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““Caring for Caring for Souls at - Souls at -
The Other End The Other End Of Life”Of Life”
Theological and Practical Theological and Practical Aspects of End-of-Life IssuesAspects of End-of-Life Issues
““The Other The Other End Of Life”End Of Life”
TheologicalTheological
God-given Value of LifeGod-given Value of Life
Christian View of DeathChristian View of Death
Christian View of Christian View of SufferingSuffering
Christian’s TensionChristian’s Tension
““The Other The Other End Of Life”End Of Life”
PracticalPractical
Making DecisionsMaking Decisions
Christian CompassionChristian Compassion
Making Decisions in Making Decisions in AdvanceAdvance
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects
“You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and
honor.”
(Ps. 8:5)
“A fortuitous cosmic after thought, a tiny little twig on the enormously aborescent bush of life.”Stephen Jay Could (Harvard)
“What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Ps. 8:4)
The God-given Value of Human Life The God-given Value of Human Life
“A curious
accident in a
backwater.”
Bertrand Russe
ll
“Just
a bit of
slime on th
e
planet.”
Peter Otkins, O
xford
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects The God-given Value of Human Life The God-given Value of Human Life
Created
Redeemed
Called
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects The Christian View of DeathThe Christian View of Death
““The death of a man is, however, an The death of a man is, however, an infinite and eternal misery and infinite and eternal misery and wrath.”wrath.”
““We should be happy to die and desire We should be happy to die and desire death. Death is only the narrow gate death. Death is only the narrow gate and the small way to life.”and the small way to life.”
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects The Christian View of DeathThe Christian View of Death
1. Death as Law1. Death as Law“Our death is a more terrible thing than all death not only of other living beings, but also than the troubles and death of other men. What of it when Epicurus dies? He not only does not know that there is a God, but even fails to understand his own misery and recognize the disaster which he is experiencing. Christians, however, and God-fearing men know that their death, together with all the other miseries of this life, is to be equated with God’s wrath.” (Martin Luther LW, 13, 112)
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects The Christian View of DeathThe Christian View of Death
2. Death as Gospel2. Death as Gospel
“Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
“In the midst of life, we are in death. In the midst of death, we are in life.” (Luther LW 13,83)
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects The Christian’s View of SufferingThe Christian’s View of Suffering
“God shows that He is God precisely in the fact that He is mighty in weakness, glorious in lowliness, living and life-giving in death.”
(Paul Althaus. Theology of Martin Luther p. 34)
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects The Christian’s View of SufferingThe Christian’s View of Suffering
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects The Christian’s View of SufferingThe Christian’s View of Suffering
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with
him graciously give us all things?(Romans 8:32)
Paul said – “I rejoice in my _____________”
Luther said – “ ___________ is the best book in my library.”
C.H. Spurgeon said – “I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health,
Paul said – “I rejoice in my sufferings.”
Luther said – “Affliction is the best book in my library.”
C.H. Spurgeon said – “I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness.”
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects The Christian View of SufferingThe Christian View of Suffering
God not only blesses,
He decides what blessings are.
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects The Christian’s View of SufferingThe Christian’s View of Suffering
“The well organized campaign for legalized euthanasia cruelly exploits the fear of suffering and the frustration felt when we cannot restore to health those whom we love. Such fear and frustration is genuine and deeply felt, especially with respect to the aging. But to deal with suffering by eliminating those who suffer is an evasion of moral duty and a great wrong.” (Always to Care, Never to Kill)
Theological AspectsTheological Aspects The Christian’s TensionThe Christian’s Tension
I am torn between the two: I I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; Christ, which is better by far; (Philippians 1:23)(Philippians 1:23)
but it is more necessary for but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the you that I remain in the body. body. (24)(24)
better by better by farfar
more more necessarynecessary
““The Other The Other End Of Life”End Of Life”
TheologicalTheological
God-given Value of LifeGod-given Value of Life
Christian View of DeathChristian View of Death
Christian View of Christian View of SufferingSuffering
Christian’s TensionChristian’s Tension
Right to refuse treatmentRight to refuse treatment Does not sustain life,Does not sustain life,
but prolongs the dying processbut prolongs the dying process Discuss if treatment is a burdenDiscuss if treatment is a burden ““Right to die” – patient is a burdenRight to die” – patient is a burden
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Making DecisionsMaking Decisions
“Once we have transgressed and blurred the line betweenkilling and allowing to die, it will be exceedingly difficult—
in logic, law, and practice—to limit the license to kill.Once the judgment is not about the worth of specific
treatments but about the worth of specific lives,our nursing homes and other institutions will present us
with countless candidates for elimination who would‘be better off dead.’”
Always to Care, Never to Kill: A Declaration on Euthanasia by the Ramsey Colloquium as published in First Things February 1992:45-47
Terri Schiavo
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Making DecisionsMaking Decisions
Dr. Gilbert Meilaender – member of the President’s Council on Dr. Gilbert Meilaender – member of the President’s Council on Bioethics and Professor of ethics at Valparaiso University.Bioethics and Professor of ethics at Valparaiso University.
“ “If she is a living human being, albeit a If she is a living human being, albeit a severely disabled one, then our severely disabled one, then our responsibility was to ask what we can responsibility was to ask what we can do to benefit the life she had. It’s not do to benefit the life she had. It’s not within the scope of our authority to ask within the scope of our authority to ask whether it’s a benefit to have her life.”whether it’s a benefit to have her life.”
Terri Schiavo was not dying. Removing
her feeding tube did not allow her to die.
It caused her to die.
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Making DecisionsMaking Decisions
We can and we should allow the We can and we should allow the dying to die. We must never intend dying to die. We must never intend for the death of the living.for the death of the living.
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Making DecisionsMaking Decisions
As long as God gives life, He gives
As long as God gives life, He gives
life meaning and purpose.
life meaning and purpose.
Focus on the treatment
• Is it useless?• Is it excessively burdensome?
Focus on the person
• Is he/she useless?
• Is he/she burdensome?Is he/she dying?
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Making DecisionsMaking Decisions
The Slippery SlopeThe Slippery Slope
Right to refuse treatment
“Right to die”
Right to assisted death(physician-assisted suicide)
“Duty to die”
Euthanasia(“Right to kill”)
A Glimpse of the Future:A Glimpse of the Future:
“The Netherlands has moved from assisted suicide to euthanasia, from euthanasia for people who are terminally ill to euthanasia for those who are chronically ill, from euthanasia for physical illness to euthanasia for psychological distress, and from voluntary euthanasia to involuntary euthanasia (called ‘termination of the patient without explicit request.’) There is no way to stop the slide once a society steps onto the slippery slope by legalizing physician-assisted suicide.” (Dr. Herbert Hendin, 1996 report to Judiciary Committee of House)
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Making Decisions Making Decisions
What if we make wrong What if we make wrong decisions?decisions?
We live in grace
We live in grace!!
Compassion: suffer with
Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Christian CompassionChristian Compassion
Compassion: suffer with“I have participated in the intensely human drama that surrounds dying. I’ve witnessed the difficulties, I’ve smelled the odors, I’ve seen the unpleasant liquids which assisted suicide advocates claim make life at the end inherently undignified, horrific, and hence worthy of a death sentence. Yet, such conditions need not diminish the inherent value of human life. Dying people remain people, and when properly treated, they usually transcend the limitations of their physical conditions—especially if they know they are cared for and about.” (Hospice Worker)
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects
Christian CompassionChristian Compassion
Martha Gunderson
Martha Gunderson
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Making Decisions in AdvanceMaking Decisions in Advance
Can Christians do this?Can Christians do this?
Be Careful of What You Say!Be Careful of What You Say!
Jfakjdlfkjeijijflkdjlkajdlkjd;aklsdjfl;kasjdkljsdlkjfalsdkjlskjdfksjdlkasjdlkjaslkfjalskdjlaskdjlaskjflkajsdlkjldkfjaslkdjlaskjflksdjflskdjsakfdlasjdflaskjdflskjdlasjflkjsdljasldfjalsfjlskjflasjdflsjdlfjsdlkjslkfjlaksdjflaksjflkasjdlkjslfkjaslkdfjlskjflaksjdflkasjflaksjflksjlaksjdflaskjdflaksjlksjlkasjlkjasldkfjlaskjdflaksdjlksjlfkajsdlfkjakslkdfjlasdkjflaskdjflaskjflaskjflaskjflaskjflkasjflkajslfkajslfkjasldkfjalskfjlaskdjflaks
jdlaksjflaksjflkasjflaksjflkajlkajflaksdjflaksjflaksjdflaksjdlksdjflksjflkasjflkasjflkjslfkasjlf
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Making Decisions in AdvanceMaking Decisions in Advance
Living Will
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Making Decisions in AdvanceMaking Decisions in Advance
The Euthanasia Society of America (1938) hoped to “eventually legalize the putting to death of non-volunteers beyond the help of medical science.”
Practical AspectsPractical Aspects Making Decisions in AdvanceMaking Decisions in Advance
“If we can get people to accept the removal of all treatment and care, especially the removal of food and fluids, they will see what a painful way this is to die, and then, in the patient’s best interest, they will accept the lethal injection.” (Dr. Helga Kuhse at a world conference of Right to Die Societies)
Living Wills Example 1Living Wills Example 1
““If I should have an incurable or If I should have an incurable or
irreversible condition that will cause irreversible condition that will cause
my death in a relatively short time…”my death in a relatively short time…”
arthritis
mental illness
days, weeks, months, or year
Living Wills Example 2Living Wills Example 2
““I direct my attending physician…”I direct my attending physician…”
Removes medical decisions from your family
whoever happens to be near…
Living Wills Example 3Living Wills Example 3
““Withhold or withdraw medical Withhold or withdraw medical
treatment that only prolongs the treatment that only prolongs the
dying process…”dying process…”
food and fluids
Health Care Power of AttorneyHealth Care Power of Attorney
Designate someone you trustDesignate someone you trust More than one personMore than one person
Share values about the sanctity of Share values about the sanctity of lifelife
Discuss your wishesDiscuss your wishes Do not be too specificDo not be too specific
Health Care Power of AttorneyHealth Care Power of Attorney
What if you have a living will?What if you have a living will? Do you know what it says?Do you know what it says? They are revocableThey are revocable Start overStart over
Concluding ParableConcluding Parable
There was an old woman There was an old woman
who lived in the woods.who lived in the woods.
““The Other The Other End Of Life”End Of Life”
TheologicalTheological
God-given Value of LifeGod-given Value of Life
Christian View of DeathChristian View of Death
Christian View of Christian View of SufferingSuffering
Christian’s TensionChristian’s Tension
““The Other The Other End Of Life”End Of Life”
PracticalPractical
Making DecisionsMaking Decisions
Christian CompassionChristian Compassion
Making Decisions in Making Decisions in AdvanceAdvance
Recommend ResourcesRecommend Resources
Durable Power of Attorney:Durable Power of Attorney:Christian VersionChristian Version (Christian Life Resources0(Christian Life Resources0
Basics on Basics on Advance Advance DirectivesDirectives
Brochures from LFLBrochures from LFL
Brochures from LFLBrochures from LFL
God’s Love in Human God’s Love in Human SufferingSuffering
Euthanasia and the Euthanasia and the ChristianChristian
A Guide for ChristiansA Guide for Christiansin Ethical Decision-Making in Ethical Decision-Making atatthe End of Lifethe End of Life
Brochures from LFLBrochures from LFL
God’s Love in Human SufferingGod’s Love in Human Suffering Euthanasia and the ChristianEuthanasia and the Christian A Guide for ChristiansA Guide for Christians
in Ethical Decision-Making atin Ethical Decision-Making atthe End of Lifethe End of Life
The Right to Die:The Right to Die:Rhetoric, Reality, ResponseRhetoric, Reality, Response
Before I DieBefore I Die
Death has been Death has been swallowed up in victory!swallowed up in victory!
(1 Corinthians 15:54)(1 Corinthians 15:54)
“The battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15)
QuestionsQuestions
? ? ? ? ?
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