The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love (Ps 103:8). By his Holy Spirit, God is forming his own character in his people. As Christians, how do we respond in compassionate love to the issue of assisted suicide, brought to the fore by the BBC program on Monday 13th June?
Shouldn’t we just condemn assisted suicide?
Assisted suicide is an emotive issue, especially for those facing a long and debilitating terminal condition. Love and compassion motivate people on both sides of the issue. Any response we make needs to be marked by grace. We must rejoice in good motives, recognise we live in a fallen and painful world, and make it clear that we are speaking from the position of sinners saved by grace, not from any moral high ground.
Isn’t assisted suicide just like refusing medical treatment?
Both assisted suicide and refusal of medical treatment involve an act of will on the part of the one wishing to die. Both result in death. Crucially, however, the cause of death is very different. In refusal of medical treatment death will be by natural causes. In assisted suicide the cause of death is the active taking of one’s own life.
Surely its everyone’s own personal choice?
In the end we cannot stop people taking their own life. However, underlying the view that it is a “personal choice” are two major individualistic and atheistic assumptions. First, a “personal choice” assumes that my life is my own. Jesus makes it clear that our lives belong to God. Second, it assumes that it is my choice alone. Again, Jesus makes it clear that our life is in God’s hands. It is God’s prerogative to give and take life, not ours. Furthermore, God did not make us to be individualistic but to be in community. As well as belonging to God, our lives also belong to each other.
Isn’t assisted suicide more compassionate than letting people die a slow drawn out death?
We might think so but we have to ask “for whom is this more compassionate?” We live in a culture in which comfort is an idol. Pain and suffering are to be avoided at all costs. Most people who would take the assisted suicide option are likely to do so out of fear of the future or because they don’t want relatives to be burdened. Again there are some major underlying assumptions. First, it assumes we know how we and others will feel in the situation. Second, it assumes that the situation will be entirely bad. Third, and most importantly, it assumes that God is not working his good purposes through this. Ultimately, there is a question about what is most valuable: avoidance of pain, or Christ-likeness and God’s glory through suffering (see BCP quote in box)?
Aren’t there examples of suicide in the Bible?
Yes, Judas took his own life, as did king Saul. However, these are far from commended. The person in the Bible who perhaps had the strongest case for assisted suicide was Job. In the midst of his agony, Job was honest with God, wishes he had never been born and even prays (Job 3:20-22)…
Why is light given to those in misery,
and life to the bitter of soul,
to those who long for death that does not come,
who search for it more than for hidden treasure,
who are filled with gladness
and rejoice when they hit the grave?
Although Job longs for death, suicide was never an option. At the end of the book, Job learns that God is sovereignly working out his good purposes even through Job’s most horrendous suffering.
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Exhortation at the Visitation of the Sick from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer
Dearly beloved, know this, that Almighty God is the Lord of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining, as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Wherefore, whatsoever your sickness is, know you certainly, that it is God’s visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness is sent unto you; whether it to be try your patience, for the example of others, and that your faith may be found in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity; or else it be sent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God’s mercy for his dear Son Jesus Christ’s sake, and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly visitation, submitting yourself wholly unto his will, it shall turn to your profit, and help you forward in the right way that leadeth unto everlasting life. |
Won’t assisted suicide stop me being a burden on my family and society?
Assisted suicide will mean those who take that option won’t require care. Put in terms of physical space, finances and medical resources, assisted suicide will always make good economic sense. And there lies a huge danger of legalising assisted suicide. If it becomes legal, anyone with a terminal condition will face an implicit pressure to take the assisted suicide option.
Surely, this is scare mongering? Assisted suicide will never become the “default” option.
We have to remember that we are looking at assisted suicide from within a culture in which it is still seen as shocking. However, it only takes a generation or two for values to change and for something to become socially acceptable (whether for good or for ill). We only have to look at homosexuality and abortion to see that. So, there is a very real danger that in legalising assisted suicide it will come to be seen as the socially responsible thing to do.
Assisted dying vs suicide
Some are seeking to “rebrand” assisted suicide by replacing the term “suicide” with something like “dying”. However, at the end of the day the person has chosen to take their own life. Although the pastoral effect might be slightly less than a straight suicide, the effect on those left behind will be different from someone dying of natural causes.
So, you’re saying as Christians we can’t support assisted suicide?
That’s right. However, we need to be clear that this is not a sin greater than any other. We have a God who loves us, who is sovereign, who gives and takes life, who protects the vulnerable and needy, and whose concern is that all come into the kingdom of the Son he loves. Ultimately, everyone everywhere needs Jesus.
Where can I find out more?
For more information and for how to be involved in campaigning against this, see
Nick Gowers, June 2011 |
