Today, I watched an episode of Cold Case that centered on euthanasia. The audience was duly informed that the term meant "good death." Those watching were also informed that pain and suffering stripped a human being of his or her dignity. The episode was packed full of emotive force. It created a great springboard for a discussion.
The arguments for euthanasia make sense in a culture that views death as an end or at least an end to suffering. If we die and that is it, then allowing a human being to suffer seems needlessly cruel. The same can be said if we believe that almost everyone who dies goes to heaven. As one of the characters said, "Hell is a place for those who have forgotten how to love." It sounds poetic and beautiful. But is it right? If we take the biblical teachings on death and life after death seriously, death isn't the end. The human soul lives on beyond the death of the body, and only those who have turned from sin and put their trust in Jesus Christ go to heaven.
What about human dignity? Maybe we shouldn't measure dignity in terms of being able to keep a stiff upper lip or responding to pain with a stoic resilience. What if tears in the midst of suffering isn't undignified? What if surrendering the will to live is undignified? Are human beings no different from a dog or a cat? Should human suffering be ended with a dose of death?
The arguments for euthanasia usually assume that suffering is, without exception, evil. Those fans and friends of "mercy killings" do not appear to believe that pain and suffering can have a positive result. Is it possible that suffering can have a redemptive element. I don't mean to imply that we can be saved through suffering. I mean that sometimes good things can come out of bad things. Even in the episode, the man whose death was being investigated had a change of heart and tried to make amends before his death.
The dilemma was presented in moral terms without theological context. In other words, the show informed the viewers this was a good thing, but it never presented God's opinion. They suggested that death should be left in the hands of the individual, but I just don't buy it. We have dignity because we bear the image of God. The soul of each person has value, and suffering cannot diminish that value.
Showing posts with label Human Dignity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Human Dignity. Show all posts
Friday, October 26, 2012
Monday, October 5, 2009
What Are These Among So Many?
I read a story, in Saturday's paper, about the recovery of two women trapped in debris from buildings that collapsed during the earthquake that struck Indonesia. The article goes on to state that there are already 715 confirmed dead and nearly 3,000 missing. As I thought about this and other recent natural disasters, my mind kept returning to these two women, and why their recovery is so important. I must admit that I, like the disciple Andrew, began to ask, "But what are these among so many?" Andrew was speaking about five loaves and two fishes and wondering how so little could feed so many (5000 men plus their wives and children). I was speaking about two survivors among possibly thousands of lives lost. Why would two lives spared mean anything in light of the staggering loss?
I can think of at least three reasons why these two lives mean something: they were created in the image of God, God desires that they not perish, but come to repentance, and they restore hope in a devastating situation.
The Bible states that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. While this image has been marred by Adam's sin, it has not be erased. The image of God within humanity is what separates us from the animals. Animals are not people, even if they possess personality. Human beings are not animals, even if modern scientific classification wrongly claims they are. Humans are the image-bearers, created to reflect the glorious image of God, through righteous stewardship and kingly dominion. Our king and ancestor, Adam, and his wife, Eve, however, but ruin to our race, humanity, by rebelling against the Creator.
The image of God reveals itself to us in many ways. It may come through as our conscience pointing us to what we ought to do or pointing us away from what we ought not to do. It is seen in the ability to love. It is often seen actions, often labeled heroic by bystanders, but seen as duty by those who do them. We see it when a firefighter or police officer enters into a dangerous situation to rescue someone. We see it when a neighborhood bands together to find a missing child. When fallen people, who are typically out of sync with God, do the very things God expects them to do, for the very reasons God expects them to be done, even without thinking, "Gee, I wonder what God would have me to do?," that is when we see the image of God revealed in man. Because of that image, every person, no matter how big or small, rich or poor, young or old, deserves to be valued and treated with dignity.
The Bible also teaches that God patient toward us "not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). The Lord asks, "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his ways and live?" (Ezek. 18:23, ESV). God sent his Son, Jesus, into the world to redeem the world, and any who come to Christ in faith, for forgiveness and cleansing, will find it.
The question might be asked, "If God doesn't wish any would perish, why were only two survivors found?" I can't answer that question. I can't even say that these two women will ever come to Christ in faith, and thus, find true deliverance from death. All I can say with certainty is that God delights in bringing himself glory through the redemption of sinners. He rejoices when one sinner repents and comes to him.
Thus, the recovery of these two women is analogous to the redemption of mankind. In one sense, these women were lost. They were as good as dead. Death surrounded them on every side. Yet, someone who they could not contact, who they most like didn't expect to find them, burst into their situation and raised them out of death's clutches. Redemption's story is similar to this situation. Humanity was lost. We were dead in our trespasses. Death surrounded us on every side. We had no hope of escape. And then someone we could not contact for help, and certainly didn't expect, burst into our life and pulled us out of death's hands.
Thus, the recovery of these women bring hope to an otherwise hopeless situation. When few thought that any could still be alive, two were found. Others may be out there awaiting recovery. No doubt word of these survivors energized rescue workers. Now as they search frantically through the rubble of their cities, these individuals will keep reminding themselves it happened once, it may happen again. As they uncover victim after victim, their heart will not allow them to give into despair, because the next body just may have a pulse. The rescue workers will press on, is spite of the growing stench and exhaustion that is creeping into their over-labored limbs. They push on because, they can't rest knowing now that their may be survivors.
Again, we can draw a parallel to the Christian life. Believers are called to be search and rescue workers. We must keep plunging into the dark and stench-filled world, seeking survivors buried under the rubble of sin. When someone else is rescued it motivates us to push on. We continue seek the lost, in order to seem them brought from death to life. We can't rest when we might see one more rescued. We must labor on until every rock is overturned, and everyone has had a chance to be rescued.
Ultimately, the rescue of these two women reminds us that life is a gift. We never know which moment will be our last. These two women have been give a new lease on life, I pray that someday, they can rejoice in the Lord for that. Yet, there are many more who could have a new lease of life, if only we tell them about Jesus before it is too late.
I can think of at least three reasons why these two lives mean something: they were created in the image of God, God desires that they not perish, but come to repentance, and they restore hope in a devastating situation.
The Bible states that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. While this image has been marred by Adam's sin, it has not be erased. The image of God within humanity is what separates us from the animals. Animals are not people, even if they possess personality. Human beings are not animals, even if modern scientific classification wrongly claims they are. Humans are the image-bearers, created to reflect the glorious image of God, through righteous stewardship and kingly dominion. Our king and ancestor, Adam, and his wife, Eve, however, but ruin to our race, humanity, by rebelling against the Creator.
The image of God reveals itself to us in many ways. It may come through as our conscience pointing us to what we ought to do or pointing us away from what we ought not to do. It is seen in the ability to love. It is often seen actions, often labeled heroic by bystanders, but seen as duty by those who do them. We see it when a firefighter or police officer enters into a dangerous situation to rescue someone. We see it when a neighborhood bands together to find a missing child. When fallen people, who are typically out of sync with God, do the very things God expects them to do, for the very reasons God expects them to be done, even without thinking, "Gee, I wonder what God would have me to do?," that is when we see the image of God revealed in man. Because of that image, every person, no matter how big or small, rich or poor, young or old, deserves to be valued and treated with dignity.
The Bible also teaches that God patient toward us "not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). The Lord asks, "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his ways and live?" (Ezek. 18:23, ESV). God sent his Son, Jesus, into the world to redeem the world, and any who come to Christ in faith, for forgiveness and cleansing, will find it.
The question might be asked, "If God doesn't wish any would perish, why were only two survivors found?" I can't answer that question. I can't even say that these two women will ever come to Christ in faith, and thus, find true deliverance from death. All I can say with certainty is that God delights in bringing himself glory through the redemption of sinners. He rejoices when one sinner repents and comes to him.
Thus, the recovery of these two women is analogous to the redemption of mankind. In one sense, these women were lost. They were as good as dead. Death surrounded them on every side. Yet, someone who they could not contact, who they most like didn't expect to find them, burst into their situation and raised them out of death's clutches. Redemption's story is similar to this situation. Humanity was lost. We were dead in our trespasses. Death surrounded us on every side. We had no hope of escape. And then someone we could not contact for help, and certainly didn't expect, burst into our life and pulled us out of death's hands.
Thus, the recovery of these women bring hope to an otherwise hopeless situation. When few thought that any could still be alive, two were found. Others may be out there awaiting recovery. No doubt word of these survivors energized rescue workers. Now as they search frantically through the rubble of their cities, these individuals will keep reminding themselves it happened once, it may happen again. As they uncover victim after victim, their heart will not allow them to give into despair, because the next body just may have a pulse. The rescue workers will press on, is spite of the growing stench and exhaustion that is creeping into their over-labored limbs. They push on because, they can't rest knowing now that their may be survivors.
Again, we can draw a parallel to the Christian life. Believers are called to be search and rescue workers. We must keep plunging into the dark and stench-filled world, seeking survivors buried under the rubble of sin. When someone else is rescued it motivates us to push on. We continue seek the lost, in order to seem them brought from death to life. We can't rest when we might see one more rescued. We must labor on until every rock is overturned, and everyone has had a chance to be rescued.
Ultimately, the rescue of these two women reminds us that life is a gift. We never know which moment will be our last. These two women have been give a new lease on life, I pray that someday, they can rejoice in the Lord for that. Yet, there are many more who could have a new lease of life, if only we tell them about Jesus before it is too late.
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