Seminar 2

Euthanasia
Euthanasia means good or painless death 1. Dilemma: The absence of a prohibition against euthanasia in the Bible. Should Christian practice euthanasia? What if the patient is in great pain and suffering from an irreversible terminal disease? 2. Views of Euthanasia: Active Euthanasia Taking Life Passive Euthanasia Allowing death by withholding Natural means Voluntary or Involuntary The 2 conflicting perspectives are: 2. The sanctity of human life 3. The quality of life. 3. Critical Response: 1. Society must return to the fundamental belief that human beings are created in the image of God and therefore human life is sacred. (Gen 1:27; 5:1-2) 2. Killing or taking away a human life is prohibited in Scripture. The Bible condemns murder. You shall not kill (Ex. 20:13). 3. Christians should reject the attempt by the modern euthanasia movement to promote the ideology: the right to die. Giving the person the right to die is allowing suicide. The Bible condemns suicide as man is not allowed to murder others or self (Ex.20:13). Christians are admonished to love others as themselves (Mt 22:39). Unnatural means

Seminar 2

The right to die concept denies Gods sovereignty to work in broken life, to save life and bring glory to Himself. This is exemplified in story of the blind man in John 9:3. 4. The biblical view of death defers from medical view. Modern medicine defines death as a biological event whereas Scripture defines death as a spiritual event that has biological consequences. Death occurs when the spirit leaves the body (Ecc. 12:7; Jas 2:26). 5. Christians must learn to let go and let God. We should not play God by prolonging the life of a person by medical or mechanical means or doing everything possible to save life at all cost. At home with the body is away from the Lord (2 Cor 5:6) Better to desire to be at home with the Lord and absence from the body (2 Cor 5:8). To live is Christ and to die is gain (Ph 1:21-23) 6. Everything possible should be done to alleviate the physical and emotional suffering and pain of the patient during their last few days. Proverbs 31:6 says, Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to him whose life is bitter. Thus giving drugs to patient relieve pain is morally justified. 7. Believers should provide counsel and spiritual care to the dying patients (Gal 6:2). Providing support during the time of grief and emotional needs would provide Christians ample opportunity to demonstrate Gods love and provide a good platform for witnessing.