Thoughts on life

My daughter is taking a class on ethics. Some of the questions she was asked to comment on were about life, murder and abortion. Below are the questions and her answers.

Is killing in defense of the innocent sometimes morally justifiable? Use examples to illustrate your answer.

Oh, I believe so. In our text for example, Mary (Thiroux/Krasemann pgs.186-187), was defending herself against a rapist who wasn’t going to stop trying to hurt her.  It is also justifiable to kill defending someone other than yourself.  My example? If one or both of my children were being attacked and I knew that there was no other way; yeah; that person would go down.  Although, using a mother may not be the best example.  Very few mothers wouldn’t defend their children regardless of the consequences.  Still, if I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed an obvious crime against someone, child or adult, I could not just walk away, or watch.  I would do everything in my power to help, even if it meant taking a human life.  I know this makes me sound like I don’t have an issue killing.  I really do. I would do everything I possibly could to avoid it; but I would if I absolutely had to.

What about abortion? Are there any justifiable exceptions for abortion? Why or why not?

Absolutely not, in any way, shape, or form is abortion acceptable.   I have heard, I think, possible “reasons” why, and I still don’t think it’s okay.  Yes, I have been sexually assaulted; as a child, and as a teen, and there was a risk of pregnancy.  There is still no reason.  There is adoption.  There are so many people out there who cannot have children naturally, but want nothing more than to raise a child.  And there is biological proof, by doctors and scientists alike that have said that life begins at conception.  The fetes’ (which, by the way is Latin for baby) heart starts beating and pumping vital blood at five weeks of development.  The amniotic sac is present at four weeks of development.

Most women don’t even know that they’re pregnant until the fourth or fifth week!

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-5-weeks_1094.bc

And when lives are at stake, such as the child’s, or the mothers, the answer is still the same.  Care needs to be taken when the pregnancy turns high risk.  There are so many technological advances now, that no one needs to terminate a pregnancy due to health.

How does mercy death differ from mercy killing? Is one more morally acceptable than another? Why or why not?

“The important distinction between mercy killing and mercy death is that mercy killing is involuntary, or does not involve the patient’s permission or request, whereas mercy death is voluntary and done with the permission of the patient and usually at his or her request”(Thiroux/ Krasemann, pg.209).

If I had to choose, which I guess here I do, I would have to say mercy death is the more moral of the two.  I really don’t agree with either, because the Bible clearly states, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13, NIV, Zondervan Publishing House, 1984, by International Bible Society), but it also states that we should, “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32, Zondervan Publishing House, 1984, by International Bible Society).  And to me, just standing by and watching someone just lie there on the bed suffering, with no hope of recovery is just wrong.  But then again, going back to the God factor, there may not be any hope for human intervention, but God can do anything, and it’s really not our place to decide who lives and who dies; that God’s.  This is a situation that I’m lucky to not have experienced yet, but I’ve been with people who have, and seen the pain they go through; the absolute helplessness.  It’s a horrible, awful experience that I hope to never go through.

The Value of life – Some food for thought

How much is one human life worth? Does it matter if you know the person in question? Is the life of a family member more valuable than a stranger’s life? I have listed some questions and information below in an effort to get us to think about life, and death. While I expect that there are some who will rail against me for posting this, my purpose is not to set down a doctrine; I just want to get people thinking. (Scripture quotes are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.)

Interesting questions.

Recently Dr. George Tiller, the famous (or infamous) abortion doctor, was murdered. I read a number of comments, by people claiming to be Christians, praising the fact of his death. Most went along the lines that “he got what he deserved.” Dr. Tiller was responsible for performing an unknown number of abortions including controversial “late-term” abortions. Was Dr. Tiller’s death warranted? Was Dr. Tiller’s life valuable?

Soldiers go to war and, under the direction of their governments people get killed. David, in the Bible, was known for being a “man after God’s own heart”. David was also a warrior. A quick cross reference of the key words “David” and “slew” in the Old Testament drew 19 separate verses. 1 Chronicles 18.5 details one time when “David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.” (1 Chronicles 18:5) David, was a man after God’s own heart. The apostle Paul said, “for he [the king or government] beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” (Romans 13:4) So it seems that there are times when killing is accepted.

Whose life is of more value, a stranger’s or a family member’s? If someone was breaking into your house, by law in most places you are allowed to defend your self. Yet if this same person were seen walking down the street you certainly would not be allowed to harm him. So it seems that it is okay to defend family and property. Are we, biblically, allowed to place someone else’s life above that of our family, or even our own?

Whose life is more valuable?

Mary (of Nazareth) had a son. He was a wonderful child, and grew to be a teacher and miracle worker. This Son was, in fact, God “manifest in the flesh”, come to dwell with man. (Timothy 3.16) He hurt no one and committed no crime. It is recorded that He healed, cleansed and taught righteousness to every one. He fed the hungry and even raised the dead. How valuable was His life?

Conclusions

I can’t say how I would react if forced to choose between my life and that of someone else. I would like to say that I would willingly lay down my life to save another, but if put in that position, would I? I don’t know. I can’t say how I would react if forced to choose between family, friends and strangers. I pray that I will never be forced to make these choices. I don’t have any answers for most of the questions I’ve posed. But there is one answer that I do have. Jesus’ life was the most valuable of all lives. He was perfect, without even the inherited sin of Adam that we all share. Jesus should have never died. Yet He willingly gave up that perfect life. Jesus knew the value of human life. As God, He created life. Why did He give up His life?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave [the life of] his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Jesus died on that cross so that our life would never have to end. Jesus was raised from the dead to show that He has overcome death. You and I can live forever, with God, because the most valuable life ever to be born was freely laid down in death.

It is my hope that someone reading this will see that there is more to life than the few years we live on earth. It is my hope that you have been stimulated to look deeper into this subject. I can’t answer questions about capitol punishment or self-defense. But I can say that Jesus’ death was our life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave [the life of] his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  He did this for George Tiller, Billy Graham and even Adolph Hitler. He did this for you and for me. Not everyone accepts what Jesus did for them, and in not accepting, they miss out on the promise of everlasting life. Think about it, please.

George Tiller

Well, I am saddened at the death of Dr. Tiller. I do not think that vigilantism and violence are ever the answer. Christians are supposed to be followers of Christ and I can’t recall reading in the Bible anywhere that Jesus murdered someone because He disagreed with that person’s actions. In fact, I read the opposite. Jesus had compassion on those who struggled (and even reveled) in sin.  The person who shot Dr. Tiller did not act in the name of Jesus.  I am pro-life. That means more then being anti-abortion. I believe that abortion is murder and is wrong. I also believe that shooting someone is murder and is wrong.