“Caring for Souls at - The Other End Of Life” Theological and Practical Aspects of End-of-Life Issues

““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


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.”


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)


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)


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)


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.


“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







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


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.


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.


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?


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


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!

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Living Will

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care


The Euthanasia Society of America (1938) hoped to “eventually legalize the putting to death of non-volunteers beyond the help of medical science.”


“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


““I direct my attending physician…”I direct my attending physician…”

Removes medical decisions from your family

whoever happens to be near…


““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.








PracticalPractical

Making DecisionsMaking Decisions


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


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


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

? ? ? ? ?

Documents

“Caring for Souls at - The Other End Of Life” Theological and Practical Aspects of End-of-Life Issues