Go Beyond

   Murder is all too common in our world. We hear of senseless murders on the evening news. Movies graphically portray violent murders. Television programs present narrated recreations of unsolved murders and make appeals for information that might bring murderers to justice. We shake our heads at stories of drive-by shootings, revenge killings, children killing children, and horrible acts of terrorism. We observe the madness from the relative safety of our living rooms and wonder what the world is coming to. Human life has become devalued as evidenced by such ever-increasing acts of violence, destruction, and terrorism. I recently visited Cambodia’s infamous killing fields — a sobering reminder of what can happen in a society when human life is no longer valued. However, you don’t have to live in a dangerous place to wonder who will be the next victim?

   Murder is nothing new. The first recorded murder is described in Genesis 4. Cain, Adam’s firstborn son, rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. The earth had never before been stained with human blood. Never before had anyone witnessed the awful sight of human death. Never before had parents struggled with questions over the senseless death of a child. Sadly, as the world’s population has increased, so have the number of murders. Throughout history people motivated by anger, jealousy, greed, and hatred have used whatever means at their disposal to take the life of another. Regardless of the motivation however, there is no excuse for murder.

   The sixth commandment prohibits murder (Ex. 20:13). This prohibition is grounded in the assumption that life is sacred. The sanctity of human life is based on the biblical declaration that we are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26). King David marveled at the thought of his worth and significance in God’s sight (see Ps. 8). He declared that human beings are crowned with “glory and honor” (Ps. 8:5). Because of the sanctity and inherent worth of life, we should cherish and protect this precious gift from God.

   There is more than one Hebrew word to describe the taking of a human life. The Hebrew word translated “murder” in this commandment generally indicated the premeditated taking of another’s life. This prohibition does not apply to all forms of human life-taking, such as the execution of murderers by the state (see Gen. 9:6) or defending one’s home from a thief (Ex. 22:2). However, this prohibition does apply to abortion, being an accessory to murder (see 2 Sam. 12:9), and to the taking of one’s own life.

   The sixth commandment reminds us that God is the source of life and that He alone has the right to number our days. People do not have the right to usurp the prerogative of God to end life. We should do nothing to endanger life through negligence, criminal intent, or other means. Instead, Christ-followers should actively work to protect and preserve life. And that’s exactly what the people of Kingsland Baptist Church are committed to doing. A little more than three-years ago we helped to start a pregnancy help center in Kampala, Uganda in partnership with Life International. Today, more than eight-hundred women have placed their faith in Christ for salvation and over six-hundred abortion-minded women have chosen to keep their babies. In a few weeks I will travel to Cambodia with Kurt Dillinger, President of Life International, to speak on the sanctity of human life. We will also look into opportunities to work together once again in order to start a pregnancy help center in Cambodia.

   One final thought. John Piper recently posted this thought-provoking comment about abortion on Twitter: “Would it bother us more if abortion doctors used guns?” Something to think about!

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Please take a moment to read Life’s Value | 2, Life’s Value | 3, and Life’s Value | 4.