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May Christians Practice Euthanasia?
Bible study on euthanasia.

Technology continues to progress so that we can keep a human body, which would otherwise be dead, functioning for a very long time. It is increasingly important that Christians determine at what point the spirit leaves the body, and whether euthanasia may be practiced. Otherwise, the technology used to keep some individuals alive until recovery will be over run by costs of keeping the physical body of the dead functioning through mechanical life supports. Do not get me wrong. I am not suggesting that the cost of a thing dictates morality. But, because of technological advancement, we face questions which were of no concern to other generations.

There are two types of euthanasia. For sake of clarity in this article, I will refer to the two types as positive and negative. The difference between positive and negative euthanasia is:

  • Positive Euthanasia occurs when an individual actively does something to cause the death of another. This is the case with assisted suicide wherein the "patient" is given carbon monoxide or some other drug to bring death.
  • Negative Euthanasia occurs when doing nothing, other than removing the "tubes of technology" or ceasing to administer care and treatment, brings death to the patient.

In Suicide and Euthanasia many essays appear in support of positive euthanasia. The following quote serves to define positive and negative euthanasia from the perspective of one who is pro-euthanasia. Notice that positive euthanasia is considered suicide. Joseph Fletcher in his essay In Defense of Suicide, says:

In recent years the ethical issue about human initiatives in death and dying has been posed most poignantly for the common run of those in medical care, in the treatment of the terminally ill. Resuscitative techniques now compel them to decide when to stop preserving and supporting life; people no longer just die.

What is called negative euthanasia, letting the patient die without any further struggle against it, is a daily event in hospitals. About 200,000 legally unenforceable "living wills" have been recorded, appealing to doctors, families, pastors, and lawyers to stop treatment at some balance point of pro-life, pro-death assessment. What is called positive euthanasia - doing something to shorten or end life deliberately - is the form in which suicide is the question - as a voluntary, direct choice of death (Suicide And Euthanasia p. 47).

The question at hand is whether Christians may engage in positive or negative euthanasia. If we cannot determine, from the word of God, at what point the spirit leaves the body, then we must maintain that the safe answer to this question is not to practice any type of euthanasia.

One part of our question is whether Christians may practice positive euthanasia. Mr. Fletcher states correctly that positive euthanasia is suicide. So, the real question is whether Christians may commit suicide or assist one to commit suicide. Refer to my previous article addressing assisted suicide explaining that Christians may not engage in this act.

In considering negative euthanasia, let me suggest that Scripture reveals that a man's spirit is in his mind (brain). So, if the brain dies, a man's mortal spirit dies and his eternal spirit (soul) returns to God. Technological life supports may keep the physical body functioning for a time, but the fact remains that the person is dead and the soul has returned to God. And, by Bible standards which predate technological life supports, the person would have been declared dead and the physical body would have not been artificially supported.

For the above statements, I appeal to Biblical authority based on the following passages:

  • James 2:26; Matt. 27:50 A person is dead when his mortal spirit ceases to life.
  • Hebrews 4:12 The spirit (mind) and soul are closely linked, but separate.
  • Ephesians 4:23 A human's mortal spirit is in his mind. If the mind dies, the mortal spirit dies. Therefore, the person is dead (Jam. 2:26; Matt. 27:50).

Second, we live in a time that we, through technology, can keep a physical body functioning apart from the brain. And, we live in a time that we, through technology, can determine if a person's brain is dead or alive. Let me suggest that since we rely upon technology to keep a body functioning apart from the brain, we must also rely upon technology to determine whether a brain is dead or alive. For, without technology, everyone would die a natural death apart from any mechanical or human resuscitation and life support.

Thirdly, let me suggest that, if through technology, we are able to determine that a brain is dead; therefore, the spirit has been yielded up - the soul has returned to God, then we may cease the use of technology to continue life support of a body which has no spirit. This would be the exercise of negative euthanasia.

Fourthly, let me suggest that Christians may at no time exercise positive euthanasia which is suicide (murder). A Christian may not actively engage in putting another individual to death no matter the state of the brain.

As for an individual's conscience in this matter, we must only act in accordance with our conscience. Not that an individual's conscience may annul God's will, but that our conscience must be free of guilt in the liberties of God. So, if an individual is not certain that negative euthanasia as described above is a moral practice, then he must avoid its practice to avoid sin (Rom. 14:23).

Now, someone may ask how the above position concerning euthanasia may apply to abortion. Abortion is a separate issue since it concerns the entering of the fetus' spirit (see article concerning abortion) unlike euthanasia which is the determination of a spirit's departure from the body. The removal of a fetus from the womb may only occur when it has been determined that the fetus (baby) is not living.

In the case that a fetus is alive within the womb of a woman who is brain dead but on life supports, every effort should be made to save the baby in the womb. In this case, the life supports for the baby is the mother. And, as long as the unborn baby shows signs of life, the mother's body (the baby's life support) must be kept functioning, if possible, until such time that the baby is able to live outside of the womb or determined to be dead within the womb.