"MORAL ISSUES CONFRONTING CHRISTIANS"
Euthanasia
INTRODUCTION
1. A moral issue that is increasingly confronting Christians today is
euthanasia...
a. The word "euthanasia" comes straight out of the Greek
b. "eu", goodly or well + "thanatos", death = the good death
c. For 18th-century writers in England that was what euthanasia
meant, a "good" death, a welcome way to depart quietly and well
from life
-- MedicineNet.com
2. Today, euthanasia is understood as more than simply dying a good and
easy death...
a. It commonly refers to a doctor inducing death with a lethal
injection, requested by a patient suffering terrible pain
b. Also called "assisted suicide"; other terms include "aid in
dying", "death with dignity", even "mercy killing"
c. Not to be confused with refusing artificial life support and
allowing the natural death process
3. Some forms of voluntary euthanasia or "assisted suicide" are legal
in...
a. Countries such as Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Thailand
b. The U.S. states of Oregon and Washington
-- Wikipedia
[What should the Christian think concern this issue? First, let's
consider...]
I. THE ARGUMENTS REGARDING EUTHANASIA
A. ARGUMENTS FOR...
1. Choice - Proponents emphasize that choice is a fundamental
principle for liberal democracies and free market systems
2. Quality of Life
a. The pain and suffering a person feels during a disease, even
with pain relievers, can be incomprehensible to a person who
has not gone through it
b. Even without considering the physical pain, it is often
difficult for patients to overcome the emotional pain of
losing their independence
3. Economic costs and human resources
a. Today in many countries there is a shortage of hospital
space
b. The energy of doctors and hospital beds could be used for
people whose lives could be saved instead of continuing the
life of those who want to die which increases the general
quality of care and shortens hospital waiting lists
c. It is a burden to keep people alive past the point they can
contribute to society, especially if the resources used
could be spent on a curable ailment
-- Wikipedia, ibid.
B. ARGUMENTS AGAINST...
1. Professional
a. Critics argue that it could unduly compromise the role of
health care workers
b. Ministers of health and life would also become ministers of
death
c. They would violate the Hippocratic oath: "I will not give a
lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such
a plan" (though it has fallen out of use since the 1970s)
2. Moral and theological
a. Euthanasia is viewed as murder, and voluntary euthanasia as
suicide
b. A violation of the sanctity of human life, that human life
belongs to God
c. That humans should not be the ones to make the choice to end
life
3. Feasibility of implementation
a. To be voluntary, a patient must be mentally competent to
make the decision
b. Competence can be difficult to determine or even define
4. Necessity
a. Where there is life, there is hope: for a cure, remission,
or even answer to prayer
b. The correct action is to attempt to bring about a cure or
engage in palliative care
5. Wishes of family
a. Family members often desire to spend as much time with their
loved ones as possible before they die
b. Their wishes ought to be considered
6. Consent under pressure
a. Once euthanasia becomes an acceptable health procedure, it
will be subject to economic considerations
b. Hospital and insurance personnel will have an economic
incentive to advise or pressure people toward euthanasia
consent
-- Wikipedia, ibid.
[Such are the arguments offered by both sides of the debate. As
Christians, our primary concern should be the moral and theological
issues...]
II. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
A. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS...
1. The Bible does not specifically forbid or condone euthanasia
2. It does refer to several instances of suicide
3. It also reveals several principles which we may apply to this
issue
-- We must let the Bible aid us to "discern both good and evil"
- He 5:14
B. SPECIFIC OBSERVATIONS...
1. Life comes from God, to take it is murder
a. As such He has the sole right to dispose of it - Ac 17:25,28
b. Human life is sacred because we are made in His image - Gen
9:5-6
c. Suicide, in general, is an act of murder which is immoral
- Exo 20:13
2. Our bodies belong to God, not us
a. This is especially true of Christians - 1Co 6:19-20
b. We no longer live for ourselves, but for God - Ro 14:7-8;
2Co 5:15
c. We might prefer death, but the Lord may have a different
plan - Php 1:21-24
3. Every example of suicide in the Bible was by a sinful man
a. Abimelech, assisted by armor bearer - Judg 9:50-54
b. Saul, who gravely wounded fell on his own sword - 1Sa 31:3-4
c. Ahithophel, who hanged himself - 2Sa 17:23
d. Zimri, who burned himself alive - 1Ki 16:18-19
e. Judas, who hanged himself - Mt 27:5
4. Men of God chose to endure pain rather than end life
prematurely
a. Job
1) Who suffered not for sin - Job 2:7-10
2) Who longed for death, but would not kill himself - Job
6:8-9
b. Jeremiah
1) Who suffered with those who had sinned - Lam 3:38-41
2) Who could have fled to Babylon, but chose not to - Jer
40:4
c. Jesus
1) Who suffered for all who sinned - 1Pe 3:18
2) Who endured the cross - He 12:2
5. The early Christians saw value in suffering
a. For the character and hope it produced - Ro 5:3-4
b. For the maturity and patience it produced - Ja 1:2-4
c. For the opportunity to honor and glorify Christ - 1Pe 1:6-7;
Php 1:20
6. Paul was willing to endure suffering for the benefit of others
a. He preferred death, but considered the needs of others - Ph
1:21-24
b. He endured suffering to demonstrate the power of Christ in
him - 2Co 4:8-12
c. He viewed affliction as an opportunity to provide an example
- 2Co 1:6-11
-- How we die may be our last opportunity to magnify the Lord and
help others
CONCLUSION
1. Voluntary euthanasia (suicide), even when one is suffering, can be
viewed as...
a. An act of ingratitude toward God who gives us both life and
suffering for our good
b. A violation of our duty to serve God all the days of our lives
c. A misguided effort to escape an aspect of life that God intends
for us to experience
d. A selfish act that hurts those closest to us, depriving them of
our example and influence
2. How can we hasten our death, just to avoid suffering...?
a. When we do not know what the future holds (a cure, remission,
answer to prayer)?
b. When our suffering may be allowed for our benefit and those around
us?
This is not to say we cannot try to alleviate suffering via pain killers
short of taking a life. But our lives belong to God, and we must trust
in Him and His promises...
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond
what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the
way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
- 1Co 10:13
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any
trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by
God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our
consolation also abounds through Christ.
- 2Co 1:3-5
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