ASSISTED DYING IN THE LIGHT OF THE CROSS

Today in the UK, MP’s vote on Kim Leadbeater’s Assisted Dying Bill.

But whilst I do not doubt that those who intend to vote in favour of the bill will do so for reasons that are well meaning, I nonetheless believe that such a move would be a mistake.

I have previously written of my concern that legalising physician assisted suicide will produce a slippery slope, one which risks seeing the weak and vulnerable feeling under pressure to end their lives. And I’ve written too of how we will all be diminished by allowing the killing of those whose existence might be said to be either burdensome, or somehow lacking in value.

But there is a yet more fundamental reason why I am opposed to the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia – one that reflects my Christian faith.

But contrary to what you may be thinking, I am not here principally referring to the nonetheless hugely significant sixth commandment that prohibits us to murder. [Exodus 20:13]. Rather I am thinking about scripture’s counterintuitive claim that suffering is not without meaning or purpose. Because irrespective of how intense or prolonged our affliction may be, it remains, we’re told, ‘light and momentary’ in comparison to the ‘eternal weight of glory’ that it is preparing for us. [2 Corinthians 4:17]

Inevitably, there will be those who say that I have no right to impose my Christian beliefs on those who do not share my faith. And they would of course be right. Unless, that is, Christianity is true.

And so, as is the case with so many things in life, it all comes down to this simple question:

‘Was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ just one more meaningless death, or was it, alongside his subsequent resurrection, the most important event in history?’

And it’s because I believe the latter, that I hope the bill will not be passed today.

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Related posts:

To read ‘Assisted Dying – we all need to be happier to help’, click here

To read ‘What becomes of the broken hearted? Sorrowful yet always rejoicing on Palm Sunday’, click here

To read ‘Why do bad things happen to good people? Sorrowful yet always rejoicing on Good Friday’, click here

To read ‘Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things? Rejoicing, though temporarily sorrowful, on Easter Day’, click here.

To read ‘All’s Well That End’s Well’, click here

To read ‘T.S. Eliot, Jesus and the Paradox of the Christian Life’, click here

To read “Luther and the global pandemic – on becoming a theologian of the cross”, click here

To read “Suffering- A Personal View”, click here.

To read ‘The Resurrection – is it just rhubarb?’, click here