Expert: Marvin Howard - 7/5/2005

Question
The question is quite academic to me AT THE MOMENT,
but since you never know what may happen, I am
interested in the question when to terminate life
support, if there really is a good answer to this.

My question goes something like this:  Is it ever
really permissable for a Christian to remove life
support from another?  When?  And what is the
difference in this, in many cases, and euthanasia?
That is, some instances I am thinking about could
be tantamount to "removing an inconvence" rather
than "doing the right thing."

I know this question is very complicated with
many ramifications and if you want to defer on
it, I'll certainly understand since I can't really
see any clear and understandable guidelines for
it.  I have seen a circumstance where the doctor
said to do it, but I was against it then and
would be the same were the same situation to occur
today.

Answer
Hi!

Gary, I need to apologize for the delay. I had problems with my phone line, and just got my internet access restored. It seems to be a difficult question. I will gladly give you the information I have.

Matthew 9:12, "But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."

Mark 2:17 and Luke 5:31 repeat the Savior's statement.

With this in mind, please consider the following websites and the information they contain.

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry?id=22019

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_classical.html

Physicians today must swear this oath before false gods before they can graduate and practice medicine. As such, they demonstrate they do not have true interest in obeying God's laws.

This seems like a paradox. I guess it could be considered such. Nevertheless, consider Romans 13.

Romans 13:1-7, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

We are to obey the government. Yet, if the government orders something contrary to God, we are to obey God. Consider the stories of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo, and that of Daniel.

We are to use physicians if we are ill. Today, with the swearing of the oath to Appollos, I can't see a Christian being a physician. We are to take their advice where it doesn't contradict God. This is akin to the recognition of true science as opposed to "science falsely so called" (1st Timothy 6:20).

In relation to life, consider that modern scientists consistently contradict God concerning when it begins. (Consider John and Jesus in the wombs. John recognized Jesus, and both are refered to by the same Greek term for a baby already born. This story is recorded in Luke chapter 1, by a physician.) This demonstrates their lack of spiritual knowledge as to what constitutes life in the first place.

Life is life. Do not take it (Genesis 9:6 Matthew 26:52).

In order for there to be life within a man, there is a body, soul, and spirit. It may be that lacking one constitutes a lack of life. However, that would be speculative, at best. It is safer to err on the side of caution in any issue that might be a sin if we are unsure.

I hope this helps clear up the matter for you. Do not hesitate to ask if you have further issues, or need more clarification.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
preacherman_1962@yahoo.com
braswellcoc@juno.com
http://www.geocities.com/preacherman_1962