Hi! Thanks
for the question!
This is a great question. But it's extremely hard to write about this with the nuance that is needed to avoid misunderstanding. So it would be best if you could come to me and talk about this.
The short answer
is that it is not moral to kill people who are in extreme pain, in a vegetative
state, or in the midst of a debilitating disease that robs them of their
functions such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.
However, I think that there are two things that are going on here. First, there is the question about the morality of killing or assisting in the death of someone who's quality of life is very low or dwindling rapidly. Then there is the question, "Where is God in all of this?"
Is it moral
to kill or assist in the death of someone who's life is very low or dwindling
rapidly
Though it is
terribly dry and heady, the PCA's position paper on the use of heroic measures
is quite helpful. You can find it here. In it, it
outlines the biblical commitments that we have to preserving life and dignity.
The section that I found particularly helpful is copied below.
A second
principle is that life is not be abandoned simply on account of suffering.
Endurance as well as service finds its place among the purposes which God
has for our lives in which He is glorified. This task is vividly set before us
in Jesus' words to Peter following his resurrection.
- I tell you the truth, when you were younger you
dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will
stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where
you do not want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by
which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, 'Follow me!' (Jn.
21:18-19).
We are not
told in the Bible how this prophecy was fulfilled, so we cannot be certain as
to its precise meaning. But it appears that Peter in his old age was to suffer
some loss of independence, self-determination, and mobility before his death.
This situation no less than his active apostleship was for the glory of God,
and Peter once again receives the call to discipleship; "Follow me!"
The clear implication is that we should consider the time and manner of our
death as an opportunity to glorify God as followers of Christ to the end (Cf. 1
Pet. 2:21 ). Avoidance of suffering or dependence
upon others are insufficient in themselves as legitimate motives for hastening
the hour of one's death. Yet, there is no reason to believe that extraordinary
means that extend life only by increasing suffering and dependence are always
to be chosen as means of glorifying God.
In short, the
prospect of suffering or death is insufficient to hasten death through active
means. On the other side of this, there is the question of withholding
measures that keep someone alive (ex. taking someone off life support).
Since that was not the question, use the link to the position paper to
get a feel for how decisions are made in those situations.
Where is
God in all of this?
I think that when
we bump against hard issues like end-of-life scenarios, we often ask,
"Where is God?". This is natural. Sin is not the way that
God intended things to be. We live in a fallen world that constantly
makes us think, "It shouldn't be like this! GAH!". Romans 8:22 says that the creation "groans"
because of the curse of sin. A previous blog post, which has been moved
to Derrick's site, is helpful for parts of our reaction to the overall
not-so-pleasantness of these topics: http://www.askburb.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-should-i-do-if-i-constantly-pray.html
The answer to the
question is that God really does care. He cared so much that he sent his
son for us. Think about it. We have disease, aches, pains,
conflict, distress, etc., etc., etc. We live in the muck and mud of a
world that is broken, and that curse afflicts us all the time. God does not
live in that world. He lives in the perfection, glory, riches, and
awesomeness of heaven. Yet, his heart was so moved for his people and his
creation that he left all of the comforts of heaven to be with us in the muck
and mud. He became one of us for many reasons: so that he could be our
substitute (to bear the penalty for our sin), so that we would know that he
understood us, so that we could see how he dealt with hard things, especially
the suffering that pervades this world. He cared so much that he
willingly went to the cross to suffer and die that we might be restored to
relationships with him. Imagine just how much Jesus suffered when his
heavenly father turned his face away, forsook his son whom he had a perfect
relationship with, and poured his wrath out upon him. Indeed, he went to
the cross that we might share in his inheritance, that when he comes again, we
might be glorified with him.
Thus, our hope is
not in or of this world. Our hope is not that we will have a cushy life
or deal with the effects of the curse or our sin. No, our hope is in
Jesus. Our hope is in the promise that he will return. (Acts 1:11,
Revelation) Our hope is that God will come back and make all things new.
Our hope is that he will restore things to the way that they were meant
to be. Our hopes is that he will wipe every tear from our eyes, that
there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, and that we will be
made whole. (Revelation 21:4)
So where is God
in the sinfulness of taking life, either at the beginning or the end, in the
disease and death, and in the suffering? God is right there in the midst
of it, working to bring about the restoration of all things. He has
plopped himself right smack in the middle of it to deal with it. And deal
with it he has through Jesus. Now we haven't seen the complete
fulfillment of it all, but we can rest assured that that time is coming.
The Father paid for us and his creation with the blood of his very own
son. Do you think he's going to just leave us to wallow in the muck and
mud of this world?
So persevere.
We face hard things in this life, but we have a hope that puts suffering,
even terrible suffering into perspective. We have something awesome
coming.
Love you in God's
way!
blessings,
~Frank
