The Cancerous “Culture of Death”

By Rev. John Sheldon, PPL Board President

 

Every human life is a unique gift from God. Scripture tells us that death, both physical and spiritual, is an ugly consequence of, and a divine judgment on, human sin. The Bible also says that every human being born into this world, apart from one person, is a sinner under the sentence of death. “We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners” (R.C. Sproul). God in his mercy has made it possible for human sinners to be forgiven of their sins and justified before him without denying his just judgment. This is the good news of Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Most of the readers of this prayer calendar know that embracing this gospel means confessing our sin daily and wholeheartedly, following and obeying his commands. He gives us the Holy Spirit, word of God, and the local church to help us. We know that his Gospel transforms lives, restores relationships, and is essential to solving the huge societal challenges before us. Presbyterians Protecting Life (PPL) is built on this foundational truth. Our mission statement reads, “Compelled by the Gospel, PPL equips Presbyterians to champion human life at every stage.”

 

PPL carries out its mission in what has been accurately described as a “a culture of death.” The culture of death cares little that every human life is made in the image of God and has intrinsic and infinite value to God. The culture of death values human persons only to the extent they are “useful” or have a self-defined “quality of life.” The culture of death worships the idol of self-autonomy. The culture of death threatens the lives and value of the vulnerable and weak, including the developing unborn persons, the genetically disordered, the terminally ill, and many other “undesirables.”

 

Today almost two-thirds of abortions are carried out with easily obtained abortion pills like mifepristone. Assisted suicide and even involuntary euthanasia are increasingly legal medical practices in a growing number of states. One in twenty Canadian deaths come through government-protected euthanasia programs. In the Netherlands, where euthanasia of the elderly has long been practiced, a new boundary has been crossed—a child between 1 and 12 suffering from a terminal illness has been euthanized. Iceland is proud to report they no longer have any Down-syndrome babies being born—and it isn’t because trisomy genetic disorders have been eradicated. In country after country, we see abortion, infanticide, and assisted suicide portrayed as compassionate, “life-affirming” care. The culture of death like a cancer grows. PPL exists to call the Church to resist this culture of death and offer the abundant life in Christ. Let us pray faithfully to that end.

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​​​"Doctrine divides, but doctrine also unites.

It binds together the hearts of God’s people who celebrate the truth of God.” —R.C. Sproul
 

 

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