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John is in the end stages of AIDS and intends to seek the assistance of his physician in committing suicide. What does God have to say?
I was recently involved in an end-of-life decision-making question which came from the University of Notre Dame.
It went like this:
John is in the end stages of AIDS. He pursued aggressive medical treatment for most of the course of his disease over a period of nine years. However, the treatment now required to prolong his life is painful and burdensome and his physician has agreed that, in light of the small probability of significant benefit, it is reasonable to discontinue aggressive treatment. He has informed his family that when his condition is declared terminal, he intends to seek the assistance of his physician in committing suicide. This is permitted by law in his state. He would like his family’s support.
I usually have two reactions to things. The first is a base, emotional reaction. It comes out of the secular side of my brain, if there is such a thing. The second, which is usually totally different, is a result of study and reflection and based on Christian literature and philosophy. What does God have to say? In the above case, God is clear. He made us and determines how long we live. I don’t think He determines if the Yankees will win the World Series. But He does care what we do with our lives. Although clearly this would be a good thing.
The center of prayer is being with people when they think about loss: “I’ve lost so much, I’m filled with grief.” Only in God is my soul at rest; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Stronghold; I shall not be disturbed. (Psalm 62) “I have failed in seeing God in my life.” By the might of His glory you will be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come, giving thanks to the Father for having made you worthy to share the lot on the saints in light. (Col. 1.11)
Ministry has many moments. At one moment, we are called to be with the suffering and the dying. That’s a ministry of presence. But there are other times when we are called to stand for something eternal, to stand for the dignity of mankind, for the sick and the dying and for all mankind in all situations. We’ll never find in Holy Scripture permission to kill someone because it’s the easy way out. No, we actually pray by “Jesus stripes,” and we value and suffer with him on the Cross. Think about how you feel on Good Friday.
“I can only see bad things happening to me.” Dismiss all anxiety in your minds. Present your need to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds. (Phil 4:6-7).
The Bible is there to give hope, for today and for eternity.
Sometimes, I look at other literature in my search for what is right. I do this because I believe in the Christian ideal of the sanctity of life. The practice of euthanasia has been legal in different countries and one state for a while. Most pro-euthanasia arguments center on the idea that people don’t like to see others suffer. Sure, who wants to see others suffer? As a hospice and nursing home chaplain I have seen physical and emotional pain often. If you’ve ever been with people at the end of their lives, you know how powerful God’s presence is. That’s why our focus is on pain control through medication. By definition, we are opposed to euthanasia on moral grounds as a breach against the Sixth Commandment, and the denial of the Christian attitude of suffering.
The Bible as the Word of God is where we search for truth. Believing and practicing Christians of the world speak out against euthanasia, not as a mindless condemnation, as most theologians hold that extraordinary efforts to prolong life do not have to be made…that medications may and should be used to relieve pain, provide comfort, even when the direct result may be to shorten life. This is a philosophy embraced by Christians.
There are temptations for believing Christians, even clergy, to take on the secular model of a social worker. We live in a country of free expression of thought, and I am proud to be an American. But Christianity goes beyond that. We go to the dignity of each and every human as a creation of God. Life and death are His alone.
Peter teaches Christian ethics at ACTS Bible College, serves on ethics committees at Creighton University and Notre Dame, and he is the chaplain at St. Alcuin’s Chapel in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
