Euthanasia, sometimes called “mercy killing,” is always a difficult issue.
On one hand, we do not want to take a person’s life into our own hands and end it prematurely. On the other hand, we do not want to prolong the process of dying more than necessary—that is, we want to preserve life, but not prolong death.
Q. At what point do we simply allow a person to die and take no further action to extend his or her life?
Q. What do we say about those who end their lives (even assisted) to end their impending or current pain?
Death is an enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). Life is a sacred gift from God (Genesis 2:7).
When given the choice between life and death, God told Israel to “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Euthanasia spurns the gift and embraces the curse.
The overriding truth that God is sovereign drives us to the conclusion that euthanasia and assisted suicide are wrong.
We know that physical death is inevitable for us mortals (Psalm 89:48; Hebrews 9:27). However, God alone is sovereign over when and how a person’s death occurs.
Job testifies in Job 30:23, “I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.” Ecclesiastes 8:8 declares, “No man has power over the wind to contain it; so, no one has power over the day of his death.”
God has the final say over death (see 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54–56; Hebrews 2:9, 14–15; Revelation 21:4). Euthanasia and assisted suicide are man’s attempts to usurp that authority from God.
Death is a natural occurrence. Sometimes God allows a person to suffer for a long time before death occurs; other times, a person’s suffering is cut short. No one enjoys suffering, but that does not make it right to determine that a person should die. (Keep in mind that pharmaceuticals will mask their physical pain)
Often, God’s purposes are made known through suffering. (i.e. battling one’s cancer or condition is more for the loved ones than the one suffering. Their spirit and courage strengthen and teach their loved ones.)
“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other” (Ecclesiastes 7:14). Romans 5:3 teaches that tribulations bring about perseverance. We will all face our death eventually and dealing with the death of others is key.
God cares about those who cry out for death and wish to end their suffering. God gives purpose in life even to the end. Only God knows what is best, and His timing, even in the matter of one’s death, is perfect.
We should never seek to prematurely end a life, but neither must we go to extraordinary means to preserve a life. To actively hasten death is wrong; to passively withhold treatment can also be wrong; but to allow death to occur naturally in a terminally ill person is not necessarily wrong.
Anyone facing this issue should pray to God for wisdom (James 1:5).
Intentional Faith 