THE WORD OF GOD
AND EUTHANASIA

God is the Creator of mankind.

Euthanasia is death brought about by a person actively causing the death of another. It is terminating life to achieve a concept of good, to put an end to suffering agreed by the individuals themselves or by the choice of others. Another conception is mercy killing, or to take this action to excessiveness, it is eliminating the weakest in society.

Euthanasia involves human decision to determine the manner and timing of a death. The desire for death arises from grief and pain. It is the end of life by a planned decision in this present world. It is challenging Divine Authority.

There is active euthanasia and passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia is choosing to end a life and passive euthanasia is withdrawing treatment or withholding artificial life support and letting nature take its course.

Today there are many life-prolonging procedures that are noted as noble and deserving, but there is no moral obligation to accept treatment to sustain life artificially, although it may be wise to accept such treatment.

Euthanasia has been introduced because of seeing loved ones suffer and a desire that all may not suffer, but be able to choose a peaceful exit from this life. There is great compassion, but is misdirected when seeing a loved one in agony, and being terminally ill. It is a sign of a person who has given up hope. There are many examples of unexpected reversals of medical conditions.

People are to have great quality of love and sympathy, with acts of needed consideration towards those suffering. Comfort in times of distress is an essential aspect in human requirements. There has become a centre of controversy over those who do not have a 'useful life', who become a burden to themselves, their families or society. Many terminally ill patients have recovered to extend a 'useful life'.

The medical profession is in the middle of the conflict over euthanasia. Many of the medical profession agree that doctors are not required to use beyond what is ordinary, out of the regular or established order, or expensive means to sustain life of the terminally ill. The decision is usually left to the patient's family. The controversy is likely to remain because of the opposition from those who believe in the sanctity of life and from many members from the medical profession, against those wanting active euthanasia.

The Hippocratic Oath taken by all medical practitioners to relieve pain and to sustain life, has recently in the western world, been the subject of controversy. There has been much promoting of death by some medical practitioners, permitting and helping patients to die, both passive and actively.

For some of the medical profession to adopt the measures of ending life, as they are the ones who decide how ill people are, is a sign of moral decline and demise of civilisation that no longer holds life to be sacred.

Euthanasia also can open a door to corruption and wickedness of greed, for the gaining of wealth, both by the party who carries out euthanasia and the relatives involved. It usurps God's Sovereignty over personal and all life.

The Bible makes a true statement to all, that life comes from God. Not only does God, mankind's Creator prohibit killing, but His Word makes it very clear that
both life and death are exclusively His domain.

No one likes to see another suffer and this compassion comes from God, He inspires love, kindness and mercy in all people. He understands mortal weakness, but it is wiser to trust Him than to be involved in the killing of another human being.

God alone is responsible for the termination of life. God has ordained a natural process for the mortal consequences regarding the ending of this life. Of course accidents do happen and people do get killed, even though it may not have been God's perfect chosen will for that person, He has allowed it to happen, for reasons known to Him.

Life is something that is not owned by the person themselves. Possession of life is a stewardship obligation. God will always remain the owner of life and it is of great value to Him. The value of human life does not depend upon a person's functional abilities. God does not measure the value of life by the quality of competence and capabilities of the human being. The Word of God rejects the view of having a certain quality of life. Worth and value is not based on what a person does. The sanctity of human life has had much opposition throughout the history of the nations.

Christians are to entrust their mortality to God. The Christian view of physical life is high because mankind is made in the image of God and is indwelt by God's Spirit, the physical body belongs to God, and the life given to the body is a gift from Him. Christians know the sufferings and diseases of this mortal body are temporal and that they will be with God, their Creator, forever.

God has asked His people to pray when they are sick, and other Christians are to pray to God for those who are ill also, for God is a God who can perform miracles.

The most desperate and faithful believers recorded in The Bible who have desired death never involved themselves with such thoughts, but always turned to God for their deliverance. Heathen nations try to find ways to dignify death by making it honourable but their actions are not honourable to God. Those who have come to know God, through Jesus Christ can clearly understand the distinction and meaning of life.

There is a basic moral difference between active and passive euthanasia. The conclusion is that only passive euthanasia is justified. The killing of others deliberately, whatever the motive, violates God's law and should be condemned and convicted by governmental civil law.

God's Word specifically condemns murder (the premeditated planned killing of a human being), it does not meet with The Creator's approval.

Caring for the ailing, the aged, the handicapped, the terminally ill constitutes a fundamental area of Christianity, and is a witness of Christian values and priorities. Looking after the disadvantaged shows the love of Christ.

The Bible does not mention the word euthanasia but it does forbid any form of homicide. Killers can only be pardoned when there is repentance and forgiveness is sought from God.

Society today seems to ignore and avoid God's redemptive care as well as disregarding life and death, for the sake of convenience. The power of Christ guarantees believers victory over death.

SCRIPTURES Genesis 1,9, Exodus 20:13, Acts 17:25 Matthew 5:21.
QUESTIONS 1] What does God command to Noah and all of humankind? 2] What does God command in the Mosaic Law? 3] What did Jesus preach about hate? 4] Who gives the life?

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Managed by Stefan Kreslin, Last updated 6 July 1998