Carrying Burdens and Euthanasia // Bible Study

May 21, 2018

Rock of Ages Lutheran Branch, Madison, TN

Importance of This Bible Study

1) Life issues are broadening or shifting to each end of the life spectrum: beginning of life through end of life.

2) Personally we are not victims of abortion, yet we are all going to have end-of-life situations to deal with — maybe our own death.

Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

St. Paul indicates what our attitude will be when we deal with those carrying the burdens that lingering suffering and impairment can bring. Law of Christ…Law of Love.

Euthanasia, instead of giving us a way of helping our neighbor in need, allows us selfishly and in disobedience to God’s will, to turn our back on him.

Euthanasia

DEFINITION: Euthanasia is an effort to hasten death. The point is not how, but why we hasten death.

A) Euthanasia takes life/death decisions out of God’s hands.

Deuteronomy 32:39 – Only God has the authority over life and death.

Exodus 20:13 – You shall not murder.

Genesis 9:6 – Spoken to the murderer.

B) Quality of life: An approach that says only human life at a certain level of quality is worth living. Certain level of consciousness and usefulness.

Genesis 1:26 – Human life is the crown of God’s creation.

1 John 2:2 – Every human being is a redeemed child of God.

2 Peter 3:9 – God’s purpose is that He doesn’t want anyone to perish, but to come to repentance.

C) Euthanasia claims that a person has the “right to die,” that suffering and impairment are indignant. Death with dignity is everybody’s right.

Romans 5:12 – Death is a punishment for sin. The final and irrecoverable manifestation of God’s wrath.

Hebrews 9:27 – Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.

Hebrews 10:31 – It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Burden Bearing

A) Burden bearing leaves life decisions with God.

Psalm 31:5 – My times are in your hands.

God determines when and how our life will end.

B) Burden bearing allows God use suffering and impairment for His purposes.

Exodus 4:11 – God has called each person to his/her suffering or impairment.

John 9:3 – God does not use suffering and impairment as punishment, but for each person’s own good.

Romans 5:3 – We rejoice in our suffering because suffering produces perseverance.

Luke 22:31 – Christ’s example of usefulness at the end of his life.

Acts 7:59 – Stephen’s example of usefulness at the end of his life.

Luke 23:47 – Witness of Christ’s attitude while dying on the cross.

C) Burden bearing allows God to exercise our faith in the concern we render to others.

Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Ephesians 2:10 – God has created us with new life in Christ and placed opportunities for us to do His work

D) Burden bearing allows us to face death with a Christian attitude.

1 Corinthians 15:56 Death is not good; the opposite of life.

Death is painful; the consequences of God’s anger.

John 11:25 – Christians don’t look forward to facing death, but look forward to facing life.

2 Corinthians 5:8-9 – We are just as comfortable dying as we are living.

DEFINITION: Imminent Death Care: Acknowledges that there is a time when the Creator says, “This the END.” And the application or withdrawal of medical treatment which acknowledges that God Himself has taken the soul to himself.