In a recent blog Kris Vallotton asked: "How has history undermined the value of human life?"
While he makes some interesting points, I think he's asking the wrong question.
For instance, Vallotton uses the examples of industrialization and the development of the Women's Movement to make a point that we have consistently devalued human life.
But there's a bigger picture happening here.
In the United States, the use of child labor went hand-in-hand with twelve hour workdays. Greed on the part of factory owners eventually led to the development of unions. The union movement stopped the almost universal (in the US) 12 hour, six day a week work schedule. And eventually child labor laws were passed to protect the rights of children.
Unfortunately, the gross mistreatment of children didn't begin with industrialization. Partly due to the over-emphasis on making a profit. While Western culture has made great strides in its treatment of children, sex trafficking, and other forms of human exploitation of children still remain in the United States and across the world.
So I would suggest that a more appropriate question to ask is: Why do we, as humans, continue to put such an unhealthy emphasis on material things?
There's a movie playing now called Suffragette. It chronicles the women's rights movement in England.
In response to an oppressive male-driven society in the early 20th century, brave women in England fought for the right to vote and to have a say in the lives they lived.
Vallotton says that several decades later, the Woman's Liberation movement in the United States resulted in the further devaluation of human life. I would say that whenever we act to protect the rights of any group, we are protecting the rights of us all.
Jesus lived within a culture where women had little say in how they lived, and had no say in their material well-being. When a husband died, a widow was basically left defenseless and unless she remarried quickly, was left without resources. (There's a very good reason why several scriptures speak to God defending the widow and the orphan).
Jesus' treatment of women was a radical departure because he treated them as equal human beings.
How do you view the intervention of Jesus as a group of male religious leaders were getting ready to stone a woman to death because she was supposedly caught in the act of adultery? (John 8.1)
Keep in mind this was happening within the courtyard of the temple in Jerusalem, a very public place. This would be the rough equivalent of Jesus standing between this group of men and the woman on the sidewalk in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.
Jesus said to the men, "Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone."
One by one, they dropped their stones and left.
Then Jesus turned to the woman and asked her. "Where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?" (John 8.10).
The woman pointed out they were gone. Jesus told her he didn't condemn her either. He then encouraged her to go and sin no more.
While women in Western culture have made significant strides since the time of Jesus, gender inequality still exists.
People in power are usually very reluctant to give it up. Greed again comes into the picture, along with fear and ignorance.
I think Vallotton might better ask: How do we combat greed, fear and ignorance within a Christian perspective?
I very much admire Vallotton for bringing up the subject of justice. And I'm not disagreeing with what he has to say. But I am, like him, encouraging us all to go a bit deeper in our handling of the subject.
Please feel free to share your thoughts regarding creative ways that we can help alleviate social injustice in our community.
Photo Credit. www.crupressgreen.com
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