THE CHRISTIAN AND EUTHANASIA=+
How does a believer biblically handle=+
today's life and death issues?=+
by=+
Wendell E. Miller=++

Q. I am disturbed and confused about euthanasia. How does 
euthanasia relate to using extensive medical procedures to
preserve life?=++

A. Indeed, euthanasia, its present implications, and its
possible future ramifications, are all disturbing and
complex. The word "euthanasia" means a good death, an easy
or painless death, or an act or method of causing a painless
death. =++

Included in the worldly thinking about "euthanasia" is the
idea that death is to be preferred over life if the "quality
of life" is below some desired minimum value. The minimum
"quality of life" that warrants living may be determined by
such things as absence of pain, lack of physical or mental
handicap, or even productivity in society. =++

Also, life below some norm is called "undignified." So,
"death with dignity" is said to be better than an
"undignified" existence, and death is said to be a "right"
for those who prefer "death with dignity." =++

The Evil One has accomplished much to be able to convince
the world that death without Christ is a friend. =++

Euthanasia can be divided into three general types: 1)
voluntary and personally carried out (suicide), 2) voluntary
and carried out by another, and 3) involuntary and carried
out by another. =++

In the world's view, whether or not an individual has the
"quality of life" that warrants living, or being allowed to
live, may be the decision of the individual whose life is in
question, his family, other individuals or society. =++

Further, the "quality of life" that determines living or
dying may be the "quality of life" of the one whose life
will be lost, or may be the "quality of life" of others. =++

Abortion is not euthanasia because it does not meet the
requirements of being a painless death. However, abortion
can be seen as a first step toward euthanasia; because, in
abortion, one person is legally allowed to take another's
life to prevent his own "quality of life" from being
inconvenienced or  handicapped" by the pregnancy. =++

In like manner, society might decide that certain categories
of people are detrimental to the economic welfare of the
country, and therefore detrimental to the "quality of life"
of the rest of society. =++

Yes, everything that we know about euthanasia is disturbing.
But others in many lands are facing disturbing situations
too; and still others, at other times and in other cultures,
have faced disturbing situations.=++

When disturbed, believers need to remember that God is
sovereign (Prov. 21:1), and then to cast all of their care
on Him (1 Pet. 5:7). =++

Christians know things about life that the world does not
understand. Christians know that man was created in the
image of God (Gen. 1:26,27), and that God is the giver of
life (Ps. 139:16-18). These facts rule out the taking of a
life because of unpleasant circumstances, lack of personal
"quality of life," or detracting from another's "quality of
life." =++

Further, a Christian is not to take his own life, or that of
another Christian, because believers have been purchased by
Jesus (1 Cor. 6:20), their bodies are the temple of the Holy
Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), their bodies are to be a living
sacrifice presented to God (Rom. 12:1), and all things are
to be done to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). =++

Knowing that life is given by God, knowing the sinfulness of
euthanasia, and knowing that Christian suffering can be to
the glory of God, Christians can still face difficult
problems in determining: 1) how extensive should be attempts
to preserve life when death seems imminent, and 2) what
should be done, and what should not be done, to alleviate
suffering from physical pain.=++

Since God is sovereign, it could be assumed that all
sickness and suffering are a part of His sovereign will,
that He is the One who gives life and the One who takes it
away, and that nothing, or perhaps nothing but prayer,
should be done to alleviate sickness or suffering, or to
prolong life. =++

But we know that Luke was a physician (Col. 4:14), and we
accept medical science with gratitude as a gift of God and
as a means through which God works sovereignly. =++

However, medical science has advanced tremendously and is
able to resuscitate many who have stopped breathing or whose
hearts have stopped. Also, there are situations in which
medical science is able to prolong at least a semblance of
life for extended periods of time after there is little hope
of recovery. =++

Do we see two diametrically opposite views of life in the
world? We see medical science's performing mighty feats to
preserve life, as if physical life is all that there is. We
also see the world's demonstrating that it considers life to
be of little value, and that it believes death to be
preferred over an unpleasant life. =++

Or perhaps we see the world's saying that man will be his
own god, and that man will decide who lives, who dies and
when.  =++

The biblically balanced view for Christians is neither "life
is everything" nor "life is nothing." =++

Instead, a biblical view of life for Christians is balanced
by three truths: 1) life is important because it is
God-given and because man is created in the image of God; 2)
eternity with Jesus is better than physical life (Phil.
1:23; 1 Cor. 2:9); and 3) physical life is to be used to
bring glory to God (Isa. 43:7; 1 Cor. 10:31) whether or not
there is "quality of life" that is up to worldly standards.
=++

So, for Christians, the determining factor of whether to use
extensive medical measures to preserve life, and how long to
continue to use extensive medical measures to preserve life
is: how to bring glory to God in the best way, not choosing
to depart and be with Jesus if it is more needful to remain
and serve Him (Phil. 1:20-24), and not attempting to hold
onto physical life as if physical life were everything. =++

The decision for believers of how extensive the medical
procedures should be is a decision that should be based upon
individual circumstances, medical advice, prayer and perhaps
spiritual advice from pastor or friend. The goals are to be:
1) determining the will of God, and 2) making the decision
that will bring glory to Him. =++

It is impossible to determine the will of God, or His plan
for an individual, ahead of time. God may use extreme
medical measures as a part of His sovereign will to restore
health; He may provide complete recovery without the use of
extreme medical procedures; He may provide partial recovery,
with or without extreme medical procedures, and use a life
that is deficient by worldly "quality-of-life" criteria to
bring glory to Himself; or He may call a Christian home to
be with him, whether or not extreme medical procedures are
used. =++

Clearly, whether or not to use extreme medical procedures,
and whether to continue them for an extended period of time,
are spiritual decisions and not decisions to be left to
others through a so called "living will".  Christians,
beware! A "living will" may give others more power than you
think! =++
If it is determined that the will of God is to decline using
extraordinary techniques of medical science to preserve
life, that decision is entirely different from (and should
not be confused with) the selfishness of euthanasia. =++

After the will of God has been sought, then the individual
who may be approaching death, and his loved ones, should
rest in the sovereignty of God, knowing that He can do all
things according to the counsel of His will (Isa. 46:9,10).
=++

If a stricken believer is conscious and can understand
biblical truth, this should be a time of spiritual growth,
rejoicing in eternal truth (1 Pet. 1:3-7) for both the
believer and his loved ones. =++

If a stricken believer is unconscious and/or mentally
confused for periods of time, this time should be used to
minister spiritual truth to the believer by means of
scripture, hymns and spiritual songs, and personal
communications. Also, personal words of love should be
conveyed frequency. =++

The believer who is unconscious or in mental confusion may
be able to understand more than might be thought. Or, mental
stimulation could be instrumental in bringing about rational
consciousness. =++

If the stricken person is an unbeliever, even if he is not
in rational consciousness, loved ones who are believers
should read Gospel passages to him and present the Gospel to
him, along with expressions of love, praying fervently that
God will save him. =++

Now with regard to suffering, the world sees no value in
suffering. But Christians know the Apostle Paul was told he
would be required to suffer for Jesus (Acts 9:16), the
example of Job who chose to honor God with his life through
suffering (Job 2:9), and the example of many Christians who
have glorified God and inspired others through their
suffering. =++

So, there also is a biblically balanced view of suffering.
Christians can gratefully accept painkillers and thank God
for them. But if there is a choice of avoiding all pain and
being unconscious, or of being conscious with some pain and
being able to worship God, praise Him, and intercede for
others, then it seems that Christ is best magnified in the
Christian's body by choosing consciousness (Phil. 1:20). =++

The ultimate truths are the promise of Jesus that He will
never leave nor forsake believers (Heb. 13:5); nothing can
separate a believer from the love of God (Rom. 8:35-39);
suffering should be considered in comparison to the glories
of eternity (8:1-8): and a future that is more wonderful
than can be imagined (1 Cor. 2:9) awaits those who love Him.
=+
Copyright 1987 by Wendell E. Miller=+
Downloaded from http://www.biblical-counsel.org=++

May be reprinted and distributed in quantities if distributed free or at cost, and if=+
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