The Christian view of euthanasia...

One of the most distressing aspects of serving as Christ's witnesses against the judicial execution of Terri Schiavo eleven years ago was how often we heard Terri's supporters passionately making the case that Terri is not in a persistent vegetative state. Often, Terri's executioners differed from her protectors only in having come to opposite conclusions as to whether or not Terri was in a persistent vegetative state. One side thought she was and so their question was, "Why not let her die?" The other side thought she wasn't and so their response was "Because Terri is not in a persistent vegetative state."

Both statements have more in common with each other than with Scripture's teaching on this matter since the same sentiment is being expressed: namely, that it would be proper to starve Terri to death if it were clear she were in a persistent vegetative state. If denying Terri food and water is simply "letting her die," then a persistent vegetative state is really the process of dying and the denial of Terri's supporters that she is in a PVS is an indication that they think this a crucial distinction. So, as I said, we were saddened by this lack of biblical discernment evidenced by many in and surrounding the Schiavo case, and since.

Too many of our pastors have refused to study this matter and have come to their conclusions more through sentiment and their own ethical sloth than the study of our fathers in the faith through the centuries and their teaching in the Westminster Standards (or other doctrinal standards) applying God's revelation in His Word, the Bible, to such suffering.

To help in that work, I am here posting a statement on euthanasia...

I wrote some time ago. I hope it will be a starting point for pastors, elders, Titus 2 women, and conscientious Christians who are willing to do the hard work of opposing our culture of death in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In combination with this statement, may I also commend to you several talks given at a recent Clearnote Pastors Conference on pastoral care at the end of life. May God strengthen each of us for this evil day.)

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The Christian View of Euthanasia...

For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1Corinthians 15:25-26)

(Death) has been destroyed in such a way as to be no longer fatal for believers, but not in such a way as to cause them no trouble. ...the sword of death used to be able to pierce right to the heart, but now it is blunt. It wounds still, of course, but without any danger; for we die, but, in dying, we pass over into life. (John Calvin)

Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? ...For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death. (Proverbs 8:1,35-36)

Christians have, for two-thousand years, recognized Scripture as the final authority in all matters of controversy (Footnote 1) and have appealed to its authority with the same words their Master frequently used when He taught His disciples: "It is written..."(Footnote 2) The reformed tradition has confessed through the centuries that the Bible is the only infallible rule of faith and practice. (Footnote 3)

Scripture teaches that human beings are the crown of God's creation (Footnote 4), and that the murder of a human being is a great wickedness before our Heavenly Father because each man and woman has been made in His image. (Footnote 5) The Sixth Commandment condemns not only the directly intended taking of innocent human life, whether our own or another's, but also "neglecting or withdrawing the lawful or necessary means of preservation of life." (Footnote 6)

Today there are mounting pressures upon medical professionals, pastors, families, and individuals to hasten the death of those under their care or authority. Such hastening sometimes takes the form of direct action, such as a lethal injection. More commonly, it takes the passive form of neglect or withdrawal of the necessary means of preservation of life. (Footnote 7) Such means include medical treatment, both extraordinary and ordinary. But they also include basic provisions historically understood as care: warmth, cleanliness, food, water, and love. Christians must distinguish between "treatment" and "care."

Where medical treatment which is not gravely burdensome is necessary for an individual to continue to live, the withdrawal of such treatment--except in cases where death is imminent and inevitable and to continue such treatment would pose a grave risk or cause more of a burden to the patient than it would alleviate--is a violation of the image of God which all men and women bear.

Loving care for all members of the human community is a fundamental Christian teaching and an obligation of Christian discipleship. (Footnote 8) Therefore it ought never to be withheld. This includes providing liquids and nutrition through spoon-feeding or tubes where the patient is unable to take them by another manner. Withholding such necessary means for the preservation of life must, therefore, stand under Scripture's condemnation, (Footnote 9) even in the case of those who are perpetually comatose or in a persistent vegetative state. Christians should also ensure that members of the human community are upheld with the warmth and love of human contact.

Christians follow their Master in humbly serving those who suffer and acting to alleviate their suffering. We recognize, however, that suffering is not to be avoided at any cost,(Footnote 10) especially if the cost is either our own or the patient's breaking of the Sixth Commandment. Scripture teaches that affliction often produces spiritual growth and holiness. (Footnote 11) Such spiritual fruit is far more valuable in God's eternal economy than those commodities so frequently mentioned by proponents of "quality of life" ethics such as self-determination and autonomy. (Footnote 12)

People who ask to be killed, to be assisted in suicide, or to have actions taken which will hasten their death, frequently do so out of a misguided desire not to be a burden to others. Regrettably, they are often pressured in this direction by talk of "quality of life" and "death with dignity." (Footnote 13) Such individuals, though, are best helped by a simple warm embrace and other visible demonstrations of our love and affection for them. We need to reassure them by expressing our desire that they live here with us until God Himself, in His sovereign will, (Footnote 14) intervenes to take them. Jesus warned we would be judged on the basis of our ministry to "the least of these my brothers." (Footnote 15) Weighty indeed are our responsibilities when "the least of these" are our own family members, (Footnote 16) especially our mothers and fathers.(Footnote 17)

Those who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ are urged to approach death with the recognition that the only "good death" is the natural death of a man or woman, boy or girl, who is "in Christ." (Footnote 18) Although for Christians "to die is gain," (Footnote 19) until our Lord returns in power and glory, death itself will not cease being our "last enemy." (Footnote 20) And for those who don't believe, death is the terrible moment "after (which comes) the judgment." (Footnote 21)

Yet as followers of Jesus Christ we cling to our hope that the Holy Spirit has given us a living faith in our precious Lord, and that through His blood our sins will be forgiven and we will be welcomed into His glorious presence where there "is fullness of joy [and] ...pleasures for evermore." (Footnote 22)

Footnotes:

(Footnote 1) Matthew 22:23-33; Acts 17:11; II Timothy 3:14-17; II Peter 1:19-21; Presbyterian Church in America Book of Church Order, Preliminary Principles.

(Footnote 2) Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; Luke 19:46; Mark 7:6.

(Footnote 3) Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 1.

(Footnote 4) Psalm 8:5; Matthew 6:26; 12:12.

(Footnote 5) Genesis 1:27; 9:6.

(Footnote 6) Westminster Larger Catechism, Questions 135,136.

(Footnote 7) ibid.

(Footnote 8) 1Timothy 5:4-8; James 1:27.

(Footnote 9) Exodus 20:13; Matthew 25:31-46; James 2:14-17.

(Footnote 10) James 5:10,11; Isaiah 53; Matthew 27:34; Romans 8:17,18; Philippians 3:10.

(Footnote 11) Lamentations 3; Romans 5:3-5; Colossians 1:24.

(Footnote 12) Hebrews 5:8; James 5:10; 1Peter 4:1,12-16.

(Footnote 13) Job 2:9.

(Footnote 14) Deuteronomy 31:14; Job 14:5; Matthew 24:42-44; Luke 2:26-32;12:40; James 4:13,14.

(Footnote 15) Matthew 25:31-46.

(Footnote 16) 1Timothy 5:8.

(Footnote 17) Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:2.

(Footnote 18) Romans 6:23; 8:1,38,39; 1Corinthians 15:22; 1Thessalonians 4:16.

(Footnote 19) Philippians 1:21.

(Footnote 20) I Corinthians 15:25,26.

(Footnote 21) Romans 14:10; Hebrews 9:27.

(Footnote 22) Psalm 16:11.

Appendix:

Since I am coming to that holy room,

Where, with thy quire of Saints for evermore,

I shall be made thy Music; as I come

I tune the instrument here at the door,

And what I must do then, think here before.

-John Donne

 

O cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to hide from Thee;

I lay in dust life's glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

-George Matheson

 

They, then, who are destined to die, need not be careful to inquire what death they are to die, but in what place death will usher them.

-St. Augustine

 

O Heavenly Father, who didst bless Thine aged servants Simeon and Anna, suffering them to behold with their eyes the Savior of the world and to see Thy salvation; bless, we humbly pray Thee, this Thy servant in his later days. Give him a clear knowledge of his Savior, and a sure faith in that Savior's merits and sacrifice. Let not his mind be clouded over with doubts or darkness. May his path be as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. May his end be calm and blessed. Suffer him not at the last from any pains of death to fall from Thee. Guide Thou him through the valley of the shadow of death. And may he pass joyfully from the weakness and weariness of this mortal life to a blessed rest; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

-Scottish Book of Common Order; Prayer for the Aged

 

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his off¬spring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, be¬cause he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

-Isaiah 53

 

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

-1Peter 4:1-2