Pioneer and Bell Church of Christ

In the United States, there is at present only one state, Oregon, that allows euthanasia or doctor assisted suicide. "On October 27, 1997 Oregon enacted the Death with Dignity Act which allows terminally-ill Oregonians to end their lives through the voluntary self-administration of lethal medications, expressly prescribed by a physician for that purpose." (1) There is much talk concerning death issues, death panels and rationing of healthcare in the healthcare plan passed recently in our congress. We have read many horror stories describing the socialized healthcare program that has been in Britain for some years. However, the Bible clearly teaches the sanctity of life, from the baby in the womb to the aged adult. Notice some examples:

The Ten Commandments decreed, "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12). In the Law of Moses children who cursed their parents were executed, and if they killed either of them they were also put to death (Exodus 21:15, 17). They understood that "honor[ing]" them meant that they were to care for them in their old age! Note Jesus' condemnation of those who were inventing loopholes in the law, so that they could rationalize not caring for their aged parents, (Matthew 15:3-7). God has always held that life was precious and inviolable by others for in Genesis 9:6 long before the Law of Moses was given, God instructed Moses to write, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. For in the image of God made he man." God also shows why it is important to honor life, because all are in the image of God. We have personally known of several cases where ungrateful children not only did not honor their parents, but they could not wait to get their money for themselves. In the New Testament such children are called "prodigal" (Luke 15:11-32).

One of the current clichés that is used a great deal in the modern culture is "quality of life." Many today argue that when an individual's age, health, etc., deteriorate to the extent that their "quality of life" degrades to a certain point, they should be starved to death, (remember Terri Schiavo?) allowed to die or even receive assistance in dying. The problem with that, is to whom is this responsibility given? Do you want this responsibility to be delegated to our government? How about to ungrateful children who can't wait to get their hands on their parent's money? Our liberal laws concerning abortion have caused many to become callous concerning life and death. We well remember a man in his 50s in Oregon whose medical insurance was the Oregon State Insurance Plan. When his doctors discovered he had leukemia, the state sent him a letter declining coverage for his leukemia, but offering to pay for physician assisted suicide!

God, in the Bible always celebrates life. In fact Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). In this case, He was talking about spiritual life, but the principle is true in both!

"But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" "For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death." "But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;" "And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition." "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,"