{"id":6212,"date":"2011-02-15T11:37:17","date_gmt":"2011-02-15T00:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/?p=6212"},"modified":"2011-02-15T21:51:27","modified_gmt":"2011-02-15T10:51:27","slug":"euthanasia%e2%80%93ending-a-life-%e2%80%9cahead-of-time%e2%80%9d-sermon-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/2011\/02\/15\/euthanasia%e2%80%93ending-a-life-%e2%80%9cahead-of-time%e2%80%9d-sermon-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"Euthanasia\u2013Ending a life \u201cAhead of Time\u201d (Sermon Notes)"},"content":{"rendered":"

EUTHANASIA \u2013 ENDING A LIFE \u201cAHEAD OF TIME\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Readings:\u00a0 Psalm 139:16-20<\/a>; Genesis 2<\/a><\/p>\n

SERMON NOTES<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. The Dutch experience clearly demonstrates the disastrous effects of euthanasia legislation.<\/p>\n

a. The\u00a0former Dutch minister who successfully promoted the legalization of euthanasia has now admitted that the government\u2019s move was a mistake<\/a>, and says that they should have first focused on palliative care. In 2008, Dutch doctors reported 2,331 cases of euthanasia, 400 cases of assisted suicide, and 550 deaths without request.<\/p>\n

b. The Dutch are now holding an inquiry <\/a>into the effects, both intended and unintended, of the euthanasia legislation.<\/p>\n

2. Not a lot of biblical commentary on this issue directly.<\/p>\n

Some related themes are clear. Some are not directly presented!<\/p>\n

We want to introduce the biblical evidence that is clear in order to think a bit about the implications of some of the unclear issues.<\/p>\n

Respect for life\u2013a biblical perspective on some of the issues<\/strong><\/p>\n

God created life <\/strong>Genesis 1-2<\/a>; Psalm 139:13-14<\/a>; Isaiah 44:2<\/a>, 24<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Life is special and worthy of special care, because God created it.<\/p>\n

Human life has special value, because we are created in the image of God. Genesis 9:5-6<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The value is based on the image of God in a person; NOT on their health or quality of life<\/p>\n

God\u2019s sovereign control of life<\/strong> Psalm 39:4-7<\/a>; Isaiah 43:1-3<\/a>; 44:2<\/a>, 24<\/a>; 46:3-4<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

God loves the suffering person more than we do! We can trust God.<\/p>\n

Psalm 116:15<\/a>; 1 Peter 5:7<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing life as God sees it.<\/strong> James 4:13-15<\/a>; Matthew 6:25-27<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Perspective from Philippians 1<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

God takes some offensive and evil misconduct, and uses it for good<\/p>\n

Philippians 1:6<\/a>, 12-13<\/a>, 14-18<\/a>, 20-26<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

If to live is Christ, to die is gain. Phil. 1:20-21<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

To die is better than to live (always!! Reverse of popular view) Phil. 1:22-23<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

So, why would we CLING to the dying?!!<\/p>\n

God is still in charge! Phil. 1:23-26<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

God will decide what\u2019s best for us \u2013 in accordance with His loving purposes!<\/p>\n

Series of \u201cGod-given paradoxes\u201d\u201c<\/strong><\/p>\n

Taking of life is sin and deserves death.<\/p>\n

(Even trying to take your own life is an attempt to improve our life over God\u2019s will for our life! That\u2019s pride.<\/p>\n

The person who CLINGS<\/em> to his life, ultimately loses what he or she is clinging to. Mark 8:35-36<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Letting go of our life results in obtaining life. John 12:25<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Giving up your life for a friend is the ultimate demonstration of love. John 15:13<\/a>; Romans 5:6-8<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThou shalt not kill\u201d<\/strong> Exodus 20:13<\/a>; 21:12;<\/a> Matthew 5:21-22<\/a>; 19:18<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Biblical perspective on suicide.<\/p>\n

Taking the will of God into our own hands.<\/p>\n

Pride of assuming we have a better plan than God\u2019s plan for our life.<\/p>\n

When society decides whose life is \u201cworth living\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a right the sovereign God keeps for Himself.<\/p>\n

That call is not OURS to make.<\/p>\n

We can trust God to decide when our life isn\u2019t worth living.<\/p>\n

The dilemma of modern medicine\u2013\u201cBecause we can!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our word is not the last word<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

The hardest decision –<\/strong> helpful comment from John Kilner, Life on the Line:<\/em><\/p>\n

Three issues to deal with in this discussion:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [Calls for this kind of thinking:]<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0God-centered<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Reality-bounded<\/p>\n

God intended implications, built in to the way God made things (whether we like it or not!).<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Love-impelled<\/p>\n

Distinction between ending a life\u2013allowing a life to come to an end and deciding not to keep trying to extend it artificially.<\/p>\n

Disconnecting life support.<\/p>\n

Not ending life to escape from a hard life.<\/p>\n

Job\u2019s perspective is significant: Ending life is a call that only GOD should make! Job 1:21<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Distinction between disconnecting life support and starving someone to death.<\/p>\n

The problem with feeding tubes: Starving someone to end the pain.<\/p>\n

Releasing a dying person\u2013why would we cling?!!<\/em><\/p>\n

Compassion and grace for people who have to make the call.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A time for compassion \u2013 NOT for criticism!<\/span><\/p>\n

Further thoughts, Is euthanasia a morally acceptable way to ease suffering of the elderly?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EUTHANASIA \u2013 ENDING A LIFE \u201cAHEAD OF TIME\u201d Readings:\u00a0 Psalm 139:16-20; Genesis 2 SERMON NOTES Introduction 1. The Dutch experience clearly demonstrates the disastrous effects of euthanasia legislation. a. The\u00a0former Dutch minister who successfully promoted the legalization of euthanasia has … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6212"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6212"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7029,"href":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6212\/revisions\/7029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/imaginarydiocese.org\/bishopjohn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}