At the end of the end of someone’s life there is there the need to care for the sick and the ones near to death, just as Christ did in one of his miracles, healing the man in Capernaum. Jesus was lead by 4 men and was astounded by their faith and said to them “ your sins are forgiven”, he was cured. This story relates to fact that you must believe in God, and healing is possible. It also shows we have a responsibility to help the sick.
One of the parables in the bible is the Good Samaritan where a man is attacked near to death when a Samaritan finds him. The crowd expect him to finish him off, but instead picks him up and pays for him to stay at an inn for a week, to let him recover. Why, one may ask, it is because “who is my neighbour? Anyone who is in need, regardless of race, colour, religion, even your enemy!” This story illustrates the fact, that the Samaritans good nature is showing to us how important life is and should not be taken away prematurely i.e. form abortion and euthanasia.
“Thou shall not kill thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:13), this suggests that euthanasia ad abortion is wrong. Also Genesis 1 states humans are special and it is not up to us to take it away life, but the decision of God.
These responsibility’s all lead to protect the sanctity of life, how sacred life is and that we must protect it because all life is God Given and should not be destroyed.
Abortion and Euthanasia: Faced with the issues you have chosen, explain the different ways Christians might respond.
Christians throughout the world have many different views about the rights of abortion and euthanasia. This is because the descriptions of abortion and euthanasia in the bible are so bleak and therefore the different denominations have chosen their own views on abortion and euthanasia.
The Roman Catholic is probably the denomination most against abortion. They believe that “ abortion ahs been considered to be murder since the first centuries of the church, and nothing permits it to be considered otherwise” (Pope Paul VI). This view is also shown by the Church of England. They believe that “ the foetus should be specially respected and protected”. These strong beliefs of abortion are backed up by the fact that the earliest surviving Christian document states, “you shall not kill by abortion, the fruit of the womb and you shall not murder the infant already born”. Today abortion is common and easily obtainable, but why?
Abortion is when a fertilised baby is stopped and killed inside a baby’s womb, this may sound like a malevolent action, but many argue that they have a good reason to have an abortion. The main arguments for abortion are the fact that the baby is unwanted, disabled or handicapped, and that women have the right to decide what happens o their own bodies. If a child if found to be handicapped, it is expensive to look after them, and the born handicapped would most probably not enjoy life. Some babies are unwanted. This may sound harsh, but it is reality. A mother who ahs already had a child or children, will cause an extra child in her family. This extra child may cause the mother to neglect her other children. At the end of the day, women have the right to do whatever they want to their bodies, their own free will which is God given, and so abortion is only up to them to decide.
On the other hand, abortion is harsh thing to carry out. It is deciding the fate of a unborn baby, which has been God given, disregarding the babies own rights. I’m sure disabled people would rather not be disabled, but this does not mean that they would rather be dead and a healthy person does not have the right to decide that disabled people do not have lives worth living. In addition to this, abortion harms the mother. She may eventually feel disturbed and anxious about it; she may then feel guilty that she has killed her own child, and may then suffocate her emotions and become depressed. The catholic bishops teach “God, the lord of life, has entrusted men to the noble mission of safeguarding life…. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception.”
Euthanasia is also a very controversial topic, with the Roman Catholic completely against it. They have released numerous statements around the topic of euthanasia and is considered “a grave violation of law of God”.
Euthanasia is when someone has reached a point in his life there hid or her life is no longer worth Living. This applies to people who have minds which are so deteriorated they are helpless and unable to live with any dignity at all and those who are brainstem dead- who have no hope of recovering consciousness but whose bodies are still, technically, alive.
One must then consider compassion, which would move people to alleviate pain and suffering – Jesus looked to help all those in need or who suffered. Also death for Christians is not the end, for God awaits us in heaven.
Nevertheless Life is sacred and God-given: only God can decide the end of life. To allow euthanasia risks vulnerable people being “put-down” at the whim of their families or the medical profession. What’s more is that when facing euthanasia, you have shown great courage and faith, following the example of Christ.
To conclude, I myself believe in the statement, “God gave life, and only God can take it away”