What About Euthanasia?

Unnecessary Deaths, Pt. 3

Introduction

As we stated in the previous two articles, in Jeremiah 1:4-5, Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." If God knows us and created us, then there is a reason for us to live.

Does the scripture discuss the subject of euthanasia? It most certainly does; even if it doesn’t call it by name. The apostle Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:3, “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” Even if a subject seems new to you, God has something to say about it in His Holy Word.

Definition

Euthanasia—the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. The practice is illegal in most countries.

Synonyms: Mercy killing, assisted Suicide, physician-assisted suicide

Euthanasia (from Greek: εὐθανασία; "good death": εὖ, eu; "well" or "good" – θάνατος, thanatos; "death") is the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering.



Is Euthanasia Legal?

I found the following information online…

Euthanasia is illegal in most countries, although doctors do sometimes carry out euthanasia even where it is illegal. Euthanasia is illegal in Britain. To kill another person deliberately is murder or manslaughter, even if the other person asks you to kill them.

The irony to this statement is that abortion is fully legal in most if not all states courtesy of Roe vs Wade, 1973. In other words, you can prevent from someone living their life, but if someone is near the end of it, you can’t help them end it.

Bible Examples

Although the word euthanasia is not used in scripture, there are two examples in the Old Testament of individuals who wanted to be killed by another; a mercy-killing. In 1 Sam. 31:4, after King Saul is mortally wounded in battle turns to his armorbearer and requests that he end his life. His thoughts were not on his own sins; wherein the kingdom was taken from him, nor did he have remorse of going against God’s command. Instead, he wanted his life to be taken from him by a comrade-in-arms rather than his enemy. His armorbearer refused to do such a thing and Saul committed suicide instead. After which his armorbearer did likewise (vs. 5).

In the book of Judges, we read of Abimelech who was born of Judge Gideon by a concubine (Jg. 8:31). He took a group of reckless men and slew 70 sons of Gideon (Jerubbaal) and was made king (Jg. 9:4-6). In the end when he went up against a tower a woman cast a millstone down on his head and crushed his skull. His desire to be killed is found in verse 54, Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" So his young man thrust him through, and he died. Even in death he still had a vainglorious attitude.

End This Suffering!

There are a lot of people who suffer from illness and want to be put out of their misery. Some commit suicide and others find someone who can administer drugs to allow them to die peacefully. I cannot fathom the pain and suffering an individual goes through to wish death upon themselves, but God has a purpose for everyone that lives and that purpose should be found!

Even when Job suffered the loss of his good health, he did not despair or give up on his own life. His wife, on the other hand, would see him die when she said, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9) After all that Job lost: His family, his livestock, his material goods; he still chooses not to curse God (chapter 1). Ironically, Satan preserves Job’s wife to serve as a tempter. Commentary from Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown summarizes this perfectly, nothing makes the ungodly so angry as to see the godly under trial not angry. Those who are unbelievers want to see those who are Christians to be just as angry and frustrated with the negatives aspects of their lives to prove that God is not there for them. Suffering is in the mortal world so that we have something to look forward to in the eternal kingdom of our Heavenly Father.

It Is Murder!

As with abortion and suicide, euthanasia is murder no matter what you call it; mercy-killing or assisted suicide. Rev. 21:8 tells us where murderers and others will go after this life is over, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Conclusion

Every individual has a right to live in this mortal realm. No one has a right to determine when that life is to end. If you are in a condition that has you desire euthanasia, seek God’s help for comfort and turn to your family and friends for strength. There is no need to go through these things alone for we all are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26).