What makes a life valuable?

As I held my young son in my arms the consultant from a London hospital told me that they recommend abortion for his condition.

Was the consultant really saying that my son’s life was not worth living?  How do we determine the value of someone’s life?

The Ridgeway family sent shockwaves around the world as they publicly revealed they were ending their child’s life because of Down syndrome. After spending weeks looking into the condition they concluded “it just didn’t make sense for us”.  A life already expected to be shorter was ended before it had the chance to be lived.

They say they have no regrets.  Faced with a prenatal diagnosis, many parents experience fear, uncertainty, and immense pressure, the Ridgeways and others may believe they are making a compassionate choice. They saw the potential burden of additional medical challenges and concluded that abortion was the right decision.  Tragically, they have missed out on being parents to someone who could have brought them so much joy and happiness.  One recent survey suggests 99% of people born with Down syndrome are happy with their lives.  

That’s an incredible amount of happiness!  But how can any of us know what joy and challenges a child will bring? None of us can predict the future. Some people born with significant disabilities bring enormous joy to those around them, while many physically healthy people cause great hurt. Perhaps we are not the best ones to decide which lives are valuable.

What if human worth is not determined by health, intelligence, or ability, but by the God whose image we bear?  Jesse Ridgeway’s decision to end his child’s life suggests that the discovery of weakness changed the value placed on that life. He was not the first Jesse to encounter apparent weakness.  Three thousand years ago another Jesse overlooked his weakest son when a prophet came looking for a king. Yet God saw what others did not, and David became Israel’s greatest king.  A king who praised God because he was fearfully and wonderfully made, knit together in his mother’s womb.

Born into that family 1000 years later was one who would not have his life taken from him, but would give his life to save others.  We cannot bring an end to suffering by who we chose to bring into the world, but the sacrifice that Jesus made means we can know forgiveness, and the promise of new life. 

I understand some of the anguish that the Ridgeways faced, but I’m so grateful that we chose a different path and have been blessed with much joy among the trials of disability.  I’m so thankful that my son’s life is of great value not because of his ability or disability, but because God has given him incredible value.  

In his graduation speech from school, my son thanked us for introducing him to his saviour who gives him the certain hope of resurrection to eternal life.  None of us know what we will suffer in this lifetime or how long we will live, but for those who trust Jesus, there is an eternity of joy ahead.

If society decides what makes a life valuable, some people will inevitably be judged as less worthy than others. But if our value comes from God, then every human life has equal worth and deserves protection, regardless of ability or disability.

If you want to talk please contact Nick on 085 8889625 or Donegal Pro-Life on 089 2469 599.

Nick is one of the ministers at Milford Reformed Presbyterian Church