Volume 45 Number 7 March 2003
Each of us has wished at times for more wisdom; for clearer answers,
answers that seem surer as we navigate through the many decisions which
we must make. As children of God, our faith tells us where the answers
lie. "..his divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and
godliness..." (II Peter 1:3). And yet some questions of life seem harder
to mine out of the depths of His Word. Not that they aren't there, but
the digging must be deeper.
Our generation lives in a time when we are increasingly being required
to face and make decisions that previous generations have never had or
been able to face. Our minds can only be boggled as we wonder what our
children's generations will face. And none are more troubling, emotional
or soul searching than those being presented today with the advancement
of medical capabilities. Never has man had to give such serious thought
to the moral or spiritual ramifications of cloning, euthanasia,
transplants, life supports, genetic engineering, etc. The list seems
almost endless and growing faster than the accompanying answers. Family
after family, couple after couple, person after person is being faced
with these issues, not out of desire, but because the technology today
forces options, unheard of a generation ago, upon us. Leaving us
wondering: What are the answers, what is right, what does God want us to
do?
In this and next month's issue, I have decided to look at some of these
issues. As the children of God, we must navigate these issues in a way
that will continue in God's will and allow us to live without undue or
unwarranted guilt. Space will not allow me to deal with all these issues
except in the briefest of terms. And my wisdom will not allow me all of
the answers. But neither of those shortcomings seems sufficient reason
for our not trying to reason together on these vital issues which are not
going to go away and are only increasing exponentially.
The Use of Medical Skill
The problem facing us is not so much, "Can we utilize medical science?"
Clearly we can. The issue which faces us is "Can some medical advances
take us into realms which are inappropriate for the Christian?" Let's
now begin to look at a few of these issues.
Life Supports
The hardest question comes when all hope of recovery seems lost: Is it
wrong to discontinue these artificial means of preserving the body? To
this I would answer "No", it is not wrong to discontinue them. If our
bodies can no longer assimilate food, water or air on their own, then
death seems in accordance with the God's natural plan. Does that mean it
is wrong to use these supports? No, but if the body can not function
naturally in life, we don't seem required to prolong it by mechanical
means. This realization is so important as virtually every family has
been or will be faced with such decisions. We must enter these decision
prayerfully, but I do not think our sadness need be overridden with
guilt.
Euthanasia
In our next issue we will deal with such issues as transplants, cloning
and genetic engineering. I know this entire area is difficult and
emotional and good men and women can sincerely disagree. It is not my
intent to stir up emotions and controversy. It is my prayerful intent
that you accept my thoughts in the spirit intended and that we can reason
together as children of God.
(To be continued)
Initially, we need to state that God has given us technology, knowledge
and medical skill as a blessing for our use. Luke, the physician, was
clearly a man of God. He was never rebuked for his profession. And no
where in the Scriptures does God view the use of medicine as against His
will. Therefore, as Christians, we seem free to benefit from the
advances of current medicine. In fact, to do less, might fall into "not
caring for our bodies as the temple of God".
This is the use, usually of a machine (i.e. respirator, heart machine)
which allows life to continue when the body would otherwise be unable to
live. Many times it is used during surgery as well as during times of
grave illness. This would seem to me no more inappropriate than the
taking of chemical medicines to enhance or prolong our lives.
By euthanasia we mean "the practice of promoting the death of the
hopelessly ill as an act of mercy". As such, it would seem to be contrary
to the Will of God. The key seems to be in the "promoting" of death, the
active causing of death. When Job writes, "the Lord giveth and the Lord
taketh away" (Job 1:21) that would seem to include life as well as other
blessings. Only God can give life and only God has the right to take it.
This does not mean that when we choose not to artificially prolong life
(life supports) any longer we are practicing euthanasia. Euthanasia is
when we actively administer an external agent or action for the purpose
of terminating life. Such ending of life when the body could still live
on it's own, would seem to be the ending of a life, which is God's, not
our, domain.