Protecting life

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Message We respect life as a gift of God.

Contents God is the creator and protector of life

The Fifth Commandment
Cain murders his brother
The covenant with Noah
What does Jesus say about the Fifth Commandment?
The Fifth Commandment as a standard for human conduct

Catechism CNAC-QA 332–333 (address in the lesson)

CNAC-QA 329–331, 334–340 (background information)

1 God is the creator and protector of life

Ask Who is the source and protector of life?

The Bible relates that God created life. The gospel of John states that in
Him was life (John 1: 4). However, God has not only created life, but also
protects it. His commandments, among other things, serve to this end. The
commandment that most clearly calls for the protection of human life is the
Fifth Commandment.

2 The Fifth Commandment

You shall not murder.

What does the What significance does the Fifth Commandment hold in the New Testament?
Catechism say? What is the significance of the Fifth Commandment for us today?
These questions are answered in CNAC-QA 332 and 333 (please read aloud
and discuss).

“The literal translation of this commandment from the original Hebrew text is:
‘You shall not murder!’ In its original meaning, the Fifth Commandment forbade
the unauthorised, unlawful shedding of innocent blood which was damaging to
the community. It did not refer to military service or the death penalty” (CNAC
5.3.6.1).

A murder, that is, the intentional killing of a person, was punished by death in
Israel. The Fifth Commandment did not apply to the killing of animals. This is
still practised in Israel as well as within the Christian tradition. “Nevertheless,
even the life of the animals is to be respected. This derives from mankind’s
responsibility to preserve the creation” (CNAC-QA 340).

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3 Cain murders his brother

A student tells The confirmands tell the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4: 3–15).
(Homework)
Explain Please note that at the time of Cain and Abel, God had not yet given the law.
Yet He warned Cain against the sin which ultimately came to expression in
Abel’s murder. This shows that God does not wish for life to be destroyed.

Why Cain killed Abel God looked with favour upon Abel and his offering, but not upon Cain and
his offering. Cain began to hate his brother Abel. God saw Cain’s thoughts
and pointed out to him that he was at risk of committing a sin. He warned
him urgently to rule over this sin. Nevertheless, Cain gave in to his sinful
thoughts and killed his brother. God drew Cain’s attention to the sin he had
committed and punished him: “When you till the ground it shall no longer
yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth”
The seriousness of (Genesis 4: 12). Only then did Cain become aware of the seriousness—and
Cain’s sin the consequences—of his actions. He said, “My punishment is greater than I
can bear! Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground.
I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the
earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me” (Genesis 4:
13–14). However, God put a mark on Cain and promised to protect him.

4 The covenant with Noah

After the great flood, God made a covenant with Noah (Genesis 9: 9–17). All
human beings are incorporated into this covenant. Its sign is the rainbow.
God gave Noah some commandments on this occasion. One of these was the
prohibition against killing other human beings (Genesis 9: 6). In this we see that
the prohibition against killing applies to all mankind. Man has been created in
the image of God, and thus possesses special dignity. For this reason, human
beings are not to be killed.

A student tells The confirmands tell how God made a covenant with Noah after the flood, and
(Homework) what He promised Noah (Genesis 18: 8–9: 13).

Explain God has given animals and plants for our nourishment, and we may make use
of these (Genesis 9: 3). We are nevertheless to respect all life, which means
that nothing should be senselessly killed or destroyed.

5 What does Jesus say about the Fifth Commandment?

Explain “Jesus’ interpretation of the Fifth Commandment went far beyond the original
meaning: ‘You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not
murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgement.” But I say to
you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger
of the judgement’ (Matthew 5: 21–22). Thus He did not confine the observance
of this commandment to its literal fulfilment, but also took into account the
individual’s inner attitude. Accordingly we read as follows in 1 John 3: 15:
‘Whoever hates his brother is a murderer’” (CNAC 5.3.6.2).

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6 The Fifth Commandment as a standard for human conduct
Explain The commandment not to kill poses many questions for us, for the Church, and
for society. The New Apostolic Church advocates for the protection of life and
therefore calls for the Fifth Commandment to be taken seriously. The following
will explore some of the Church’s positions and deal with the problematic
elements associated with the Fifth Commandment.

Death penalty

The New Apostolic Church does not recognise the death penalty as a suitable
deterrent, and therefore does not regard it as a suitable means of community
protection either.

Killing in wars

Killing in war constitutes a violation of the Fifth Commandment, even though

the individual is hardly able to influence the events. However, even in such
exceptional situations, it is the individual’s responsibility to choose the lesser
evil and to do his very best to avoid killing. Even in certain cases where
one might attempt to justify the use of violence in order to prevent greater
harm, or for the purposes of self-defence, killing is a violation of the Fifth
Commandment.

Killing in self-defence

Even killing in self-defence is a violation of the Fifth Commandment.

Regardless of the legal penalty, however, the guilt incurred before God may, in
this and in similar cases, be minimal.

Killing unborn life

Unborn life is to be respected and protected, since it must be assumed that it

is, already from the moment of conception, a human life given by God. Thus
the Church disapproves of killing embryos—that is, abortion as well as the
destruction of artificially generated human life. If, however, a medical prognosis
concludes that a mother’s life is in danger, her life should be saved. Although
such a case still constitutes a violation of the Fifth Commandment, the guilt
incurred may certainly be minimal.

Suicide

Suicide is a violation of the Fifth Commandment.

Active assisted suicide

Active assisted suicide is a violation of the Fifth Commandment, as is helping

another person to commit suicide.

Workbook exercise The confirmands compare the results and discuss any deviations. Special
attention should be paid to their own examples.

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The main points

I also want to … … have respect for life!

Homework The confirmands think about the question: “How can we remain loyal to Jesus
Christ.” There is room for notes at the end of the workbook.

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