How should Christians view Euthanasia?

Q: Thoughts on elective euthanasia for the terminally ill?

I have a dear friend who’s father is has end stage MS. He just had his leg amputated last night because he twitches so severely from MS that he rubs his feet raw against the bed sheets. He chokes on his food, is completely incoherent and has no idea who anyone is or what’s going on, and my friend is burdened with the cost of care and provides direct care overnight. His father is almost brain dead. They are not believers, I didnt minister to them, but sent him the Euthanasia (death with dignity) form, because they are all suffering so much.  Did I the right thing or not, if not, pls advise so I know what to do in the future (and as helps for others). Thanks. 

A: I understand you wanting to help but you did do the wrong thing. Elective euthanasia is just another word for suicide or murder, those who elect to do it and those who do the deed, are murderers, and those who encourage it would be in serious trouble with God for causing others to sin, encouraging it and murder. I do encourage you to repent of that, and as you said, you want to know what to do in the future and help educate others so i hope this helps...

Comfort care is appropriate. There's no likelihood of recovery and he's in constant pain. Providing adequate medication to manage the pain is far different from elective euthanasia.  I'm not talking about death with "dignity." I'm talking about comfort care. There's a difference between keeping a dying person comfortable and killing a dying person. And we should also thank and praise God we live in modern medicine times where such care is possible and that is a wonderful grace he gives us. 

It is grace at the beginning, grace at the end. So that when you and I come to lie upon our deathbeds, the one thing that should comfort and help and strengthen us there is the thing that helped us at the beginning. Not what we have been, not what we have done, but the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. The Christian life starts with grace, it must continue with grace, it ends with grace. Grace, wondrous grace. 'By the grace of God I am what I am.' 'Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

We have to remember the person is an image bearer of God. God is the only one who has authority to take life and give it. It is hard to watch a loved one suffer and die, but he gives us grace to go through it. Plus this situation was directed by or allowed by God for reasons; it gives those who love them a chance to serve and those around them to see the light of the gospel. As long as we are here, we have a purpose to fulfill.  

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Comments: There were hospice nurses that believed the gospel because of my great grandmothers testimony as she finished her race. In her dementia she forgot her family members and those who had loved her here, but she reminded the gospel and asked everyone who entered if they knew her Jesus. If they didn’t, she would share the gospel.

Comments: I am a recent widow.  I watched my husband's health decline from a neurological disease.  He street preached. GOD used him even in his last days, when he had no voice, could hardly stand, and could barely use his arms he preached through a  app on his phone up to the week before the LORD took him home. And if he was hospitalized he wouldve had me share a digital link of his message to visitors, by text or air drop, with the hope of many coming to the Lord (while the thought of death was on their minds). 

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I was recently diagnosed with a rare incurable cancer and I want to be able to minister to and share the gospel with many people as possible, even in the hospital and during care, and I want my born again brethren, friends and family to be able to reach the folk who come and go and help when I no longer can. A week, a few months, a year? That is a lot of people we can reach.

It is a way for those who are saved to minister to those who visit me, to share the gospel. These folk could get saved during this time, and this could be the timing and part of the reason I am there, in my unconscious final days. 

They can even give a tract I published to them, or a fun one, and also all the people they'd meet & interact with several times a day, multiple people, up to 365 days? That is a lot of solid to impact for Christ, and draw believers closer to God and seek comfort in His arms.

I could imagine my mom or sister in Christ sitting there and a nurse or a friend of mine comes in to visit and they chat a couple minutes and then hands my friend a tract and says "she wanted every visitor to have this, she wrote it, and would really like you to read it. Even now she cares about you even though she can do no more. She does hope to see you in Heaven one day. Thank you for visiting"... and the friend or family member goes home reads it and gets saved. 

And when they go to cafeteria and meet someone or chat in the hall the person could be encouraged, be prayed over, and left with my tract. 

It could kick off the ministering persons desire to regularly visit hospitals and find people to pray with, leave a tract with and encourage & comfort them. And leave them with hope, both for now and for eternity.

If your loved one is in that situation, i pray you do do something like this. 

You can find tracts here. You can leave some in the room on the dresser counter area and ask people to take one while you are there with a lil sign on it to offer them when you or others are there. Leave it after visiting hours too. 

So, reader, if this happens to your loved one or to you, you should discuss now, for in advance, to have that as a written directive for the one being cared for, and your church to come and be ministers in the room at that time (of course not while the believing relative is there cuz they can minister, but if at their request you stay to do so on their behalf or when not there) . To God's glory.

And talk with your pastor, Sunday school class, fellowship group, believers you know, and encourage them to write up a ministering directive, give a copy to their pastor and trusted believing family member, but also to write up their testimony that could be made into a printable lil booklet to hand out to visitors. 

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Note: some families are full of wicked greedy people and would rather kill the person and get their hands on the money, than use it to care for them. Total wickedness. Don't be greedy, that money isnt even yours, he saved it for retirement and end of life care... and the family needs to properly care for that loved one. Grumbling and fighting over miney before he is even gone. God provides so be content. They don't even likely know what's in the will, and he might just give it away to charity.  Even if he has no money, the medicare or whatever can help pay for it and church members and social services can help. May we all help one another at times like this. And love them well. If Christian, Christ is in them... do not mistreat the brethren for you are doing it unto Christ .