TX Heartbeat Bill, Jean-Pierre Adams, and the Imago Dei

What does a 73 year-old coma patient have to do with a state legislature and recent Supreme Court ruling? Two events occurred this past week which seemingly have nothing to do with each other, at least in the eyes of a liberal non-believing world. However, in the eyes of those with a Christian Worldview, these two events have much to do with each other as both demonstrate the value of human life and the image of God in each person. The two events of which I write are the death of comatose soccer athlete, Jean-Pierre Adams, and the upholding of the Texas "Heartbeat Bill" (TX SB8) by the Supreme Court of the United States.

TX SB 8

Let's begin with the second incident first. On May 14, 2021, both chambers of Texas State Congress signed into law a "heartbeat bill", which banned almost all abortions after the time an unborn baby's heart is detected--typically six weeks into pregnancy. On May 19, Texan Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 8, inevitably making it effective, beginning September 1, 2021. And just that happened as the Supreme Court (5-4) decided to ignore blocking the Texas "heartbeat bill." While the Court's stated purpose was not to deal with either the substance or constitutionality of the bill, this decision still leaves both conservatives and liberals to wonder about the lifetime of Roe v. Wade itself.

The Texas heartbeat bill is, to many pro-lifers, a win for the unborn. Without myself going into much detail about the bill, it is safe to say that conservative evangelicals have even more reason to boast as we see the government--albeit in a small way-- actually doing what it was designed to do: uphold the dignity and sanctity of human life (Gen. 9). To a Christian, all human life--even and especially the unborn--is sacred. Why? Because, every human bears the likeness of God (Gen. 1:27).

Jean-Pierre Adams

Another headline came to the forefront for some soccer fans this week. 1970s French defender, Jean-Pierre Adams, died at the age of 73 on September 6, 2021. What actually would surprise some readers are the events leading up to Adams's death, mainly his 39-year coma. Adams played for several French football clubs in his career and was one of the first black players to play on the French national team.

On March 17, 1982, Adams was hospitalized for surgery on a ruptured ligament, a somewhat minor operation. After a bizarre turn of events with hospital staff on strike, several errors made by the anesthesiologist, and an underqualified trainee, Adams suffered from a bronchospasm. His brain deprived of oxygen, Adams slipped into a coma, in which he remained in a vegetative state until his death, 39 years later. What is even more shocking is the constant care of his wife, Bernadette, who looked after him--dressing him, bathing him, feeding him, and turning him over to prevent sores. Though Jean-Pierre remained unresponsive and incommunicative, never once did Bernadette consider euthanasia.

The Adams' story can seem strange to those who do not possess a Christian worldview--and maybe, even to those that do. "Why would a women take care of her comatose husband for 39 years?" Some would even dare to ask, "why not just put him out of both of their misery?" As Christians, we understand, once again, that every human is made in the likeness God. Furthermore, Scripture does not limit that likeness to those who are only responsive or able to communicate. Neither is it our responsibility as humans to unjustly end a life, regardless of responsivity. As a side, while much pro-life thought has been given to the issue of abortion, very little has been given to the equally disturbing issues of euthanasia and assisted suicide. In each case, it is God who is the giver and taker of life, not man (Deut. 32:39; Job 1:21).

A Christian Perspective

Genesis 1 lays the foundation of a God's original design regarding the sanctity of human life. Furthermore, as the pillar and buttress of the truth, the Church should be the first to uplift the image of God in every human being (1 Tim. 3:15). While both the Texas "Heartbeat Bill" and the death of Jean-Pierre seem unconnected, both serve as a reminder of the sanctity of human life in both the unborn and the unresponsive. And both cases indicate that unsaved people naturally understand the value of human life based on God's original design.

Abortion and euthanasia are both disturbing attacks on the image of God and His original design for mankind. Christianity takes regard for both issues because we serve a Savior who loves both the children and the paralytics. His likeness is in both young and old. Even more so, His love and forgiveness extends to those whose life is marred by decisions which costed another image bearer's life. He loves and cherishes life because He is the God of life. Therefore, as Christians, we should uphold life within our communities and celebrate when it has been cherished and protected.