“You shall not murder.” –Exodus 20:13

Murder is: “the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.” Unlawful has come to be defined by our laws not God’s law.  Which is why I don’t like this definition because then society creates the standard by which murder takes place. I say this because in our society it has become acceptable to practice abortion as a means of birth control and or to utilize death row as a means of punishment and in neither case is it ever considered “murder” because by definition it is “lawful.”  Who decides what is murder though, a law made by man or God.  When men feel it is in their right to decide who gets to live and who gets to die, we are walking a fine line between being human and playing God. And when we begin to play God, things can go terribly wrong.

Our starting point in discussions regarding abortion should not be a woman’s right to choose.  It should not be convenience.  It should not be the economic situation of an individual. Roe v. Wade.  These all may be a part of the conversation, but they should not be the starting point of the conversation.  For the Christian the starting point should always be: God values ALL life!

Our starting point in discussions regarding the death penalty should not be humaneness of lethal injections.  They should not be retribution for the family.  They should not be the combined criminal record of an individual. These all may be a part of the conversation, but they should not be the starting point of the conversation.  For the Christian the starting point should always be: God values ALL life!

“You shall not murder” based on God’s definition of the immense value of life, not the laws of men trying to play God.