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What Christians should know about Passive Euthanasia
Written by arkwriter
Thursday, 20 August 2009 12:16
What Christians should know
about Passive Euthanasia

Paul Wong

The word euthanasia is derived from two Greek words. Eu means good and thanatos means death.
According to Websters dictionary euthanasia means the act or method of causing death painlessly, so
as to end suffering; advocated by some as a way to deal with persons dying of incurable, painful
diseases. Euthanasia may be divided into two categories.
Active Euthanasia could be defined as "inducing the death of a person who is undergoing intense
suffering, and who has no practical hope of recovery." Since the expressed motive is usually to release
him from his misery, active euthanasia is often called "mercy killing." In active euthanasia you directly and
intentionally cause a person's death. An example of active euthanasia is when a doctor gives a patient a
lethal dose of medicine. Active euthanasia is illegal in the United States of America.
Passive Euthanasia is usually defined as withdrawing medical treatment with the deliberate intention of
causing the patient's death. For example, if a patient requires kidney dialysis to survive, and the doctors
disconnect the dialysis machine, the patient will presumably die fairly soon. Perhaps the classic example
of passive euthanasia is a "do not resuscitate order". Normally if a patient has a heart attack or similar
sudden interruption in life functions, medical staff will attempt to revive them. If they make no such effort
but simply stand and watch as the patient dies, this is passive euthanasia.
Another method of passive euthanasia is used in treatment centers for the end stage of a terminal
disease such as cancer. It is not providing feeding tubes (intravenous and others) for nutrients and liquids
for the patient who is in an unconscious state. In other words, the unconscious patient is starved and
dehydrated to death, but this is considered legal and acceptable in some countries outside of the United
States of America.
The Roman Catholic Church is opposed to euthanasia because it is seen as murder.
Pope John Paul II said that to cause death in this way was 'a grave violation of the law
of God'.
Christian Churches in the United States encourage the support of hospices. These are special places
where terminally ill people are cared for and allowed to die in comfort and dignity without the use of
euthanasia.
How do Christians respond to Passive Euthanasia ?
Christians must first realize they are living in a world that does not know the will of the One True God.
They must not follow the worldviews concerning life, death, moral, ethics and other issues. And do not

be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:2) Here are some important truths that
Christians need to consider very carefully in making decisions for life-death situations.
We are made in Gods Image: Being created by God in His own image having spirit, soul and body our
lives are different from the animal or plant life (Gen. 1:27; 1 Thes. 5:23). It is blasphemous, dehumanizing
and demeaning to refer a sick person in a state of unconsciousness or in comatose as in a Persistent
Vegetative State (PVS). It is an ungodly medical terminology. Passive euthanasia regards the patient
having terminal illness has little or no value therefore his or her life is not worth saving.
We belong to God: Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,
whom you have from God, and you are you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore
glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are Gods. (1 Cor. 6:19-20) We are stewards of our lives
rather than owners. Created to be like God, our lives have an eternal purpose; set apart for, and owned
by God. Since we are created in the image of God, our lives have intrinsic and immeasurable value. This
is the source of the "sanctity of life" concept. Because we are created in God's image, people have an
inherent and God-given dignity.
Voluntary Passive Euthanasia refers to cases in which patients having terminal diseases who voluntarily
write a Living Will to their beneficiaries that allow the doctor to end their lives by the removal of the
feeding tubes. However noble their motives might sound but it is still a veiled suicide.
We should choose Life rather than Death: God gives us a choice. I call heaven and earth as witnesses
today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life,
that both you and your descendants may live. (Deut. 30:19) God wants us to choose life over death even
for the terminally ill patient. Life-support equipment such as feeding tubes should be provided so that
when the cancer patient is unconscious he or she can be continually fed with nutrients and liquids. Failure
to provide such equipment or unplugging the feeding tube from the patient makes certain he or she would
die within a short period of time. It is like choosing death over life, and it is not in accordance with the will
of God.
The Sixth Commandment: It is often argued that the sixth commandment You shall not murder (Ex.
20:13) does not apply to passive euthanasia. Murder, they say, is the planned and premeditated taking of
another persons life. Is passive euthanasia not a planned and premeditated practice of ending a sick
persons life by intentionally not providing a life- support system such as feeding tubes for nutrients and
liquid?
Follow Christs Example: For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that you should follow His steps: (1 Pet. 2:21) They gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to
drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. (Mt. 27:34) What they gave our Lord Jesus Christ
during His crucifixion was a kind of sedative to ease His excruciating pain. We recognize, however, that
suffering is not to be avoided at any cost, especially if the cost is either our own or the patient's breaking of
the Sixth Commandment. Scripture teaches that affliction often produces spiritual growth and holiness.
Hope of Healing for the Terminally Sick Patients: Passive euthanasia presumes there is absolutely no
possibility of healing for the terminally ill patient who is in the End Stage of the sickness. Proponents of
this practice do not believe God would intervene, prayers would be answered and miracles could happen,
not during this End Stage anyway. Provision of life-support equipment such as feeding tubes for nutrients
and liquids is considered unnecessary since the unconscious patient is going to die anyway so why
provide for them?
As Christians we oppose such an ungodly attitude and practice because we believe our Lord Jesus Christ

can heal any person inflicted with any disease at any stage of the sickness (Mt. 4:23-24; Heb. 13:8). Our
Lord Jesus Christ has healed the noblemans son who was at the point of death. (Jn. 4:46-54) But
Jesus looked at them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
(Mt. 19:26)
God Alone has Sovereignty over Life and Death: The Holy Bible which is the word of God is full of
references concerning this truth. Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God beside Me; I kill and
I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. (Deut. 32:39) The
LORD kills and make alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. (1 Sam. 2:6) In euthanasia,
active or passive, man usurps Gods prerogative over life and death which is a form of rebellion against
the Creator. (References: Job 27:3; Psm. 30:3; Ecc. 12:7; Isa. 38:16; Acts 17:25,28; Rom. 4:17; 1 Tim.
6:13; Jas. 4:15). God alone is sovereign over life and death. Man has no jurisdiction in this area therefore
no one has the mandate to end lives in any form or manner.
It is Gods Will to preserve
Life to the Last Breath
When God created Adam . . . the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. (Gen. 2:7) Breath is synonymous with life
which is given by God alone (Isa. 42:5; Acts 17:25). Only God can take away the breath and when He
does that the person dies (Psm. 104:29). This is how the Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross. And
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. (Mk. 15:37)
God provided food (manna) and water (from the rock) for the children of Israel while they were wandering
in the wilderness, because if He did not they would surely die. During the time of famine God brought
Elijah to the Brook Cherith where he could drink water, and the LORD commanded the ravens to feed him
(1 Kn. 17:2-6). Our Lord Jesus Christ fed the five thousand people because they were hungry. When the
ship ran aground the apostle Paul urged the people to take food and eat so that they could survive and
receive nourishment (Acts 27:33-36).
Eating food and drinking water is the basic means of life preservation and is according to the will of God.
Passive euthanasia of not providing life-support equipment such as feeding tubes for nutrients and liquid
for the patient who is unconscious thus allowing him or her to die of starvation and dehydration is certainly
not according to the will of God.
There are three basic elements that are essential for life. They are air, food and water. When a person is
sick he still needs these three elements to continue living. Terminally ill persons also require these same
elements.
It is a moral obligation for every Christian to preserve life to the last breath. That means providing lifesupport equipment that does not endanger the patients life even for the terminal cases. Intravenous
tubes that are connected to the veins are often used to provide nutrients and liquids for the patient that
cannot eat or swallow anything through the mouth. This is the normal practice in the Intensive Care Unit
of the hospitals and also in Christian hospices for the terminally ill in the United States of America.
Pope John Paul II set an example
on how to die with dignity
Pope John Paul II during his last days were being fed through a nasal tube because of his throat problems
effectively wrote his own living will last year in a speech declaring some life-extending treatments a moral
duty for Roman Catholics.

The ailing Pontiff sharply narrowed Catholic guidelines for treating patients nearing death in March 2004
when he described tube-feeding as a normal treatment rather than an extraordinary measure that can be
stopped if all hope of recovery fades.
This indicates he would want to be kept alive by artificial means even if he fell into a coma or a persistent
vegetative state, such as the brain-damaged Terri Schiavo in the United States whose feeding tubes have
been removed after 15 years.
The Popes statement would have to be considered the equivalent of his living will, said Father Thomas
Reese S.J., editor of the Jesuit weekly America in New York. It would be very difficult to unplug him if it
came to that.
The Popes statement would have to be considered the equivalent of his living will,
said Father Thomas Reese S.J., editor of the Jesuit weekly America in New York. It
would be very difficult to unplug him if it came to that.
Non Provision of Feeding
Tubes is Passive Euthanasia
Provision of water and food even by artificial means such as feeding tubes, always represents a natural
means of preserving life, and it is not a medical act. Its use is an obligation to provide the normal care due
to the sick and even in terminal cases. Failure to provide or withdrawal of life-support equipment can
result in death by starvation or dehydration. In this sense it ends up becoming, if done knowingly and
willingly, true and proper euthanasia by omission.
Recent Case of Passive
Euthanasia in the United States
Here is a recent case where passive euthanasia was practiced in the United States of America. Terri
Schiavo suffered brain damage in 1990. Her communications skills were altered as a result of the injury.
She is thus a disabled American.

The doctors have declared she is in a persistent vegetative state because of severe
brain damage even though she has been alert and conscious of her surroundings.
Others in the medical field disagree. Terri Schiavo was placed in a hospice in Pinellas
Park, Florida where life-support equipment such as feeding tubes are provided. Her
mother and father have been caring for her since this happened, as she has needed the
assistance of a feeding tube to keep her alive.
Terri's husband, who is her legal guardian, claims she voiced that she never wanted to
be kept alive by artificial support if anything ever happened to her. Terris parents have
challenged the husband's right to demand the feeding tubes be removed so that she
would not have nutrients or liquids, which will lead to her death by starvation and
dehydration.
The feeding tube was disconnected from Terri Schiavo on Friday March 18, 2005. In

less than two weeks without food and water, Schiavo died on Thursday March 31,
2005. Some call it Passive Euthanasia and many Christians call it murder.
Read The Execution of Terri Schiavo"
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43626
May God bless you

This Article is presented by Paul Wong

to the ARK Forum on May 21, 2005.
It is published on this Website on August 20, 2009
For comments please write first to: arkpw@sbcglobal.net