August 19, 2025 • 27 mins
When a human child I the womb can be ascribed - or denied - humanity and personhood because of the personal desires of any other human being, or the capricious opinions of legislators and secular ethicists - then no lives matter and all human beings are put at risk.
Scripture references in this episode include:
Exodus 20 Deuteronomy 5 James 4:1-2
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 Revelation 7:9 Genesis 1:26-27; 5:1-2
Acts 17:26 Isaiah 43:1 John 3:16
I Cor. 6:20 Ephesians 1:7 I Peter 1:18-19
Romans 12:5 I Cor. 12:12-27 Deuteronomy 10:17
Job 34:19 Acts 10:34 Romans 2:11
Galatians 3:28 Mark 12:31 Ephesians 6:12-14
I Samuel 16:7 Genesis 1:1 Psalm 19:1-2
Ezekiel 1:28 Rev. 4:3 Genesis 4:1
Exodus 35:35 2 Chron. 2:14 Ephesians 2:10
Exodus 25-27, 30 I Kings 6 Revelation 21
I Cor. 3:16 Philippians 1:6 2 Corinthians 5:17
Gilbert Stuart's Unfinished Portrait of George Washington
Where to watch Poldark Season 1, Episode 7
https://www.ppl.org/baby-chris
Abortion is never medically necessary
Abortion Pill Reversal https://abortionpillreversal.com 24/7 Helpline at 877.558.0333 Email: help@apr.life or Chat at the weblink above
Post abortion recovery for both women and men at https://www.rachelsvineyard.org
Life Training Institute https://www.prolifetraining.com
Charlotte Lozier Institute https://lozierinstitute.org
Guttmacher Institute https://guttmacher.org
Compelled by the gospel, PPL equips Presbyterians to champion human life at every stage. PPL.org
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:16):
Welcome back to the ProLife Kitchen Table.
We are glad you're here to helpPresbyterians protecting life,
to champion life fromfertilization to natural death.
I'm your host, DeborahHolyfield, a former board member
and former executive director ofPPL, and today I want to talk
about the value of all humanlife.
(00:36):
The article that I'm about toread is one I wrote back during
the COVID-related social chaosof 2020 that had people facing
off between the vaccinated andthe unvaccinated, black lives
versus all lives, and of coursethe supporters of lockdowns that
resulted in abortion centersbeing considered essential
(00:58):
services while churches werenot.
PPL and others in the pro lifemovement have always taken the
position that all human lifebelongs to God, that all human
lives are equally valuable, andthat God created each person
with the specificcharacteristics intended to
fulfill God's purposes for eachone.
(01:18):
The article I wrote back then istitled Our Mass Delusion No
Lives Matter.
Presbyterians Protecting Life isa Christian organization with a
Christian mission.
Compelled by the gospel, PPLequips Presbyterians to champion
human life at every stage.
What is unsaid in our missionstatement, but which is true by
(01:42):
extension, is that every stageincludes every developmental
point on the spectrum of lifefrom conception to natural
death, regardless of anyparticular attribute or ability
possessed by any human life onthat spectrum.
We have published extensively onmatters involving all methods of
conception, contraception,circumstances of birth,
(02:05):
varieties of adoptions, birthanomalies, suicide, and end of
life issues.
We have addressed matters ofrace surrounding the eugenic
beliefs and methods of plannedparenthood in communities of
color, highlighting thedisproportionately high number
of black children eliminated byabortion, which is rightly
deemed genocide.
(02:27):
Whatever the topic, we haveaddressed it scientifically,
ethically, and theologically,particularly regarding the image
of God born by all human life.
During the COVID epidemic, PPLwatched the developing worldwide
violence and racial strifefollowing the death of George
Floyd with dismay.
But we delayed addressing racerelations specifically from a
(02:49):
pro life perspective for severalreasons.
Many articles were alreadywritten by others that had
addressed many of the sameissues.
Our audience is limited and ourministry is narrow, and there
was widespread resistance to theChristian ideal that all lives
matter equally, because someperceived then and still
perceive it today, that to do sodiminishes the validity of the
(03:13):
individual's or communities'experience.
But PPL became increasinglyaware that the bright lines
could be drawn from most, if notall, of the social and civic
dysfunction directly back to thecommodification of life
exhibited in the past byinstitutional slavery around the
world, as well as in the nearlyhalf century of population
(03:36):
reduction, contraception, andlegal abortion.
It's a bold claim to compareslavery and abortion, and one
that is not always well receivedor sufficiently appreciated.
Nevertheless, when it comes tovaluing human life, denying the
image of God and imposing worthon human beings according to the
arbitrary standards of others,the parallels are obvious.
(04:01):
The denial of the right to life,a right that is embedded in our
constitution, is as much adenial of civil rights as any
other such denial when based onrace, sex or orientation, and
perhaps more so, since thedenial of life to preborn human
beings is a denial based not onan inherent characteristics or
(04:23):
preference, but on mereexistence.
Even as America struggledthrough legislative efforts to
influence social change andensure protection of equal
rights and opportunities foradvancement for minorities,
women, the economicallydeprived, the educationally
disadvantaged, and the LGBTQplus population.
(04:45):
Many of these efforts have hadthe unintended consequences of
placing disparate values onhuman lives.
Nearly every move to equalize acommunity or group by placing a
greater value on it has resultednot in a simple step up to a
level playing field, but in astep beyond, causing concomitant
(05:06):
losses as lower valued groupsand communities are sidelined.
Whole books are written on thissingle topic, but most readers
will be familiar with the unfaircompetitive edge imposed on
female athletes and the coercionof religious orders,
organizations, and believers topurchase items and endorse or
(05:28):
participate in matters thatviolate the conscience and free
exercise of their religion andassociation that result when
groups with opposing interestsare favored under vague rubrics
of equal rights.
Please stay with me, I am in noway writing to disparage the
need for civil rights, equalopportunity, or to encourage
(05:50):
unfair discrimination.
What I am attempting toillustrate is that in the way of
all humanity for all of humanhistory when we try to impose
our human values to effect acertain personal end, instead of
using God's values to facilitateGod's end, we gut value
(06:11):
altogether.
In so doing, as manifested bythe commodification of unborn
human life through IVF,surrogacy, and especially
abortion, we have broughtsociety to the mental and
ethical state that has anembedded delusion that no lives
matter.
(06:31):
Today, no life matters untilsomeone else says it does.
My body, my choice, has a muchwider application than valuing
the life of the woman anddevaluing the life of her unborn
child on the basis of herpersonal desire alone.
Various activists and movementswithin the black community look
(06:52):
to the privileged whitepopulation for reparations as
recompense to restore andincrease their sense of personal
value.
Those in the guilt-ridden whitecommunity are moved to kneel and
pay to purchase personalredemption from the black
community.
Violence against persons andproperty is justified by those
(07:13):
seeking to increase a sense ofpersonal value by assuming
someone else's wealth and statusare ill gotten and unearned, or
if earned, the profit must havebeen enabled through devaluing
the lives of others.
Generations of uncriticalacceptance of Darwinism has
produced a social construct ofrace that implies there is such
(07:36):
a thing as a subhuman.
Indeed, the full title of hiswork is On the Origin of Species
by Means of Natural Selection orthe Preservation of Favored
Races in the Struggle for Life.
Individuals and social groupsare objectified, sorted by skin
color and ethnicity, labeled assubhuman, and then scapegoated
(08:00):
by those who live by the maxim Ichoose to increase my personal
value by decreasing your valueaccording to my measure.
God identifies these humanimpulses as coveting, lying,
stealing, and murder.
In the Bible's book of James, weread in chapter four, verses one
(08:21):
and two.
What causes fights and quarrelsamong you?
Don't they come from yourdesires that battle within you?
You desire but do not have, soyou kill.
You covet, but you cannot getwhat you want, so you quarrel
and fight.
No life matters when any humanlife can be bought or sold at
(08:42):
any stage of development in anycondition for any purpose.
No life matters when infertilecouples can spend thousands of
dollars to fertilize enough eggsto conceive a child simply
because of a deep human desireto parent one's own offspring,
and yet later to dispose of theexcess embryos.
(09:05):
No life matters when any humanof either sex, both adults and
children of any age, can bepurchased, sold, and traded as
merchandise because someone'sdesire for sexual gratification
justifies the dehumanization ofthe victimized.
No life matters when women andmen are reduced to a collection
(09:25):
of miscellaneous body parts andsex organs, and whose personal
value is ascribed according tosomeone else's visual or sexual
desires and preferences whichare based in envy.
No life matters when femaleathletes have a lifetime of
sacrifice and training and afuture of potential achievement
eliminated in a single race orwrestling match because their
(09:48):
lives and efforts are deemed tobe of lesser value than the mere
participation of any singletransgendered competitor in
order to gain validation of thatpersonal person's desire.
No life matters when the desireof a parent for a child with
particular characteristics,whether sex, eye color, or any
(10:11):
other attribute, can beinflicted on any child whose
human worth is believed to be oflesser value than the parents
either before or after thechild's birth.
No life matters when medicalcare is triaged according to
age, physical ability or mentalcompetence, with a higher value
(10:32):
being placed on the young andhealthy at the expense of the
elderly or infirm.
When a human child in the wombcan be ascribed or denied
humanity and personhood becauseof the personal desires of any
other human being, or thecapricious opinions of
legislators and secularethicists, then no lives matter,
(10:54):
and all human beings are put atrisk.
If Christians are to be true tothe gospel, then we must stand
with our hurting black brothersand sisters while at the same
time rejecting the creation offalse communities, according to
race, wealth, social position,sex and developmental status,
and the use of the politics ofpower and violence to advance
(11:17):
any human agenda counter toGod's impartial view of the
right to life, indeed to anabundant life, for all human
beings.
In an episode of the historicaldrama series Poldark, Ross
Poldark and his wife Demelza arestill in the first weeks of
grief, following the death oftheir infant daughter from the
plague, as well as facing direfinancial straits, when Demelza
(11:41):
discovers that she is pregnantagain.
Demelza hesitates to tell Rossabout the pregnancy because when
speaking out of his grief, hehad told her that he didn't want
another child.
And when by accident Ross learnsof her condition, he rebukes
Demilza's reticence by tellingher that his earlier words were
(12:03):
voicing just a thought, but thatthe child she carried was flesh
and blood and that is a verydifferent thing.
Just so, our human desires arevacuous thoughts, unsuitable
foundations for life and deathdecisions and actions in the
presence of the realities of thedesires and movements of God.
(12:26):
This is not a message the worldwants to receive.
The forces now are wanting tocreate false communities based
entirely on physical appearanceor ethnicity as divining
characteristics of personalworth.
This stems from the culture ofdeath and the wide acceptance of
abortion that sends the messagethat others can be summarily
(12:50):
dispatched in today's popularlexicon cancelled if they
interfere with or hinderanother's narrative of personal
desire or expected lifetrajectory.
The apostle Paul said, From nowon we regard no one according to
the flesh.
He saw other people as presentor potential members of the new
(13:12):
creation.
The old has died and the new iscome.
In the revelation of Jesus toJohn, John wrote that the new
creation is made up of peoplefrom every nation, tribe,
people, and language.
Nations in the New Testamentworld were often multiracial, as
is the United States, but weretypically united by a common
(13:35):
culture.
And the early church recognizedthat that culture was rooted not
in skin color, but in religiousculture.
The culture of the world createdby God is diverse and inclusive,
but not divided.
Genesis teaches that the imageof God, the Imago Day, was
(13:55):
imprinted by God on every humanbeing at the creation of the
world.
There is only one race, thehuman race, because all humans
share a common ancestor.
There is nothing that anyone cando to diminish the value of a
human being in God's estimation.
God wants everyone to haveabundant eternal life and paid a
(14:18):
high price.
Yes, using the language ofpurchase and ransom for each one
who believes.
Every member of the body of theChrist is vital.
God shows no partiality and allare equal in God's sight.
As believers live their lives,they are expected to love their
neighbors as themselves,elevating everyone.
(14:40):
All of these things are real.
They are sourced in God and arenot the product of the human
imagination or human desires.
Ultimately there is only onelife that matters, the life of
Christ Jesus.
Only the God man Jesus wasworthy to satisfy God and save
us from death through thesacrifice of his life.
(15:02):
Only Jesus enables us to embraceand experience eternal life in
the presence of God.
Only Jesus cares enough about usto continue to intercede for us,
enabling and empowering us tobecome fully human.
Only by seeing ourselves and theworld through the eyes of Christ
can we hope to achieve arealistic and healthy love of
(15:25):
self in order to offer genuinelove to our neighbors.
How can Christians communicatethese purposes of God to an
angry, fearful world?
Well, first check your ownheart, not for unconscious bias,
but for anything that calls forpersonal repentance.
At different times all of ushave been alternately victims
(15:47):
and victimizers.
Both behaviors are sourced infear and anger and shame.
Identifying the sources of thoseemotions in our own lives can
help us to think morerealistically about our own
perceptions and act moregenerously towards others.
Next, put on the full armor ofGod.
(16:08):
Paul wrote in Ephesians that ourbattle is not with flesh and
blood, but against the powers ofthis world's darkness and
against the spiritual forces ofevil in the heavenly realms.
Preface your encounters andconversations with prayer.
Then look for the right personand find the right time.
(16:29):
Some people we meet will beseeking peace and reconciliation
themselves.
Some have been wounded and arestill hurting.
Others are either activists ortools.
Nothing will be accomplished inthe heat of a potentially
violent confrontation, whetherin front of an abortion facility
or at a street protest.
(16:50):
Personal safety does matter andthis calls for discernment.
Treat everyone with respect anddignity.
Once you are engaged inconversation, seek the humanity
in others.
Listen to their stories andallow them to vent their pain
and frustration withoutjudgment.
When you speak, acknowledgetheir experience before
(17:13):
contributing to the discussion.
Be conscious that the enemywants to dilute our efforts at
reconciliation by dividing ourefforts among multiple causes.
Instead of working to end thesymptoms that manifest as
promiscuity, abortion, humantrafficking, euthanasia,
suicide, racial and economicdivides, going for the common
(17:37):
roots of these symptoms willhave a more immediate and
lasting effect.
Work on refining your ways ofunderstanding how to apply God's
view of the value of human lifein any situation, which is the
same in every situation.
You need not learn severalcounterarguments, only one.
(17:59):
Be open to the real possibilitythat policy and practice changes
will be necessary to reduceabuses and effect meaningful
change going forward.
And then having done all youcan, stand.
There is no need to capitulatethe truth of God.
Say what you know to be true asclearly as you are able, do what
(18:22):
you can to help, and leave theresults to God.
Hear the word of the Lord TheLord sees not as man sees.
Man looks on the outwardappearance, but the Lord looks
on the heart.
(18:42):
Thanks be to God.
They say the church shouldn't bepolitical, but if the definition
of politics is navigating andnegotiating the policies and
practices necessary for lifetogether in community, then all
citizens have a responsibilityto become informed about what's
happening outside the walls ofyour Christian home and church
(19:04):
and engage as peacemakers justone of the ways that we carry
the image of God into the world.
The things that we've thoughtabout in the first half of this
podcast are a good segue intoour devotional about baby
Chris's 21st week of developmentin the womb, when we consider
that God, as an artist, wascarefully fashioning each one of
(19:25):
us into a valuable work of art.
So this is a good time to standup, take a break, maybe look at
the pictures of your loved oneshanging on the walls of your
home, and consider God's hand inmaking them who they are.
SPEAKER_00 (19:42):
Presbyterians Protecting Life has the
resources you need to equipyourself and your congregation
to champion life at every stage.
We have answers to yourquestions, referrals to
specialized care like abortionpill reversal and post-abortion
recovery, current statistics andinformation, discussion
starters, and devotionals tohelp you think about and share
about pregnancy and abortion,adoption, foster care, and even
(20:04):
suicide, assisted suicide andend of life challenges.
Visit PPL.org to learn more.
SPEAKER_01 (20:11):
This week's Baby Chris devotional is titled
Artist in Residence.
Hear the word of the Lord.
O Lord, you are our father, weare the clay, and you are our
potter.
We are all the work of yourhand.
Isaiah chapter 64, verse 8.
Thanks be to God.
(20:34):
At twenty one weeks, our babyhas everything he needs in place
for life outside the womb.
The remaining weeks of hisdevelopment will focus on growth
and fine tuning.
This week his movements becomeless random as his muscles and
brain begin to sink, his musclesrespond to intentional brain
stimuli, his tooth buds areforming, his eyelashes and body
(20:59):
hair are white because they arenot yet pigmented.
One can almost imagine asculpture or painting that is
essentially complete, except forthe details and final touches,
as God steps back and strokeshis chin, and while he considers
blonde or ginger, God is theconsummate artist.
(21:24):
We appreciate the beauty ofcreation that surrounds us, and
the psalmist wrote that thebeauty of creation is the first
witness to the constant presenceof God.
The humans are telling of theglory of God, and their expanse
is declaring the work of hishands.
Day to day pours forth speech,and night to night reveals
(21:46):
knowledge.
God Himself dwells in the gloryof rainbow beauty surrounding
the throne of God described bythe prophet Ezekiel and the
Apostle John.
The Imago Day, the image of Godas God's self portrait.
God created mankind in his ownimage.
(22:08):
In the image of God He createdthem, male and female He created
them.
It is not merely biology,philosophy, or legislation that
establishes the criteria thatdesignates humanity.
The presence of the Imago Daystamps human on every developing
(22:30):
fetus from the moment offertilization throughout life.
The human family inherits God'screative bent.
We are crafted for particularpurposes.
Whether or not someone isartistically gifted or talented,
even if all you can draw is astick figure.
The Imago Day means everyone isgifted to add beauty and value
(22:53):
to God's world.
Human beings are driven tocreate more human beings.
When Eve delivered Cain, shesaid I have gotten a man child
with the help of the Lord.
All Christians receive spiritualgifts to build up the church.
Others are spiritually giftedcrafters.
(23:15):
Exodus says he has filled themwith skills to do all kinds of
work as engravers, designers,embroiderers in blue, purple and
scarlet yarn and fine linen andweavers, all of them skilled
workers and designers, trainedto work in gold, silver, bronze,
iron, stone and wood, and inpurple, blue and crimson fabrics
(23:37):
and fine linen, and to do allsorts of engraving and execute
any design.
Whether artistically talented orspiritually gifted, we are God's
handiwork created in ChristJesus to do good works, which
God prepared in advance for usto do.
The Temple of God We may assumethat God creates freehand, but
(24:02):
we know for sure that attributesof God include order and design.
We are expressly told when Godordered Moses to build a
tabernacle for God to dwellamong his people, he directed
that everything be builtaccording to specific
instructions.
God designed a pattern foreverything, the sanctuary and
(24:22):
all of the equipment necessaryfor right worship.
Solomon's temple wasextraordinarily beautiful, made
of fine wood and stone, full ofgold, silver, and bronze
furnishings, rich fabrics.
The foundations of the newJerusalem are made of twelve
layers of precious gemstones,gates of pearls and streets of
(24:44):
gold full of light and trees.
The description of our finalhome might be metaphorical, but
if it's metaphor, it's beautifulmetaphor.
Believers as temples of the HolySpirit.
Each believer is now a templewhere the Holy Spirit dwells.
If each temple before us wasbuilt according to the plans set
(25:07):
out by God and finished bymultiple artisans into a
collective work of extraordinaryvalue and beauty, how much more
are we being crafted throughoutour lives into a finished work
of beauty beyond humanimagination?
We are an unfinished work andGod is our artist in residence.
(25:28):
Like Gilbert Stewart'sunfinished painting of George
Washington, God's creative workin us is not completed in the
womb, but continues throughoutour lives.
Art galleries, museums, andchurches invite artists,
academicians, and curators towork and or reside within the
premises of the institution inprograms known as artist in
(25:52):
residence.
Artist in residence programsexist to foster the creativity
of an artist whose work enrichesand beautifies the institution
itself, or furthers and enhancesthe purposes and goals of its
mission.
As a temple of the Holy Spirit,each believer is analogous to an
organized, purposeful entitythat is being improved and
(26:16):
enhanced by God as our artist inresidence through a process
Christian thought understands assanctification.
The process of sanctification isthe lifelong process of allowing
God to complete the work Hebegan in us.
Believers cannot sanctifythemselves any more than a child
(26:37):
in the womb can direct his owndevelopment.
It seems that what begins inthis twenty first week will not
end until Jesus returns.
Hear the word of the Lord.
Therefore, if anyone is inChrist, the new creation has
come.
The old has gone, and the new ishere.
(26:59):
Second Corinthians chapter five,verse seventeen.
Thanks be to God.
SPEAKER_00 (27:10):
We hope you enjoyed this week's reflection.
We encourage you to share it andjoin us next time on Pro Life
Kitchen Table.
May God bless you.
Welcome back to the ProLife Kitchen Table.
We are glad you're here to helpPresbyterians protecting life,
to champion life fromfertilization to natural death.
I'm your host, DeborahHolyfield, a former board member
and former executive director ofPPL, and today I want to talk
about the value of all humanlife.
(00:36):
The article that I'm about toread is one I wrote back during
the COVID-related social chaosof 2020 that had people facing
off between the vaccinated andthe unvaccinated, black lives
versus all lives, and of coursethe supporters of lockdowns that
resulted in abortion centersbeing considered essential
(00:58):
services while churches werenot.
PPL and others in the pro lifemovement have always taken the
position that all human lifebelongs to God, that all human
lives are equally valuable, andthat God created each person
with the specificcharacteristics intended to
fulfill God's purposes for eachone.
(01:18):
The article I wrote back then istitled Our Mass Delusion No
Lives Matter.
Presbyterians Protecting Life isa Christian organization with a
Christian mission.
Compelled by the gospel, PPLequips Presbyterians to champion
human life at every stage.
What is unsaid in our missionstatement, but which is true by
(01:42):
extension, is that every stageincludes every developmental
point on the spectrum of lifefrom conception to natural
death, regardless of anyparticular attribute or ability
possessed by any human life onthat spectrum.
We have published extensively onmatters involving all methods of
conception, contraception,circumstances of birth,
(02:05):
varieties of adoptions, birthanomalies, suicide, and end of
life issues.
We have addressed matters ofrace surrounding the eugenic
beliefs and methods of plannedparenthood in communities of
color, highlighting thedisproportionately high number
of black children eliminated byabortion, which is rightly
deemed genocide.
(02:27):
Whatever the topic, we haveaddressed it scientifically,
ethically, and theologically,particularly regarding the image
of God born by all human life.
During the COVID epidemic, PPLwatched the developing worldwide
violence and racial strifefollowing the death of George
Floyd with dismay.
But we delayed addressing racerelations specifically from a
(02:49):
pro life perspective for severalreasons.
Many articles were alreadywritten by others that had
addressed many of the sameissues.
Our audience is limited and ourministry is narrow, and there
was widespread resistance to theChristian ideal that all lives
matter equally, because someperceived then and still
perceive it today, that to do sodiminishes the validity of the
(03:13):
individual's or communities'experience.
But PPL became increasinglyaware that the bright lines
could be drawn from most, if notall, of the social and civic
dysfunction directly back to thecommodification of life
exhibited in the past byinstitutional slavery around the
world, as well as in the nearlyhalf century of population
(03:36):
reduction, contraception, andlegal abortion.
It's a bold claim to compareslavery and abortion, and one
that is not always well receivedor sufficiently appreciated.
Nevertheless, when it comes tovaluing human life, denying the
image of God and imposing worthon human beings according to the
arbitrary standards of others,the parallels are obvious.
(04:01):
The denial of the right to life,a right that is embedded in our
constitution, is as much adenial of civil rights as any
other such denial when based onrace, sex or orientation, and
perhaps more so, since thedenial of life to preborn human
beings is a denial based not onan inherent characteristics or
(04:23):
preference, but on mereexistence.
Even as America struggledthrough legislative efforts to
influence social change andensure protection of equal
rights and opportunities foradvancement for minorities,
women, the economicallydeprived, the educationally
disadvantaged, and the LGBTQplus population.
(04:45):
Many of these efforts have hadthe unintended consequences of
placing disparate values onhuman lives.
Nearly every move to equalize acommunity or group by placing a
greater value on it has resultednot in a simple step up to a
level playing field, but in astep beyond, causing concomitant
(05:06):
losses as lower valued groupsand communities are sidelined.
Whole books are written on thissingle topic, but most readers
will be familiar with the unfaircompetitive edge imposed on
female athletes and the coercionof religious orders,
organizations, and believers topurchase items and endorse or
(05:28):
participate in matters thatviolate the conscience and free
exercise of their religion andassociation that result when
groups with opposing interestsare favored under vague rubrics
of equal rights.
Please stay with me, I am in noway writing to disparage the
need for civil rights, equalopportunity, or to encourage
(05:50):
unfair discrimination.
What I am attempting toillustrate is that in the way of
all humanity for all of humanhistory when we try to impose
our human values to effect acertain personal end, instead of
using God's values to facilitateGod's end, we gut value
(06:11):
altogether.
In so doing, as manifested bythe commodification of unborn
human life through IVF,surrogacy, and especially
abortion, we have broughtsociety to the mental and
ethical state that has anembedded delusion that no lives
matter.
(06:31):
Today, no life matters untilsomeone else says it does.
My body, my choice, has a muchwider application than valuing
the life of the woman anddevaluing the life of her unborn
child on the basis of herpersonal desire alone.
Various activists and movementswithin the black community look
(06:52):
to the privileged whitepopulation for reparations as
recompense to restore andincrease their sense of personal
value.
Those in the guilt-ridden whitecommunity are moved to kneel and
pay to purchase personalredemption from the black
community.
Violence against persons andproperty is justified by those
(07:13):
seeking to increase a sense ofpersonal value by assuming
someone else's wealth and statusare ill gotten and unearned, or
if earned, the profit must havebeen enabled through devaluing
the lives of others.
Generations of uncriticalacceptance of Darwinism has
produced a social construct ofrace that implies there is such
(07:36):
a thing as a subhuman.
Indeed, the full title of hiswork is On the Origin of Species
by Means of Natural Selection orthe Preservation of Favored
Races in the Struggle for Life.
Individuals and social groupsare objectified, sorted by skin
color and ethnicity, labeled assubhuman, and then scapegoated
(08:00):
by those who live by the maxim Ichoose to increase my personal
value by decreasing your valueaccording to my measure.
God identifies these humanimpulses as coveting, lying,
stealing, and murder.
In the Bible's book of James, weread in chapter four, verses one
(08:21):
and two.
What causes fights and quarrelsamong you?
Don't they come from yourdesires that battle within you?
You desire but do not have, soyou kill.
You covet, but you cannot getwhat you want, so you quarrel
and fight.
No life matters when any humanlife can be bought or sold at
(08:42):
any stage of development in anycondition for any purpose.
No life matters when infertilecouples can spend thousands of
dollars to fertilize enough eggsto conceive a child simply
because of a deep human desireto parent one's own offspring,
and yet later to dispose of theexcess embryos.
(09:05):
No life matters when any humanof either sex, both adults and
children of any age, can bepurchased, sold, and traded as
merchandise because someone'sdesire for sexual gratification
justifies the dehumanization ofthe victimized.
No life matters when women andmen are reduced to a collection
(09:25):
of miscellaneous body parts andsex organs, and whose personal
value is ascribed according tosomeone else's visual or sexual
desires and preferences whichare based in envy.
No life matters when femaleathletes have a lifetime of
sacrifice and training and afuture of potential achievement
eliminated in a single race orwrestling match because their
(09:48):
lives and efforts are deemed tobe of lesser value than the mere
participation of any singletransgendered competitor in
order to gain validation of thatpersonal person's desire.
No life matters when the desireof a parent for a child with
particular characteristics,whether sex, eye color, or any
(10:11):
other attribute, can beinflicted on any child whose
human worth is believed to be oflesser value than the parents
either before or after thechild's birth.
No life matters when medicalcare is triaged according to
age, physical ability or mentalcompetence, with a higher value
(10:32):
being placed on the young andhealthy at the expense of the
elderly or infirm.
When a human child in the wombcan be ascribed or denied
humanity and personhood becauseof the personal desires of any
other human being, or thecapricious opinions of
legislators and secularethicists, then no lives matter,
(10:54):
and all human beings are put atrisk.
If Christians are to be true tothe gospel, then we must stand
with our hurting black brothersand sisters while at the same
time rejecting the creation offalse communities, according to
race, wealth, social position,sex and developmental status,
and the use of the politics ofpower and violence to advance
(11:17):
any human agenda counter toGod's impartial view of the
right to life, indeed to anabundant life, for all human
beings.
In an episode of the historicaldrama series Poldark, Ross
Poldark and his wife Demelza arestill in the first weeks of
grief, following the death oftheir infant daughter from the
plague, as well as facing direfinancial straits, when Demelza
(11:41):
discovers that she is pregnantagain.
Demelza hesitates to tell Rossabout the pregnancy because when
speaking out of his grief, hehad told her that he didn't want
another child.
And when by accident Ross learnsof her condition, he rebukes
Demilza's reticence by tellingher that his earlier words were
(12:03):
voicing just a thought, but thatthe child she carried was flesh
and blood and that is a verydifferent thing.
Just so, our human desires arevacuous thoughts, unsuitable
foundations for life and deathdecisions and actions in the
presence of the realities of thedesires and movements of God.
(12:26):
This is not a message the worldwants to receive.
The forces now are wanting tocreate false communities based
entirely on physical appearanceor ethnicity as divining
characteristics of personalworth.
This stems from the culture ofdeath and the wide acceptance of
abortion that sends the messagethat others can be summarily
(12:50):
dispatched in today's popularlexicon cancelled if they
interfere with or hinderanother's narrative of personal
desire or expected lifetrajectory.
The apostle Paul said, From nowon we regard no one according to
the flesh.
He saw other people as presentor potential members of the new
(13:12):
creation.
The old has died and the new iscome.
In the revelation of Jesus toJohn, John wrote that the new
creation is made up of peoplefrom every nation, tribe,
people, and language.
Nations in the New Testamentworld were often multiracial, as
is the United States, but weretypically united by a common
(13:35):
culture.
And the early church recognizedthat that culture was rooted not
in skin color, but in religiousculture.
The culture of the world createdby God is diverse and inclusive,
but not divided.
Genesis teaches that the imageof God, the Imago Day, was
(13:55):
imprinted by God on every humanbeing at the creation of the
world.
There is only one race, thehuman race, because all humans
share a common ancestor.
There is nothing that anyone cando to diminish the value of a
human being in God's estimation.
God wants everyone to haveabundant eternal life and paid a
(14:18):
high price.
Yes, using the language ofpurchase and ransom for each one
who believes.
Every member of the body of theChrist is vital.
God shows no partiality and allare equal in God's sight.
As believers live their lives,they are expected to love their
neighbors as themselves,elevating everyone.
(14:40):
All of these things are real.
They are sourced in God and arenot the product of the human
imagination or human desires.
Ultimately there is only onelife that matters, the life of
Christ Jesus.
Only the God man Jesus wasworthy to satisfy God and save
us from death through thesacrifice of his life.
(15:02):
Only Jesus enables us to embraceand experience eternal life in
the presence of God.
Only Jesus cares enough about usto continue to intercede for us,
enabling and empowering us tobecome fully human.
Only by seeing ourselves and theworld through the eyes of Christ
can we hope to achieve arealistic and healthy love of
(15:25):
self in order to offer genuinelove to our neighbors.
How can Christians communicatethese purposes of God to an
angry, fearful world?
Well, first check your ownheart, not for unconscious bias,
but for anything that calls forpersonal repentance.
At different times all of ushave been alternately victims
(15:47):
and victimizers.
Both behaviors are sourced infear and anger and shame.
Identifying the sources of thoseemotions in our own lives can
help us to think morerealistically about our own
perceptions and act moregenerously towards others.
Next, put on the full armor ofGod.
(16:08):
Paul wrote in Ephesians that ourbattle is not with flesh and
blood, but against the powers ofthis world's darkness and
against the spiritual forces ofevil in the heavenly realms.
Preface your encounters andconversations with prayer.
Then look for the right personand find the right time.
(16:29):
Some people we meet will beseeking peace and reconciliation
themselves.
Some have been wounded and arestill hurting.
Others are either activists ortools.
Nothing will be accomplished inthe heat of a potentially
violent confrontation, whetherin front of an abortion facility
or at a street protest.
(16:50):
Personal safety does matter andthis calls for discernment.
Treat everyone with respect anddignity.
Once you are engaged inconversation, seek the humanity
in others.
Listen to their stories andallow them to vent their pain
and frustration withoutjudgment.
When you speak, acknowledgetheir experience before
(17:13):
contributing to the discussion.
Be conscious that the enemywants to dilute our efforts at
reconciliation by dividing ourefforts among multiple causes.
Instead of working to end thesymptoms that manifest as
promiscuity, abortion, humantrafficking, euthanasia,
suicide, racial and economicdivides, going for the common
(17:37):
roots of these symptoms willhave a more immediate and
lasting effect.
Work on refining your ways ofunderstanding how to apply God's
view of the value of human lifein any situation, which is the
same in every situation.
You need not learn severalcounterarguments, only one.
(17:59):
Be open to the real possibilitythat policy and practice changes
will be necessary to reduceabuses and effect meaningful
change going forward.
And then having done all youcan, stand.
There is no need to capitulatethe truth of God.
Say what you know to be true asclearly as you are able, do what
(18:22):
you can to help, and leave theresults to God.
Hear the word of the Lord TheLord sees not as man sees.
Man looks on the outwardappearance, but the Lord looks
on the heart.
(18:42):
Thanks be to God.
They say the church shouldn't bepolitical, but if the definition
of politics is navigating andnegotiating the policies and
practices necessary for lifetogether in community, then all
citizens have a responsibilityto become informed about what's
happening outside the walls ofyour Christian home and church
(19:04):
and engage as peacemakers justone of the ways that we carry
the image of God into the world.
The things that we've thoughtabout in the first half of this
podcast are a good segue intoour devotional about baby
Chris's 21st week of developmentin the womb, when we consider
that God, as an artist, wascarefully fashioning each one of
(19:25):
us into a valuable work of art.
So this is a good time to standup, take a break, maybe look at
the pictures of your loved oneshanging on the walls of your
home, and consider God's hand inmaking them who they are.
SPEAKER_00 (19:42):
Presbyterians Protecting Life has the
resources you need to equipyourself and your congregation
to champion life at every stage.
We have answers to yourquestions, referrals to
specialized care like abortionpill reversal and post-abortion
recovery, current statistics andinformation, discussion
starters, and devotionals tohelp you think about and share
about pregnancy and abortion,adoption, foster care, and even
(20:04):
suicide, assisted suicide andend of life challenges.
Visit PPL.org to learn more.
SPEAKER_01 (20:11):
This week's Baby Chris devotional is titled
Artist in Residence.
Hear the word of the Lord.
O Lord, you are our father, weare the clay, and you are our
potter.
We are all the work of yourhand.
Isaiah chapter 64, verse 8.
Thanks be to God.
(20:34):
At twenty one weeks, our babyhas everything he needs in place
for life outside the womb.
The remaining weeks of hisdevelopment will focus on growth
and fine tuning.
This week his movements becomeless random as his muscles and
brain begin to sink, his musclesrespond to intentional brain
stimuli, his tooth buds areforming, his eyelashes and body
(20:59):
hair are white because they arenot yet pigmented.
One can almost imagine asculpture or painting that is
essentially complete, except forthe details and final touches,
as God steps back and strokeshis chin, and while he considers
blonde or ginger, God is theconsummate artist.
(21:24):
We appreciate the beauty ofcreation that surrounds us, and
the psalmist wrote that thebeauty of creation is the first
witness to the constant presenceof God.
The humans are telling of theglory of God, and their expanse
is declaring the work of hishands.
Day to day pours forth speech,and night to night reveals
(21:46):
knowledge.
God Himself dwells in the gloryof rainbow beauty surrounding
the throne of God described bythe prophet Ezekiel and the
Apostle John.
The Imago Day, the image of Godas God's self portrait.
God created mankind in his ownimage.
(22:08):
In the image of God He createdthem, male and female He created
them.
It is not merely biology,philosophy, or legislation that
establishes the criteria thatdesignates humanity.
The presence of the Imago Daystamps human on every developing
(22:30):
fetus from the moment offertilization throughout life.
The human family inherits God'screative bent.
We are crafted for particularpurposes.
Whether or not someone isartistically gifted or talented,
even if all you can draw is astick figure.
The Imago Day means everyone isgifted to add beauty and value
(22:53):
to God's world.
Human beings are driven tocreate more human beings.
When Eve delivered Cain, shesaid I have gotten a man child
with the help of the Lord.
All Christians receive spiritualgifts to build up the church.
Others are spiritually giftedcrafters.
(23:15):
Exodus says he has filled themwith skills to do all kinds of
work as engravers, designers,embroiderers in blue, purple and
scarlet yarn and fine linen andweavers, all of them skilled
workers and designers, trainedto work in gold, silver, bronze,
iron, stone and wood, and inpurple, blue and crimson fabrics
(23:37):
and fine linen, and to do allsorts of engraving and execute
any design.
Whether artistically talented orspiritually gifted, we are God's
handiwork created in ChristJesus to do good works, which
God prepared in advance for usto do.
The Temple of God We may assumethat God creates freehand, but
(24:02):
we know for sure that attributesof God include order and design.
We are expressly told when Godordered Moses to build a
tabernacle for God to dwellamong his people, he directed
that everything be builtaccording to specific
instructions.
God designed a pattern foreverything, the sanctuary and
(24:22):
all of the equipment necessaryfor right worship.
Solomon's temple wasextraordinarily beautiful, made
of fine wood and stone, full ofgold, silver, and bronze
furnishings, rich fabrics.
The foundations of the newJerusalem are made of twelve
layers of precious gemstones,gates of pearls and streets of
(24:44):
gold full of light and trees.
The description of our finalhome might be metaphorical, but
if it's metaphor, it's beautifulmetaphor.
Believers as temples of the HolySpirit.
Each believer is now a templewhere the Holy Spirit dwells.
If each temple before us wasbuilt according to the plans set
(25:07):
out by God and finished bymultiple artisans into a
collective work of extraordinaryvalue and beauty, how much more
are we being crafted throughoutour lives into a finished work
of beauty beyond humanimagination?
We are an unfinished work andGod is our artist in residence.
(25:28):
Like Gilbert Stewart'sunfinished painting of George
Washington, God's creative workin us is not completed in the
womb, but continues throughoutour lives.
Art galleries, museums, andchurches invite artists,
academicians, and curators towork and or reside within the
premises of the institution inprograms known as artist in
(25:52):
residence.
Artist in residence programsexist to foster the creativity
of an artist whose work enrichesand beautifies the institution
itself, or furthers and enhancesthe purposes and goals of its
mission.
As a temple of the Holy Spirit,each believer is analogous to an
organized, purposeful entitythat is being improved and
(26:16):
enhanced by God as our artist inresidence through a process
Christian thought understands assanctification.
The process of sanctification isthe lifelong process of allowing
God to complete the work Hebegan in us.
Believers cannot sanctifythemselves any more than a child
(26:37):
in the womb can direct his owndevelopment.
It seems that what begins inthis twenty first week will not
end until Jesus returns.
Hear the word of the Lord.
Therefore, if anyone is inChrist, the new creation has
come.
The old has gone, and the new ishere.
(26:59):
Second Corinthians chapter five,verse seventeen.
Thanks be to God.
SPEAKER_00 (27:10):
We hope you enjoyed this week's reflection.
We encourage you to share it andjoin us next time on Pro Life
Kitchen Table.
May God bless you.
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