I came across the Consistent Life Ethic a few years ago while doing research for a class I was teaching in the course “Christianity in Culture.” The idea was new to me. I found it to be a surprising take on some important issues, especially because it seemingly cuts across the traditional divisions of left and right, conservative and liberal.
Apparently, this ethic was first articulated by Joseph Bernadin, a cardinal in the Catholic church. He sought to tie together all issues that have at their core the value of human life. He urged people to take a consistent approach to these questions, stating that: “When human life is considered ‘cheap’ or easily expendable in one area, eventually nothing is held as sacred and all lives are in jeopardy.” In another speech, Bernadin said, “The spectrum of life cuts across the issues of genetics, abortion, capital punishment, modern warfare and the care of the terminally ill.”
The Consistent Life Ethic condemns abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia. It opposes the death penalty and economic injustice. Bernadin condemned what he called “unjust war,” but the Consistent Life movement today (which was once called the Seamless Garment Network) has embraced pacifism. The mission statement of Consistent Life expresses:
We are committed to the protection of life, which is threatened in today’s world by war, abortion, poverty, racism, capital punishment and euthanasia. We believe that these issues are linked under a ‘consistent ethic of life’. We challenge those working on all or some of these issues to maintain a cooperative spirit of peace, reconciliation, and respect in protecting the unprotected.
They go on to describe their purpose as follows:
We serve the anti-violence community by connecting issues, building bridges, and strengthening the case against each kind of socially-approved killing by consistently opposing them all.
I’m not ready to align myself with any movement other than the Kingdom of God, but I find this idea to be very intriguing. What do you think? Can you see some value in seeking consistency on these issues? Or is this approach misguided?
I share your uneasiness, and I’m also set on edge by movements that centralize just one of the many effects of the in-breaking kingdom. The Scriptures don’t convict me that protecting the life of this age was a core value of Jesus, the apostles, or the early church.
I’m still terribly torn about the relevance of my opinions about government policies. So what if a kingdom of this age exercises capital punishment? My kingdom doesn’t. Does our prophetic witness against the powers of this age consist of crying out in the street (precisely what the Suffering Servant whom we embody does NOT do – Isa 53), or by modeling an alternative lifestyle that can only be lived by the power of the Spirit?
That’s the real frustration that I have with movements like these: they make the Holy Spirit irrelevant, when it is only by the Spirit that people can live the kind of life they want legislated on the world.
Tim,
Perhaps you’ve commented elsewhere on this, but do you think Rom 13 gives secular government authority to exercise capital punishment? And what about the capital crimes in the OT? Doesn’t this show that capital punishment is not intrinsically evil?
–guy
Nick,
I’m certainly not interested in political action on these issues, with my own particular definition of political activity. (I know we don’t fully agree on that one) And I share your torn-ness. It gets stickier when addressing topics like abortion, where multitudes of innocents are paying the price for this policy.
Yours is an interesting point… what role should we Christians play in public protests?
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Guy,
I have supported the State’s right to carry out capital punishment. I’m not as sure as I once was. (That goes for a lot of things!)
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Not fair, flipping my question back at me! :) You know me well enough to know that I wouldn’t have asked it if I was ready to answer it.
But I think my answer starts by looking at statements of God’s intent for the covenant people: to be a blessing unto the nations, to be witnesses that He is God, to establish trainees in the Jesus Way…
Also, just musing here: if NT Wright, et al, are correct about the political ramifications of Jesus’ preaching of repentance in the 1st century (stop trusting the world’s ways of establishing righteousness and vindication and peace, and dedicate yourself to Jesus’ way), I think there are definite implications concerning reliance on government to “right the wrongs” in society.
When you fight fire with fire… fire still wins.
Though I’d not heard about this movement or group before, in the past I’ve seen people on that Catholic cable network talk about being consistently pro-life, opposing both abortion-on-demand and the death penalty, for starters.
It has always been my position that according to scripture we can not oppose one of the things you mentioned without opposing them all. I do not do so on a political basis, and I will not become involved in politics and laws regarding any of these things. I will preach that no Christians should become involved in abortions, capital punishment, war, euthanasia or any kind of violence. We answer to a higher authority, king Jesus. Romans 13 does teach us to submit to earthly authorities no matter how bad they may be as long as we are not required to take part in their atrocities. It in no way indicates that it is okay for a Christian to support capital punishment, war or any other thing the earthly power dreams up. In fact, the different pronouns used for Christians and the power indicate a distinct difference in the way they behave. For a description of our behaviour see Romans 12, especially the closing verses.
May you always be at peace,
Wes
Since 1973, how many people have been killed in/by the United States by war, capital punishment, and euthanasia?
How many people have been killed by abortion in that same 38-year window?
Three of these kinds of killing are STRICTLY limited by law. Discussion (mere discussion) of limiting the fourth is described as making war on women.
Although I don’t agree with everything supported by the movement, I have tried to be consistently pro-life, too. I want to enhance the lives of the pre-born, those in poverty, the disabled, and others who need mercy and protection. At least, that’s been one of my goals in life (based on Micah 6:8).