What is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday?

On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision, Roe v. Wade, and its companion decision, Doe v. Bolton, declaring abortion to be a fundamental right that is constitutionally protected during the entirety of a woman’s pregnancy. Since that day, the National Right to Life Committee estimates that some 54 million abortions have been performed in the United States. Furthermore, according to the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (ERLC), it is estimated that one out of three American women will have an abortion by the age of 45. In January 1984, on the 11th anniversary of these court decisions, President Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation, designating January 22, 1984 as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. Thereafter, this day has been observed on the third Sunday of January, which typically represents the closest Sunday to the original January 22 date.

Why recognize Sanctity of Human Life Sunday?

While the social issue of abortion has largely fallen upon partisan lines in the public square, for the Christian this issue transcends the ebb and flow of politics. The Bible clearly upholds the sanctity of human life. From the beginning, God declared that He uniquely created humans in His own image (Gen. 1:27), setting them apart as the pinnacle of His creation. The Psalmist David speaks of God’s intricate design and providential care in the womb (Psalm 139:13–16). Job echoes David’s sentiments, praising God for His purpose in granting him life (Job 10:8–12). The Lord, speaking to the prophet Jeremiah, declared His knowledge of and sovereign plan for Jeremiah before he was even conceived (Jer. 1:5). The word Luke used to describe the personhood of Jesus in the womb (Luke 1:15) is the same word Luke used to describe the personhood of the newborn in the manger (Luke 2:16).1 The grand narrative of Scripture makes clear that the murder of innocent human life is evil (Gen. 9:6, Ex. 20:13, 21:22–25) and that children are a special blessing from the Lord (Ps. 127:3–5). Therefore, Christians everywhere should uphold with the Scripture the sanctity of human life and prayerfully labor to see the gospel transform and redeem a culture that has lost sight of Jesus Christ, the Author of Life

What should I emphasize in my home on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday?

Sanctity of Life Sunday addresses the sensitive issue of abortion, which requires a certain level of maturity for children to understand. While the details of abortion may need to wait for a later date, this is an opportunity for you to educate your child on the sanctity of human life. As you seek to fulfill your calling as the primary disciple-makers in the life of your child, consider emphasizing the following:

1. Emphasize that humans are created by God.
   If a child has ever seen a fireworks display, they know the best part is the grand finale. Draw the analogy with your child that when God created the world, he saved the best for last when he created humans. We know this because God made us different from the rest of creation by creating us “in His image” (Gen. 1:27). This means we were uniquely made to have a relationship with God unlike the rest of creation. Thus, while all of creation should be respected and valued, humans are the most valuable part of God’s creation.
   
   
2. Emphasize that all God created is good.
   When God created the world, he saw everything that He had made and said ”it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). King David praised God because he knew he was “fearfully and wonderfully made” by Him (Psalm 139:14). This means that, though we are all different, with varying abilities and disabilities brought about by sin and death entering the world, we are all perfectly created by God and worthy of respect.
   
   
3. Emphasize that we belong to God.
   Most children intuitively know that if they create something, it belongs to them. This is why most children take so much pride and ownership in their artwork or Lego creation. Draw the analogy with your children that God created us, and therefore we belong to Him. Since we belong to God, we are not free to do as we please with our lives or the lives of others. Our lives are not our own— they belong to God.