Euthanasia
Webster’s dictionary defines euthanasia, also called assisted suicide, as the practice of “killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured” individuals. Supporters justify this practice with cries of “compassion,” dying with “honor” or “dignity.” However, unjustly taking human life is murder and is wrong. I will first define the term; second, show the fallacy of the affirmative arguments; and third, outline God’s view.
Allowing death and taking a human life are not the same, for one is passive; the other is active. Removing life support simply allows the natural death process to continue. Inducing death violates the natural process. Allowing death is not killing and is not wrong; inducing death is murder and is wrong. Therefore, there is a difference between permitting death and causing death. Euthanasia is here understood as unjustly inducing and causing death by unnatural means.
Euthanasia proponents tout concepts such as “dignity,” “honor,” and “compassion” to justify murder. The idea of a “dignified death” is man’s creation. God said death is due to sin (Gen 2:17; Rom 5:12; 6:23). We have no honor or dignity within ourselves because we are sinful (Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19; Rom 3:12). For man to seek dignity through death is to seek the unattainable. Furthermore, these motives are selfishly driven in order to please the ill person. Regarding “compassion,” severe or unending pain does not justify murder because it, too, is selfish (i.e., “I hurt, so I want to die”).
God permits taking a life in self-defense (Gen 4:23-24; Num 35:6) and forbids murder (Ex 20:13). Humanity is the highest form of created life because we are created in God’s image (Gen 1:26-31). Also, God formed us (Isa 44:2; Ps 139:13-15) and purposed a special plan for us (Ps 139:16; Jer 1:5; Eph 2:10). God declares human life a “treasure” (Ps 17:14) and “precious” (Hos 9:16). God declared that those who murder shall be punished by man because we are created in God’s image (Gen 9:6). If an animal kills a human, that animal must die (Ex 21:29-32). It is Satan who promotes murder for he is a murderer (John 8:44) who seeks to kill and destroy (John 10:10a). Jesus, however, came to give life (John 10:10b). Those who practice euthanasia seek to destroy human life in the name of an idol called “honor,” “dignity,” “compassion,” or some other false god. They are murderers just as their father is a murderer (John 8:44). Allowing death is not forbidden because “it is appointed for men to die once” (Heb 9:27). Inducing or speeding up the death process violates God’s will and is wrong! Those who practice it practice sin and will be judged by God (Rev 21:8).