restored! This is the hope of the Gospel!

Even though the Image is distorted and each person is born a sinner, we each all have inherent and intrinsic value because of that powerful Image we still bear! Male and Female remain the pinnacle of God’s creation. 

That is why, in the Bible, the taking of any human life is considered such a big deal. When a person takes another person’s life it is a very serious thing in the Old Testament Law, even when the taking of a life is seen as justified (self defense, an accident, just war, capital punishment, etc.). This is because the life of an Image-bearer is so incredibly precious. So precious that Israelites who touched a dead body or blood were considered “unclean” and needed to go through a prescribed time and process of cleansing in order to be restored to the community. (Numbers 19)

God takes life seriously.

This is exceedingly clear when we read…

Psalm 36:9 that says God is the very “giver of life”,

Job 33:4 says, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”,

In Psalm 119:73 the Psalmist says that God’s hands made and formed him,

And of course Psalm 139 beautifully sums up how God gives His Image-bearers life…

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

From these verses we can understand that God is the giver and sustainer of life, He values life, He delicately and personally crafts each and every Image-bearer, and He knows each of us Image-bearers before we even were formed. Read that last sentence again in more technical terms… 

• Before you took your first breath and cried, God knew what your voice would sound like.
• Before your heart started to beat, God knew you. 
• Before you developed fingers, God knew what your fingerprints would looked like.
• Before you developed feet and toes, God knew where they would take you in life.
• Before your face was formed, God knew what you would look like.
• Before the umbilical cord was fully formed and visible, God was nurturing and caring for you.
• Before the blastocyst began to burrow into the uterine lining (implantation), God had imprinted on you His Image and declared you the Crown of His Creation.
• Before the zygote took the journey down the fallopian tube, God knew you, saw you, and loved you.
• Before your mother even knew she was pregnant, God knew the exact number of your days here on this earth.

Life is a miracle. It is a thing that is wholly orchestrated by God. We do not treat it with the value that it demands.

This is why abortion is an evil from the pit of hell.

It is an attack on the smallest, most defenseless Image-bearers. It is a mockery of God’s intricate and careful design. It is a prideful act where one Image-bearer supplants God and sinfully decides to take the life of another Image-bearer.

For centuries Followers of Christ have been uniquely set apart for their dedication to the preservation and protection of life. In the Early Church, Christians were relentlessly mocked for their care and adoption of undesired infants who were left in gutters, the wilderness, or garbage heaps. 

Early Church leaders such as Basil, Tertullian, Clement, and Diognetes are a few of many believers who were loudly opposed to the practice of infanticide. This includes the born and abandoned as well as the unborn. Tertullian wrote in the early 200s disturbing accounts of how abortion was practiced at the time, shockingly (or perhaps not so shockingly) it reads like a contemporary account.

“Accordingly, among surgeons’ tools there is a certain instrument, which is formed with a nicely-adjusted flexible frame for opening the uterus first of all, and keeping it open; it is further furnished with an annular blade, by means of which the limbs within the womb are dissected with anxious but unfaltering care; its last appendage being a blunted or covered hook, wherewith the entire fœtus is extracted by a violent delivery. There is also (another instrument in the shape of) a copper needle or spike, by which the actual death is managed in this furtive robbery of life: they give it, from its infanticide function, the name of ἐμβρυοσφάκτης, the slayer of the infant, which was of course alive.” (Tertullian, A Treatise on the Soul, ch. 25, c. AD 210)

The Emperor Julian, who was no Christian, is recored as mocking believers for their care and concern for the weakest in society from infants to the poor to widows to the elderly.

“These impious Galileans [Christians] not only feed their own, but ours also; welcoming them with their agape [love], they attract them, as children are attracted with cakes… Whilst the pagan priests neglect the poor, the hated Galileans devote themselves to works of charity, and by a display of false compassion have established and given effect to their pernicious errors. Such practice is common among them, and causes contempt for our gods (Epistle to Pagan High Priests).”

Oh, that the world would once again mock us for our love.

I want to quickly note that reports like these underscore believer’s commitment to life both in the womb and outside the womb. True Christians have always been “holistic” in their care despite what some who would say, “Christians only care about abortion and then abandon life outside the womb.” This just simply is not true. True believers are historically known for their acts of kindness and love for all ages not just only for their pre-born advocacy. 

I could go on and on listing quotes from ancient sources so many that this journal entry would quickly turn into a book. These quotes would detail Christians standing up for the preciousness of life. Believers have a long history of defending the most vulnerable Image-bearers of all ages. It is a defense that is necessary and should be unwavering. Because, from the ancient world to the modern one, human beings have been deceived into thinking that true freedom, true happiness, true prosperity, and true autonomy can be found in the elevation of self above all others. In essence, sinful mankind is really good at saying, “no life matters but my own.” 

That self-centered mindset is what lead people in the ancient world to sacrifice their children to the false god Molech. That same self-centered mindset is what leads people today to sacrifice their children to the false gods named: “pursuing career,” “not fiscally responsible,” “doesn’t fit my lifestyle,” “reduced quality of life for the baby,” and “sexual freedom.”

The point is that the callous attitude towards the preservation of life and the organized attack on God’s Image is nothing new. 

Planned Parenthood (which was founded in the early 20th Century) and organizations/movements like it, are just simply the newest face of an age old enemy. An enemy that would seek to steal, kill, and destroy. An enemy that would mock us as we squabble with one another. An enemy that hates the Creator God and tried and failed to be like Him. An enemy who hates those made in the Image of God. An enemy who was a liar and murderer from the very beginning. 

How is such an enemy defeated?

Interestingly enough God sent His Son to be born as a helpless baby. What a neat detail our creative Creator would give us. An innocent baby who would redeem marred Image-bearers.

And who is the first to recognize this innocent baby who would rescue the souls of all mankind? 

An unborn baby.

In Luke chapter 1 we read about how Mary (who is newly pregnant with Jesus) goes to visit her cousin Elizebeth (who is pregnant with John The Baptist) and at that meeting something incredible happens.

“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”

Why was the yet-to-be-born John leaping for joy? Because He knew that salvation had come!

John would go on to spend his entire life pointing people to the one who had first caused him to leap with joy. Later on in his life when he saw Jesus he pointed and exclaimed, “Behold! The Lamb Of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29)

If you are still reading this and have had, facilitated, encouraged, or pressured an abortion I want to be like John The Baptist and point you to Jesus. 

I want you to know that there is redemption, hope, and life that can be found in the one who stepped down into this world to be born as a baby.

That innocent baby grew up and lived a perfect life. He then faced a criminal’s death even though He was still completely innocent. The innocent one died for the guilty ones. He then rose from the dead. The Giver of Life took His life back up again. Now, because He is alive we can have life.

So, if you are still reading this and you have been deceived into cheering for a cult of death. I implore you to repent. Run to the Giver of Life. Behold the Lamb Of God who can take away your sins. 

Christians, would you join me in praying for repentance. Would you join me in praying for those who have been deceived by the enemy who hates them.

Let us pray that God would soften hard hearts. Let us pray that more and more people would come to realize the preciousness of life and would turn to worship the One who gives life.

Jesus’ Kingdom is a Kingdom of Life.