The Dignity and Sanctity of Life

Pope Leo was recently quoted as saying, “Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion but says I’m in favor of the death penalty’ is not really pro-life.”

Support of the death penalty is founded in what God said regarding it.  In very clear language concerning the dignity and sanctity of human life, God said to Noah, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed.” The reason? “For in the image of God He made man” (Genesis 9:6).  As such, to murder another human being is actually an attack on God and His high value on human life.

How is this enforced?  We read, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God. . . For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain” (Romans 13:1-2, 4).

“. . .from the reference to the use of the sword, and bearing in mind the fact that the sword is the ultimate emblem of the authority of the state — the governing power — it is clear that the state has power to take life, and that this power is granted to it by God. . . God is the author of life. Life is the greatest gift that He gives to men and women. . . A man’s life is the most precious of his possessions. It is God who has given it; only God has a right to take it away. . . capital punishment is designed to maintain and to emphasize and to establish the sanctity of life. It has no vindictive quality in it at all” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, ‘Life in Two Kingdoms’, XIII, pp. 59–62).

God spoke further to Noah, “And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it” (v. 9:7).  Clearly, there is no contradiction to being against abortion and simultaneously submissive to God’s authority regarding capital punishment.