The Editor, Sir:

Many people do not understand why Christian people and Christ's Church are so opposed to abortion. Here is the basic reason: God's word teaches us that the lives of all men, women and children are sacred because they are created by God, stamped individually with His God-image.

So, the wealthy banker in Hong Kong, or the well-educated professor at Oxford or Harvard is of no more significance and intrinsic worth than the malnourished child living in the slum in Kenya or digging through the trash in Haiti, or unwanted in the womb. All are image-bearers of our Creator and thus deserve the same respect and same compassion.

The words sang by Bob Marley come to mind, quoting from the Emperor Haile Selassie before the United Nations General Assembly in 1963: "until the philosophy that holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and totally abandoned and destroyed ... " Though it is not articulated by abortion supporters, the underlying philosophy for arguments in support of abortion on demand is that one human being is superior and another inferior. The rights of the one with the larger body are superior to the rights of the one with the smaller, less-developed body.

Blessed by God

I am blessed by God to have three wonderful children, aged 13, 10 and seven that who bring me great joy, and they are privileged to be healthy and vibrant and happy children. But I do not think for a moment that they are of any greater intrinsic value than the children that our ministry feeds on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, who are far less privileged than my own children.

Because no person can unstamp God's image from a child, to intentionally take the life out of another living human being is in a very real sense an attack on God himself. Jesus raised the bar for God's command not to murder when he added, "anyone who is even angry with his brother will be subject to judgement ..." (Matthew 5:22) We see here that God puts such a value on your human life that he condemns even the anger that would be directed towards you. You deserve only respect and honour and dignity from another human being.

I am, etc.,

Rev BILLY McKILLOP

billymckillop@gmail.com

Ministries in Action

10201 Bahia Drive

Miami, FL 33189