Assisted Suicide

Land of Death

Recently I was visiting another place, where assisted suicide has, in principle, got the go-ahead. At a prayer meeting in this place, one of the prayer warriors asked the LORD, “that this place might not be known as the land of death, but a land of life.”

I thought that was very well put as regards the “right” to assisted suicide.

Do we have the right to suicide?

Human Rights have permeated so much of Western Society that now, “It’s my right” is shouted for abortion, for end of life, for freedom of protest (regardless the disruption), and so much more. All these things may seem fine on the surface, but death, death, and more death are at the heart of these “rights” as they have been expressed in recent months and years.

My friend

This post is sparked from a very personal experience. Recently, my dear friend of 35 years died. He scheduled his Assisted Dying appointment for this past weekend.* I don’t know whether he met with Jesus beforehand or during the end of his life on earth. It’s tragic to think his pain was so great and his hope so reduced, that he did not want to carry on. It’s tragic to think that he may be gone, before his time. It’s just tragic.

What I said, what I didn’t say

My friend warned me he might go this route. He broke the news to me gently, in stages. He couldn’t have done any better. I said I loved him. I said I was praying for him. He asked me, “How will I know?” I said, “You’ll be well.”

We did this over the phone because we live thousands of miles apart.

I didn’t try to convert him (he asked me years ago to stop witnessing to him). I didn’t argue with him. He even gave me an opening, “I know you don’t agree with this.” But it wasn’t for me to debate him. He was in extreme pain and it was for me only to love him.

Dangers and the slippery slope

I have a much bigger problem with the option of suicide being made available by governments, than I have with the individuals taking the option. Governments are meant to protect people. I don’t see any protection in allowing assisted death.

There are arguments against assisted suicide aka euthanasia aka assisted dying: It is against GOD. It is dangerous, pressuring the disabled and elderly to opt for it so that they are no longer a “burden” to society or to family.

There are arguments for assisted suicide: It is humane. It ends pain. It releases the burden from society of those who cannot support themselves.

I’m against the concept, 100% against it. 

Against it, and yet…

I am against the concept of assisted suicide. I think it cheats the individual of the opportunity for the miraculous and for a timely encounter with GOD. But when faced with it, I could only love my friend. I didn’t judge him. I didn’t despair. I put him in the Maker’s hands, hoping and praying for the divine appointment between them that I’ve been praying for, for 35 years.

*Since writing the draft of this post, my friend’s brother rang me to confirm the end of my friend’s life. I am grateful for and truly touched that I was earmarked to be told. Also, this gave me the opportunity to hear how his close family felt, and what was on his mind (so far as he shared it) before his death. I felt closer to him, and isn’t intimacy of relationship what life is all about?