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What do you think about Euthanasia? I'm sure you've been faced with this question before... we as Christians do not condone killing. Yet America has the death penalty as the ultimate form of punishment, and lots of people are for it... If you were suffering intensely, would you prefer "merciful killing by an expert" or would you prefer to wait for "your time"? I've been asked this on the odd occasion, but have never quite concluded my opinion...perhaps you could help? 
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4/23/2008 11:20 am |
When it is left in the hands of man, anyone and anything can happen, i am against it for that reason, If you and I killed anyone by driving and it was accidental, half would cry death, the other half would cry no, so i say no to the death penalty because of that, nothing else, innocent people die. Gods way is my way,...Clay
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4/23/2008 12:39 pm |
There is a world of difference between the death penalty and euthanasia. God authorised the death penalty for the murder of a human being - see Genesis 9 v 6. This command was given when Noah and his family had just disembarked from the ark and were the only people alive on the earth. This command precedes the law of Moses and applies to the whole of the human race to this day. It is significant that the reason for God insisting on the death penalty for murder is the fact that man was made in the image of God which is what gives each human life infinite value. (Incidentally because of the regularity of miscarriages of justice I would not be in favour of actually carrying out the death penalty in the majority of cases, but we would not be in the wrong for doing so). Euthanasia is wrong for exactly the same reason as the death penalty for murder is right - the infinite value of each human life due to being created in the image of God. Although it is an understandable reaction to want to end someone's suffering, who has the right to judge whether someone's life is worth continuing or not? Answer: only God. Much can be done to alleviate suffering as an investigation into the work of hospices will reveal. Many older people who are suffering may be tempted into requesting euthanasia not because their suffering is too great, but because they think they may be becoming a burden on their families. It is surely the duty of the families to convince them that this is not the case and to strongly resist any suggestion of euthanasia. It is not my intention to tell you what to think about this very emotive issue, but I hope expressing my views on the matter will help you to reach your own conclusion. Peter "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2 v 15
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It is a difficult situation that has no definite answer as far as christians are concerned. One of God's commandments is 'Thou shall not kill'. Same Bible(OT) allows killing as a punishment for crimes/sins punishable by death. But I don't know if its right in the eyes of God to help someone who has been confirmed hopless medically only a matter of time, and is in agonising pain to die peacefully.
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4/23/2008 1:15 pm |
God chooses our lives end not man. It's murder otherwise.Suffering is a hard fact of life but God only puts on us what we can bear.GBY Please remember to keep our soldiers in your prayers!!! Kristy
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4/23/2008 2:10 pm |
Noah, you have a point about Euthanasia which is not largely debatable, however, I -Must- say, I sincerely hope that you find it in your heart to consider, whether capital punishment (by death) is something GOD is executing (as at the time of the people who drowned during the time of Noah due to their refusal to believe Noah and his instruction to go aboard the ark) or whether it is something HUMANS are executing. When you find your answer, consider that you are making quite a claim to say that God has given courts of law a right to punish by execution, please do tell where in the Bible this is stated? The second commandment (in the Old Testament) states that "YOu should not kill", and even if you favour the New Testament it says "Love your neighbour as you love yourself"...which implies that since you love your fellow human you will not kill her/him...You still are obliged to forgive, no matter what. Of course I'm not saying that we should let all prisoners go free, but there is the option to imprison them for life. (so as to protect the society at large, who makes up your other fellow neighbours). So the greater good is to imprison rather than execute. I'm sure i'd feel devastated if I had a family member killed by a heartless person, may God forbid it ever happens, however, we know the law, God's law that is... 
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4/23/2008 2:44 pm |
oops, my second paragraph says "the second commandment says that you should not kill...(i was typing fast and acknowledge this to be an error, sorry, but well, it was ONE of the ten commandments). it is the second commandment which Jesus talks about, which, second to Love God, is Love your neighbour...
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4/23/2008 10:01 pm |
Froots, as I said in my original post, God's authority for capital punishment following the murder of a human being was given to Noah in Genesis 9v6. This command was given at a time when Noah was the father of the human race and is therefore binding on all nations that are descended from him (i.e. everybody). Romans 13v4 gives New Testament support. The command not to kill concerns individual behaviour within socety, and does not overrule the authority given to legitimate courts to impose the death penalty for murder. If such a sentence is carried out then it is obviously humans who are doing the executing, but with the full authority of God. Therefore you could say it is God carrying out the execution through humans. In practical terms I personally would favour life imprisonment rather than capital punishment. This is because the sin and corruption of the human race has reached such proportions that miscarriages of justice are taking place with alarming frequency (not to mention corrupt governments and dictators executing political opponents which of course I do not support). If you have imprisoned the wrong man then you can at least release him and restore him to society, but if you have executed him there is no way to even partially restore justice. I quite agree with you that Jesus commands us to love and to forgive, and that is why there are legitimate courts instituted to dispense justice otherwise we would have revenge killings 'ad infinitum'. A murderer may still receive forgiveness and eternal life through the cross of Christ if he truly repents, even if sentenced to capital punishment. Hope this clarifies my earlier answer. Peter "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2 v 15
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I agree with Noah. It is Merciful to put to death Murderers. The way it is done, doesnt matter to me. Shoot em, hang em, electrocute them. It is just. It is not murder.
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4/26/2008 1:54 am |
I agree with Noah. It is Merciful to put to death Murderers. The way it is done, doesnt matter to me. Shoot em, hang em, electrocute them. It is just. It is not murder. Peter "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2 v 15
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4/26/2008 1:43 pm |
Well, Jesus expressly warns us against an "eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" and when they arrive to arrest him (see the book of Matthew at the point where he is approached by armed men who come to arrest him) one of his disciples cuts off the ear of the soldier. Jesus replaces the man's ear (in so doing healing him). Ultimately Noah, you can distance yourself from this post, but don't distance yourself from the truth, for the Love of God, if you have a heart of flesh, which I think you do, then may you know that (since you are a stickler for the Old Testament, having quoted Noah from the Bible) that in the 10 commandments it is stated, Thou shallt not kill. God doesn't have a little obscure Clause to it where he gives judges and juries the right to change this God given law. Many blessings! 
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