I believe human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creation; God’s image-bearers in the world. There is absolutely nothing on the planet more valuable than a single human life. Therefore, I consider myself pro ALL life. I believe all humans ought to be loved, valued, and protected. But that position has several implications. Let’s think through some of them together.
1. Abortion isn’t the only political issue that matters.
When many of my fellow Christians vote, they seem to only consider one issue, “What is this candidate’s stated position on abortion?” They believe protecting the life of the unborn is the only issue that matters.
I too believe in protecting the life of the unborn. And I also believe in protecting the poor from exploitation. I believe in protecting women from sexual predators and perverts. I believe in protecting Americans and non-Americans from bullets and bombs.
Therefore, if I’m going to vote for someone to represent me in the White House or Congress, I’m going to consider a lot more than the abortion issue. I’m going to consider how that person treats women, their economic policies, their policies on war, and many other issues. A person must truly value human life — all human life — to merit my vote.
And sometimes that means I don’t have a candidate for whom I can vote. That’s ok. I would rather vote for no one than vote for someone who dishonors God’s image-bearers.
2. Criminals are human beings too.
I believe I have a responsibility to keep my family safe. I try to do that. I live in a safe neighborhood, I lock my doors, and if someone entered my home I would confront them. But how I confront them isn’t cut-and-dry for me, because I value the life of the intruder and not just the lives of my family members.