CHRISTIANITY & EUTHANASIA
Provocation of Purpose
I write with heavy heart today as I witness the impending death of a young man placed in hospice. A number of us have stood in faith believing for the miraculous intervention of Almighty God and had begun to see it. The young man was stricken with ALS which leads to premature death in the individual with such diagnosis. I have the faith for miracles and witness them often in ministry within my metron. God showed me that this man would be a progressive miracle and become a “living memorial in our city to the Glory of God.” His gnarled hands had begun to straighten, his undistinguishable speech had begun to be distinguishable, and his special medical doctor said he was getting better. He acquired the flu and I discover he has been placed in hospice. I certainly don’t fault his loved ones whom have watched far too much suffering and are I’m sure heartbroken, rather I address the proponents of euthanasia, especially those that claim to know the God of the Bible, and ask: where is your moral compass and who gave you the authority to play God? God alone is sovereign over when and how a person’s death occurs.
Application of Ethics
I have written about Christian ethics and how the continual unraveling of the same has progressively led society toward destruction. The dictionary defines ethics as the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation. The term is also applied to any system or theory of moral values or principles. Ethics in the Bible refers to the system(s) or theory(ies) produced by the study, interpretation, and evaluation of biblical morals, (including the moral code, standards, principles, behaviors, conscience, values, rules of conduct, or beliefs concerned with good and evil and right and wrong). Because the Bible in its entirety is the revelation of Jesus Christ, I equate Biblical and Christian ethics.
In 1976 theologian Dr. Francis Schaeffer wrote an important book entitled: How Should We Then Live? He traced western history from ancient Rome to the present considering philosophy, science, and religion. Schaeffer’s central premise is when we base society on the Bible, on the infinite-personal God who is there and has spoken, this provides an absolute by which we can conduct our lives and by which we can judge society. This leads to what Schaeffer calls “Freedom without chaos.” When we base society on humanism, which he defines as “a value system rooted in the belief that man is his own measure, that man is autonomous, totally independent”, all values are relative, and we have no way to distinguish right from wrong except for “synthesis, pragmatism, and utilitarianism.”
The simple profound truth: If there are no absolutes by which to judge society, the society is absolute. Society is left with one man or an elite filling the vacuum left by the loss of the Christian consensus which originally gave us form and freedom.” Does this sound familiar to you? It should, as this is precisely where we are today. The Bible provides the only absolute standard for morality. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17) Jesus Christ, the Son of God, regarded Scripture as the ultimate standard. He claimed, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17) and “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Scripture is truth from God and therefore must be our foundation in every area, “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible is our basis for ethics. The highest ethical duty of a Christian is the same as the greatest commandment: love God and love your neighbor. Scripture is the Christian authority for ethics, just as it is for theology. This is because God is our ultimate authority and standard, for He Himself is goodness.
Christian Analysis of Euthanasia
Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit suffering of one terminally ill or experiencing great pain and suffering. The word comes from the Greek words “eu” (good) and “thantos” (death). Hospice is providing a hospitable place for euthanasia. Proponents put a positive spin on this assisted suicide using terms such as “death with dignity.” God created us in His image, and He set the parameters for life and death. He addressed killing His created ones. Cain brought a curse by killing his brother Abel. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, one of which is “thou shalt not kill.” For those that claim to belong to God and are involved in euthanasia be it the so called “mercy killing” of the supposedly terminal or the abortion of the unborn, I tell you God sees no difference. If you are involved in these lucrative businesses, I can assure you that you will face His judgement. These facilitators are avoiding murder in the natural but in the spiritual realm they are guilty, and judgment is inevitable. Matthew 7:19-23 states: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!
My Revelation Based on Scripture
Psalm 116:15 states “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Indeed their death is precious because He created man in His image and placed him in a perfect world free of sin and death. Through disobedience of the first Adam man was estranged from His Creator and sickness, suffering, and death entered our earthly domain. But God had a plan in sending the second Adam, Jesus the Godman, to redeem His creation through a once and for all time propitiation, atoning for our sin. The sacrificial Blood of Jesus Christ restored man and ensured eternal life. He also has a plan to banish Satan, rid the earth of sickness and death, restore the earth to perfection, and establish us to rule and reign with Jesus over His Kingdom, i.e. the restored earth. Meanwhile we must endure sickness and death until completion of His providential plan. None of us will ever have to endure the pain and suffering that Jesus had to endure. But Dr Guy, if we were healed by His stripes (Isaiah 55:3) why do we continue to suffer? My answer is that God is God and He initiated part one of His plan being atonement. Part two will be the removal of Satan, sin, suffering and death. Each of us is here for a purpose and who are we to determine when His purpose in a life is completed, or how much pain and suffering each must endure, or who is healed now? As we see in Deuteronomy 32:39 Moses clearly understood the concept: “See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.” Only God is omniscient. Only God has the right to intervene in the life and death of His creation.
My Answer
Well, Dr Guy, what is the answer? It is God’s plan and therefore perfect. Satan would have you believe that euthanasia is God’s mercy and the correct solution to social and financial issues. The correct answer is called Ecclesia. Ecclesia existed with the first century body of Christ until man thought he could do a better job than God. The Ecclesia must return so that we can decree the dictates of Christ’s government. The decision is yours dear one. Do you really want to usurp the authority of Almighty God? If so you belong to Satan and deserve to reap an eternity in Hell. I encourage you to choose life over embracing the curse. “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) Remember, God is sovereign over when and how a person’s death occurs.
