Government accepted, physician-assisted, suicide growing legally
Assisted Suicide Legal in Dark Blue States, Illegal in Red States, & Under Consideration in Other Colors per NickCT
There are concerns that physician-assisted suicide will become legal across the USA as it was ‘legalized’ in California this week:
This week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that legalizes assisted suicide, making it the fourth state in the country to accept the dangerous practice, following Oregon, Washington and Vermont. In a letter to the California General Assembly,Gov. Brown said he signed the legislation because he would not want to live his final days in pain caused by a terminal disease.He said, “The crux of the matter is whether the State of California should continue to make it a crime for a dying person to end his life, not matter how great his pain or suffering.”
However, pro-life activists, religious leaders and national pro-life and disabled rights organizations are outraged by his decision and have already vowed to try and overturn the law. http://www.lifenews.com/2015/10/07/catholics-upset-with-catholic-governor-jerry-brown-legalizing-assisted-suicide-in-california/
Perhaps it’s not surprising that the best arguments against assisted suicide — especially advanced by such liberal icons as E.J. Dionne and Victoria Kennedy — are progressive. Liberals are generally happy for government to restrict individual freedoms to prevent violence and killing. They are also generally skeptical of the idea that choice leads to genuine freedom, especially for those without power on the margins of our culture.
Indeed, liberal states such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and, until this week, California had all recently rejected such legislation. Britain’s attempt to pass an assisted-suicide bill also went down to overwhelming defeat.
To get a victory in California, its supporters were forced to bypass the regular legislative process (which defeated the bill) and instead consider the bill in a healthcare special session, and under unusual rules. This context is as telling as it is disturbing.
Gov. Jerry Brown, despite being disappointed with its irregular passage, cited the pain and suffering of the dying as the reason he signed the bill. But it turns out these aren’t the reasons most people in the U.S. request assisted suicide. Indeed, with palliative sedation, doctors can keep patients unconscious so they don’t feel pain. According to Oregon’s public health department, the top reasons given for assisted suicide in the state are loss of autonomy (91.5%), decreased ability to engage in enjoyable activities (88.7%), loss of dignity (79.3%), loss of control of body (50.1%) and becoming a burden on others (40%).
We’ve created a culture that worships freedom, autonomy and productivity, and pushes those who don’t fit that picture to the margins. Is it any wonder that poll data show that the poor and blacks and Latinos, along with virtually every disability rights group, are skeptical of assisted suicide?
Can a state really call itself progressive if, instead of working to change a culture where those without autonomy and control are considered a burden, it decides to make it easier for such people to kill themselves?
And there is evidence that the supposed safeguards in the law will not be enough to prevent the problem of the slippery slope. In the Netherlands and Belgium, the “right to die” just keeps broadening. An ever-increasing number of those exercising that right are requesting and receiving death because of depression, not pain or terminal illness. One Belgian legal expert has warned that the right to die is “going to become a kind of obligation.” Once the euthanasia crack opened, he said, it has just kept getting wider.
Supporters of assisted suicide in the U.S. argue that slippery slope concerns are overblown, but even in Oregon the facts tell a different story. Physicians for Compassionate Care has shown that some patients with severe depression have been approved for assisted suicide in Oregon. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-camosy-the-wrong-right-to-die-decision-20151007-story.html
Suicide is wrong and governments should not encourage it. Someday, humans will be prevented from doing such horrific acts (Isaiah 11:9; 30:20). Murder is evil, not good.
The Bible teaches to ‘choose life’ and not the way of death (Deuteronomy 30:19). It also warns of moral decline in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-6) and that people will call evil good (Isaiah 5:20).
The late Herbert W. Armstrong noted that some who seemed successful in this age, truly were not successful. Here is some of what he wrote decades ago:
Every two minutes someone in the United States attempts suicide. Each day nearly 70 persons succeed—but is that success? The World Health Organization estimates that some one thousand people commit suicide in the world—every day!
Suicides now outnumber murders. Now various organizations for the prevention of suicide are a reality! But the cause is individual failure!
Only a minority, of course, go to this extreme, but the overwhelming majority do end their lives in failure…
People will ignore all their lives any idea of divine guidance and help—yet if one should find himself on a foodless and waterless raft after a shipwreck in mid-ocean, it is remarkable how quickly he would begin to believe there really is a living God! In last-resort desperation most people will cry out to Him whom they have ignored, disobeyed, and set at naught all their lives.
Wouldn’t it seem axiomatic that, if there is a compassionate beneficent Creator standing ready and willing to give us emergency help as a last resort, it would have been more sensible to have sought His guidance and help all along? Yet some have acquired wealth, lived luxuriously, and then, suddenly losing all, turned finally to God in their economic distress. Others have committed suicide…
Is it possible that the living GOD might be a factor in determining the success or failure of one’s life? Few have thought so.
People will ignore all their lives any idea of divine guidance and help—yet if one should find himself on a foodless and waterless raft after a shipwreck in mid-ocean, it is remarkable how quickly he would begin to believe there really is a living God! In last-resort desperation most people will cry out to Him whom they have ignored, disobeyed, and set at naught all their lives.
Wouldn’t it seem axiomatic that, if there is a compassionate beneficent Creator standing ready and willing to give us emergency help as a last resort, it would have been more sensible to have sought His guidance and help all along? Yet some have acquired wealth, lived luxuriously, and then, suddenly losing all, turned finally to God in their economic distress. Others have committed suicide. Few, it seems, will ever rely on their Maker and life-Sustainer until they feel helpless and in desperate need. Even then the motive too often is selfish.
Yet, if we are to enjoy the good things of life—freedom from fears and worries, peace of mind, security, protection, happiness, abundant well-being—the very SOURCE of their supply is the Great God! Since all comes from Him anyway, why not tap the SOURCE from the very beginning?
But in our day of modern science, sophistication and vanity, it has not been fashionable to believe in a Maker. In this deceived world, knowledge of God has found little or no place in modern education.
The ALL-IMPORTANT seventh Law of Success, nevertheless, is having contact with, and the guidance and continuous help of GOD!
And the person who does put this all-important seventh law last is very probably dooming his life to failure at the end. (Armstrong HW. The Seven Laws of Success,)
The Bible teaches that one is not to murder (Exodus 20:13). And that includes murdering oneself. Notice also the following:
Is suicide a crime?…
God commands: “THOU SHALT NOT KILL” (the sixth commandment). Webster defines the word kill as “to deprive of life.” To commit suicide, then, is breaking one of the Ten Commandments -and is definitely condemned by God. Paul admonishes us saying, “Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man DESTROY (KJV margin) the temple of God, him shall God DESTROY; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Cor. 3 : 16, 17 ) . “What, know you not that your BODY is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?” (I Cor. 6: 19). No murderer-or suicide-has eternal life abiding in him (I John 3: 15). He has no hope unless and until in the general resurrection after the millennium he repents of his sin (Matthew 11 :20-24). (Plain Truth. January 1960, pp. 15-16)
It is sad and disturbing when people commit suicide or commit other forms of murder. It is sad that more and more governments are trying to make suicide easier.
In today’s society, hopefully more of the depressed will not turn to suicide, yet now this seems more likely. There is hope for those, who will turn to God, but few truly have faith in Him and hope in His Kingdom.
Some items of possibly related concerns may include:
The Seven Laws of Success Herbert W. Armstrong had seven laws that he felt could help people become successful.
How to Overcome Depression and Discouragement This is an article by Paul Krautmann & John Siston.
Christian Success Does the Bible teach that Christians are to be successful? Are there at least seven laws of success that Christians should follow? How does the Bible teach we are to become successfully spiritually? Does the Bible really teach that Christians should be successful physically? This video answers these questions and more from the Bible. An outline of some of the scriptures used is here: Christian Success Outline.
Living as a Christian: How and Why? In what ways do Christians live differently than others. What about praying, fasting, tithing, holy days, and the world? There is also a YouTube video related to that also called: Living as a Christian: How and Why?
Why Were You Born? Why did God make you? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. You may also wish to read the article What is Your Destiny? or watch the video, also titled What is Your Destiny?
Building Character: Going on to Perfection Once you have accepted Jesus, do you need to strive for perfection and build character? A related video sermon is available: Going on to perfection and building character.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
Do Christians Sin? This is an article by Herbert W. Armstrong.
Overcoming Sin What is sin? How are Christians suppose to overcome it? Here is a link to a version in Mandarin Chinese: 克服是重要的. Here is also a link to a video in English titled How to Overcome Sin.
How to Prevent Sin This is an article by Herbert W. Armstrong. Here is a version in Mandarin: 如何不犯罪
Real Conversion Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion.
False Conversion Have you really been converted? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this article on this important subject.
All About Water Baptism What is baptism? Would you like to know more about it. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. As far as early history, see also Baptism, the Early Church, and the Continuing Church.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermons Why Teach the Kingdom of God? and The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
God’s Grace is For All Is being Jewish a hindrance to salvation? What about not being a descendant of Israel? What does the Bible really teach? Here is a link to a related sermon titled Race and Grace; Do you view race as God does?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught? For a more detailed discussion of the first four commandments, please see the video The Ten Commandments: Loving God. For a more detailed discussion of the last six commandments, please see: The Ten Commandments: Loving Your Neighbor. Here is a link to a related article in Mandarin Chinese 十条诫命显示爱，违反诫命的就是邪恶的
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings. A related sermon is titled: Christians and the Ten Commandments.
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