"Sanctity of Life" is a "false doctrine"

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2004 election    *    "Sanctity of Life" is a "false doctrine"      *    Abortion       Divorce

God's Purpose for Hurricane Katrina    *   Why Do Muslims Hate Jews?   *   Masturbation

The Meaning of Life    *   Why Churches Don't Have Unity    *    Who Can Be Saved?

Can you love Jesus too much?

 I believe that the Evangelical Christian political movement has gone so far to the "right" that they are wrong.

The "Sanctity of Life" doctrine that the "far right" supports, is the doctrine of the Catholic Church.  It seems strange that the Evangelical Christians would "buy into" a doctrine from a group that is notorious for "wrong doctrine".   (For the purpose of this discussion,  I define "wrong doctrine" as being "doctrine that is not based completely on the Bible".)

A person, or group of persons, can be wrong without being evil.  I consider that the Evangelical Christians and the Catholics who espouse the "Sanctity of Life" doctrine are "wrong" and not "evil".

Before explaining the error in the "Sanctity of Life" doctrine, let me examine the consequence of "wrong doctrine".

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The consequences of "wrong doctrine":

Let me give some examples of the dire consequences of some "wrong doctrine".   (All of these examples have emanated from the Catholic Church.)

1)   Consider the torture of the native American Indians by Christopher Columbus, the Catholic Clergy and the Spanish Conquistadores.  This torture was done in the name of Jesus because the Catholic Church taught that the Indians would be eternally saved if they "confessed" that Jesus was "Lord".  

2)  Consider the hate, for the Jewish people, that provided an atmosphere where Adolph Hitler could exterminate 6 million Jews during World War II.  That atmosphere of hate was established by the Catholic Church with their doctrine that labeled the Jewish people as "Christ Killers".   Many other Christian individuals and organizations also "bought into" that "wrong doctrine" and, thereby. enabled the evil of the Nazi fascists.

3)  The Catholic Church doctrine requiring celibacy for their priesthood is clearly "wrong doctrine".  This "wrong doctrine" has led to the pollution of their priesthood by homosexuals and pedophiles - shepherds that consume their sheep.  Their leaders are over-shepherds that care more about shepherds than they do about their sheep.

3)  The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, is blatantly "wrong doctrine".  To teach Christians to worship someone other than the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is heresy.

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Why are the Evangelical Christians on the extreme-far-right when God is against extremes ?

On the road of life, you can go off into the ditch on the left side of the road.  You can also go off into the ditch on the right side of the road.  In either case, you are in the ditch.  It is, however, better to go into the ditch on the left side of the road rather than the ditch on the right side of the road.

God says in ECC 7:16-18 (NIV)

"Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise-
why destroy yourself?
Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool-
why die before your time?
It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
The man who fears God will avoid all extremes."

The penalty for being "overrighteous" is that you will "destroy yourself".  That penalty is clearly greater than the penalty for being "overwicked' which is that you "die before your time".  Remember that it was not the wicked, but, the overrighteous Pharisees that opposed Jesus.  Remember, also, that the Pharisees didn't die when Jesus was crucified - they joined the church. 

Overrighteousness and legalism are serious problems for Evangelical Christians.  For example, the Assembly of God denomination has rules for church membership that require that individuals not drink alcohol.  That means that Jesus could not join their church.  The Bible is clear about the requirements for membership in the "Body of Christ".  Peter said in Acts 15:19-20 (NIV):

"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.  Instead we should write them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood."

Any time that you make rules that are more strict than God's rules you are into overrighteousness and legalism.  If you are going to error, you should always error on the side of "grace' and "mercy".

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Why is "Sanctity of Life" "wrong doctrine"?

The fundamental problem with the "Sanctity of Life" doctrine is that it raises the value of "life" to be equal to the value of God.

The Webster's dictionary defines "sanctity" as "1) saintliness or holiness; 2) being sacred;  3) anything held sacred.

The Webster's dictionary defines "sacred" as: "1) consecrated to a god or God;  2) having to do with religion or religious rites;  3) given the respect accorded holy things...."

"Sanctity of Life" implies that life is "Holy" and "Sacred".  Only God and things pertaining to God are Holy and Sacred.  The "Sanctity of Life" movements elevates "life" to the point where we are worshiping the created rather than the creator.

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The doctrine of "Sanctity of Life" is out-of-balance

The "Sanctity of Life" doctrine is extreme and out-of-balance.  The Bible clearly indicates that "life" is to be highly valued and that the taking of "life" is an extremely serious matter.- and is punishable by death, if done inappropriately.  There are, however, many example, in the Bible, of people killing people without being in sin.  Two examples:

1. In the Old Testament, God often ordered the destruction of entire people groups and the Israelites would have been in sin if these people were not killed..

2. In another circumstance (2 Sam 8:2) David defeated the Moabites and then had them lie down on the ground.  David, without God's direction or instruction, had 2 out of every 3 Moabites killed.  God did not count this as sin.

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The doctrine of "suffering" is out-of-balance

The Catholic Church doctrines concerning "suffering" are part of the reason that their "Sanctity of Life" doctrine has become so out-of-balance.

Suffering is a part of every life.  Jesus suffered, as He died for our sins.  The Bible indicates that believers will also suffer persecutions because we are known by His name (Acts 9:16, Romans 8:17). 

It says in Phil 4:29:  "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him..."

This "suffering" for the name of Jesus has been extended, by the Catholic Church, to cover all suffering.

Recently, I watched a PBS report on the AIDS epidemic in Africa.  The Catholic Church there has refused to allow women to use contraceptive even if their husbands have AIDS.  The justification given is that the conception of new life is more important  than the life of the mother.  If the mother contracts AIDS and dies, her suffering, and the future suffering of her children as they die, will bring about an increase in eternal strength-of-character for those individuals.

How perverse.  The very shepherds that should protect and comfort cause ruin, suffering and death for their sheep as they "worship" their "Sanctity  of Life" god and wallow in the suffering of their flock.  Where does the Bible say that the life of the baby is worth more than the life of the mother or the well being of the family?

"Suffering" is a real and correct doctrine according to the Bible.  We will suffer for the name of Jesus and we will have our eternal character built-up by that suffering as well as by the suffering that otherwise happens in life.

"Suffering", however, is not the only doctrine in the Bible.  There are also doctrines of "grace' and "faith", and "prosperity.  The "true doctrine" will include all of these doctrines in a proper balance. 

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The Catholic and Evangelical "Sanctity of Life" doctrine is out-of-balance to the point where "life" is worshipped rather than respected.

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How should you know when your doctrine is wrong or too far to the "right" ?

1. When you are worshiping anything or anyone other that "God the Father", "God the Son" or "God the Holy Spirit".  Human life is not "Holy" or "Sacred" and is not to be worshipped.  "Sanctity of Life" is a false god ! 

2. You should begin a prayerful examination of your doctrines when your doctrines are in agreement with the doctrines of the Catholic Church. 

3. You should stop and consider your ways when your doctrines are at the extreme-right of the political spectrum. God has clearly warned against this.  God says (Ecc 7:18) that "The man who fears God will avoid all extremes".  Evangelical Christians should examine their condition.

4. When there is no mercy, compassion or understanding in your position you should wonder where you got separated from Jesus.  The Terry Schiavo Case shined a light on the fanaticism of the Evangelical Christian "Sanctity of Life" movement as Christian people railed and shouted at good people who were trying to do what they thought was right. Most Christians and most Americans don't want any of the extremism and legalism that was evident from the Evangelical Christian group.     God says in James 3:17 (NAS)

   "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable,  full of mercy and good  fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy".

   There is nothing peaceable, gentle or reasonable about the arrogant and militant Evangelical Christian political movement. 

5. When there is legalism there is no grace.  Consider your ways.  If most other Christians don't agree with your stand, you should prayerfully reconsider your doctrine.  You should get some outside input rather than continue having conversations only with people who agree with you.

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©Terry Lefler, 06/2005,  All rights reserved