Christians have certain beliefs about their responsibility to those at the beginning of their lives.

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Atinuke Odunsi

Section1) Christians have certain beliefs about their responsibility to those at the beginning of their lives.

Christians have certain beliefs about their responsibility to those at the beginning of their lives.  Christians believe that they are created in the image of God and human life is a gift from God, this makes it hallowed.  Genesis 1:27 –28 says – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth”.  Human life is sacred and untouchable at every moment of existence.  It is believed by Christians that God has a special relationship with everybody.  The word of God as man in the person of Jesus reaffirms the sanctity of holiness of human life in its relationship with God.  John 1:14 says – “And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth”.  Roman Catholics believe that this connection with God begins and the point of inception.  Jeremiah 1:5 says – “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations!”

Christians feel that they should assist those at the end of their lives.  Christians do not just believe that God gave life, but it is also only God who should be able to take it away.  ‘It is only God, who has the power over life & death’ (Evangelium Viate 66).  It is the belief of Christians that every human has an immortal soul, the welfare of which is in the hands of God and God alone.  No mortal has the right to end another man’s life before his time.  ‘I will not allow people to live forever, they are mortal.  Genesis 6:3 says – “And the Lord said, my spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.  I think that this verse refers back to immortal life.   Christians believe that they have a responsibility to share Christ’s suffering.  ‘Through suffering, we share in Christ’s pain, thus growing closer to him (Evangelium Viate 66).  Even though he was chastened on a bed of pain, the book of Job describes him as refusing to commit suicide, arguing that the human race must learn to accept suffering as we do happiness and joy.  This life is only significant when we look at it in a much larger view.  Life does not last for long, but we are allowed to find meaning even when things are going wrong. Job 1:21 says – “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord”.  Christians believe that they have a responsibility to show compassion towards others when they are poorly.  Jesus shows us a good example of this when he healed Jairus’ daughter, the widow of Naim’s son and he raised Lazarus from the dead.  Aswell as showing compassion for those who are ill, Christians believe that they should pray for them.  ‘Do unto others what you would want done unto you’.  ……. Says – “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elder of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the lord”.  Some Christians think this means that healing services should be available.  Christians believe that they have a responsibility to make provision for the sacrament: Anointing of the sick.  This enables the dying person to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and receive Eucharist.  Christians believe in selecting life in a wider sense.  Throughout the bible, you will find the command to not take the life of another.  Exodus 20:13 says – “Thou shalt not kill” and Deuteronomy 30:19 says – “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live”.  Taking life broader than killing and the prohibition in the Ten Commandments not to kill is seen in the bigger setting of respect to parents, for property of others.  The notions of choose ‘life’ is the believers response to honour God & his creation.  This may be seen in terms of covenants and relationship between God and humans.

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Section 2) Explain the way Christians respond to contraception and abortion

Contraception

For many years in Church, the main reason for sex was for pro-creation:  So God created human beings and said have many children.  Genesis 1:26 – 27 says – “And God said, let us make man in our image and after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over everything that creepeth upon the ...

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