The Dignity of Euthanasia

No one likes to suffer. But even more so, no caring person likes to see another person, especially a loved one, suffer. This is especially the case when it comes to how we feel about the terminally ill trying to endure intolerable pain. Some people propose that the kindest thing we can do for a person in this condition is at least what we would do for any animal- put them out of their undignified misery (read: euthanasia). It is perhaps this motivation that has led Mr Nick McKim to introduce a Private Members Bill, Dying With Dignity 2009. (A copy of the Dying With Dignity 2009 Bill can be found here.) But there is another way of looking at this problem. Rather than thinking that euthanasia is the solution, it may exacerbate a whole set of other even worse problems.

Here's some of the main points that I think that we need to be aware of and why we should play a role affecting the outcome of this Bill.

• Human life is uniquely valuable, or rather: humans are uniquely invaluable.



• Euthanasia is the taking of a human life. It is therefore (i) Assisted suicide; or (ii) Unjustified Homicide.



• Euthanasia is therefore a violation of the 6th Commandment and an obscene mockery of God's image uniquely borne by human beings (Genesis 9:6).



• We do not consider a terminally ill patient's refusal to accept life-saving treatment as Euthanasia.



• The unrelenting physical pain of the terminally ill is an opportunity for, and more often than not a display of, dying with great dignity.



• Death beds often bring great healing to fractured families.



• People who are religious, and especially Christians, have long held that suffering is not meaningless or without purpose, and that it has the potential for great good to result. The epitome of this is the Cross of Christ where from one man's intense suffering the availability of salvation to the entire world as a result.



• This Bill proposed by The Tasmanian Greens' Leader presupposes the following-
  (i) There is no meaning or purpose in the suffering of the terminally ill;
  (ii) That Frederick Nietzsche was correct when he taught that a human-being is just the sum of their chemical elements and that after their death there is no other form of existence for them. Therefore, there is no moral dilemma in ending a person's life since, according to the "Nietzsche's Naturalism" there is no spiritual realm where such moral choices will be judged;
  (iii) That a person who wants to die has the right to do so in a manner of their choosing;
  (iv) Governments have no right to stand in the way of a person who wants to take their life;
  (v) Justification for Euthanasia may include psychological or emotional "pain". (Suicide is not the solution to this type of pain!);
  

* Allowing this Bill to be passed would send a desperately sad message to those providing palliative care for the terminally ill; those involved in suicide-prevention among vulnerable teens; the elderly who feel pressured to stop being such 'a burden' to those around them.

ACTION REQUIRED-
1. We require as many thoughtful and considered submissions to be made as possible. The Parliament has set up an Inquiry which has quietly called for submissions by July 31st 2009.These submissions can incorporate an elaboration of any of the above points but would be enhanced by personal accounts (which pastors perhaps more than many in society should be able to provide) of people close to us who have died with dignity.

Written submission to the Committee should be addressed to the Secretary, Joint Standing Committee on Community Development, Parliament House, Hobart, 7000, and forwarded prior to the close of business on Friday, 31 July 2009. Hon Kerry Finch MLC (CHAIRMAN). The Committee encourages the lodgement of submissions in electronic form. Emailed submissions must include name, phone number and postal address. Guidelines for witnesses and the preparation of a submission are available here or by contacting the Secretary – Ph: (03) 6233 2248 – Fax: (03) 6233 8103 –Email.

2. Attend the upcoming Pastors and Church Leaders' Briefing Sessions-
Hobart: St David's Cathedral, Bishop John Harrower's office
Thursday July 9th, 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Speakers: Mr Rene Hidding, Mr Nick Overton and others

Launceston: Legana Christian Church, Bridgenorth Road
Tuesday July 14th, 8AM for a complimentary cooked breakfast.
Speakers: Mr Nick Overton, Mr Rene Hidding, Dr. Andrew Corbett

--An Information Pack will be provided to all attendees. RSVP for either events to Nick Overton

I hope to see you at these briefings, and I hope you can make a submission as well.

CHARISMATIC GIFTS ENDED?

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

Christianity was spectacularly birthed! Depending on whether you regard Christianity commencing with the birth of Jesus or with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, either way, there is no escaping the foundational distinctive of Christianity: the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was virgin-born because the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary (Luke 1:35). The Church was born because the Holy Spirit was outpoured on seeking believers. The first followers of Christ saw some outstanding miracles- healings, deliverances, resurrections, water-walking, mind-reading, fortune-telling, and lunch lunch lunch. Jesus told His followers that they too would receive similar power.

Luke 24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

This power of the Holy Spirit, talked about by Christ in John 14-16, was seen as a gift from God, or put another way- an expression of God's grace. The Greek word for grace is charis. This is where we get the word "charismatic" comes from when describing the grace-gifts of the Holy Spirit. By the time Paul wrote to the Corinthians, it had become obvious that there were some generally common charismatic gifts evidenced in the early churches. He lists these in First Corinthians 12. These include healings, miracles, tongues (speaking unlearned languages), interpretation of tongues, faith, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, prophecy, and discerning of spirits. Someone who is baptised in the Holy Spirit and has been graced with any of these gifts is generally referred to as being "Charismatic". But there are some who claim that these gifts were only available during the formation of the Church, before the New Testament books were completed and compiled. They claim that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have "ceased". These people are generally known as cessationists.

But this is not explicitly taught in Scripture. A vague appeal is made to a reference in First Corinthians 13 which alludes to these gifts being done away with when that which is perfect has come. But the context of this passage demands that it is referring to when the Resurrection happens, not the close of the New Testament writings. Added to the dire lack of Scriptural support for the idea that the Holy Spirit's power and spiritual gifts are no longer available, history reveals that the Holy Spirit has been anything but inactive since the close of the New Testament. So if the New Testament at least leaves open the availability of the Holy Spirit's power and gifts for today, perhaps there is a healthy well-balanced way to seek the power, signs and wonders of God for our present circumstances. Perhaps we could join with the earliest church in their prayer?

Acts 4:29-30 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Pondering the word- charismatic, when we refer to the signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit's power such as healing and miracles, I am struck by the word charis...grace. Unlike some hyper-pentecostals who claim that they can make God do signs and wonders, this word, charismatic, reminds me that God's power is distributed according to His grace. Our appeal, like the appeal made in Acts 4:29-30, is an appeal to God's grace. As such, our role in these signs, miracles and wonders is one where we choose to seek God for them- but it is God's unique role as to how in His sovereignty He chooses to respond.

Acts 14:3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Biblical Illiteracy Is Not Just About Big Words

I have a son who thinks he is the world's best speller. It's actually become a family joke just how bad his spelling is though. In his 5th year of Elementary School, he couldn't see the irony of how he had labelled his Spelling Workbook - "Speeling". Even now, at pre-tertiary level, Tiger (my son) still can't spell. I have to read and re-read what he has written in order to figure out what the correct spelling should be and this discover what he is actually trying to say.

Every good English teacher will tell his students, "Don't use a big word when a small word will do." Similarly, they will teach their students to write concisely - don't use a lot of words when you can say the same thing with just a few.* But sometimes it is a big word that is both simple and concise. This is especially so if the big word is unequivocal (it can only mean one thing). Scripture very carefully uses such big words. Let's look at four of these and then we'll conclude with Christianity's biggest word...[more]

Can We Seriously Take The Bible Literally?

Asking a believer if they "take the Bible literally" is like asking a husband if he still beats his wife! The issue of Christians taking the Bible "literally" has become a major point of ridicule - even more recently by President-Elect Obama, who joined the chorus of ridicule by claiming during his election campaigning-

"Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is okay and that eating shellfish is an abomination? Or we could go with Deuteronomy which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith." [Catholic News Agency]

President Obama should know better! [more]

The 1 Minute Prayer

1Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing

What could you pray for in just 1 minute? In Second Corinthians 1:11, Paul urges his supporters to help him by praying. In so doing, he tells them, they will be participating in the spread of thanksgiving to God and His blessings. We're all too busy at times. All too often we're too . . . (sorry something came up while I was writing this sentence) . . . distracted. This makes praying difficult. My most effective praying when I can get away from my distractions. But could take the occasional 1 minute to pray throughout our days?

The prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray can be uttered in under 1 minute. It is often called the model prayer. If you think about its amazing potency to glorify God, petition God, cleanse the soul and calibrate the heart back onto God, it's even more profound. The next you pray it, you might like to take a full minute to consider just how magnificent it is.

Our Father we have a relationship with God! And please note "we" and especially note: "our". In the middle of the word Christianity is a cross "t", but in the middle of sin is the letter "I". To live for yourself just means ensuring that " I " is always in the middle of everything we do. But to live for God our Father (Christianity) means we live with and for others- this requires a cross.

Hallowed be Your Name Praise is an essential element to our relationship with God .

Your Kingdom Come The Kingdom of God is within the hearts of those He saves. We need to always ask God to save others so that His Kingdom is extended.

Your Will Be Done The need for us to be surrendered to God every time we pray.

Give Us This Day, Our Daily Bread It is not wrong to ask God to meet your needs - in fact, it is a mark of our dependence upon Him and as He meets our needs He is glorified.

Lead Us Not Into Temptation We should hate sin and plead with God to keep us even from the temptation to sin.

Yours Is The Glory Our praying, as with our lives, is to glorify God.

Go ahead, take the 1 minute prayer challenge.

Amen.

Propitiation

Sometimes simple concepts can only be best described with less than simple words. That is, if an attempt is made to explain something complex with inadequate terms, we are not being simple but simplistic. Being simplistic means that the fuller explanation is missing - thus the potential is: that because the explanation is insufficient the actual concept becomes misrepresented and therefore damaged.

For example, how do we describe God? If all we say is that God is love, we run the risk of being simplistic. Not even the Scriptures, which seems to default to simple concepts and language, leaves the reader with just this description. God is love, but He is much, much more than that.

How do we describe the salvation that God provided through Christ's redemptive work? In seeking to convey the heart of the Gospel, the New Testament uses a powerful (but not a simple word) to sum up the majestic work of salvation: propitiation. This word occurs four times in the New Testament and conceptually many more times than that in the Old Testament (where it is rendered as atonement).

It means that God's anger and wrath is vented on an atoning sacrifice (Jesus the Christ) so that the guilty who are called to be reconciled to God can receive mercy.

Romans 3:25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

It's not a simple word. And it's not a simplistic word. But it's a phenomenally profound word and concept: Propitiation. Thank God for it!

There Is A Need To Plead

2Corinthians 4:1 ¶ Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

At a time when Paul the apostle was greatly discouraged, he wrote to encourage the Corinthians. Perhaps discouraged that not enough people were turning to Christ through his ministry, Paul reminded himself by reminding the Corinthians, that we do not lose heart. The Gospel truly is good news! It was, according to Paul, ministering the mercy of God.

When you are a pastor and are discouraged (which is the most frequent job hazzard of this job) it is too easy to revert to human cleverness and present another Gospel that is more appealing to natural (carnal, that is- sin orientated) people rather than presenting a supernatural Gospel to develop supernatural people.

2Corinthians 4:2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

Paul seems to have understood the temptation to "tamper" with God's Word and present a watered-down Gospel. But he said that he refused to do this. So should we.

2Corinthians 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.

Perhaps you have shared the Gospel with your friends and have them dismiss your appeal to them. Paul understands this. But rather than remain discouraged about this, he unveils to his readers that the reason some people do not accept the Gospel is because they are spiritually veiled and blind.

2Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Paul's answer to this spiritual blindness is not some novel and fantastic (from the word: fantasy) notion about what some paperback preachers promote as "spiritual warfare", no, rather Paul sees the antedote to this spiritual malady as: the preaching of the Gospel.

2Corinthians 4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Preachers are essential to the plan of God. At Legana we have around 140 preachers on our preaching team. Some preach from a pulpit. Some preach from a desk in an office. Some of us preach in schools. And others preach in homes. But while the role of the preacher is indispensible to the saving of spiritually blind sinners, it is an impossible task. No preacher can save a sinner. Only God can. This is why does not dwell in his discouragement. He came to understand that as he preached, he was in actuallity an instrument of God's Spirit. Therefore, he could rest in the knowledge that as he preached it was the means by which the Holy Spirit opened the eyes of the spiritually blind.

2Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Just as God spoke the world into existence with a word, and then created light in the midst of darkness with a word, so this same God can speak life and light into the death and darkeness of a hardened sinner. As we share the message of the Bible (the Gospel) with unbelievers we are partnering with the Spirit of God to minister mercy, grace, light and life. For Paul's original audience, they understood this salvation in different ways. To the Jews this salvation was light. To the Greeks this salvation was knowledge. And to the Romans this desired salvation was Glory. All of these hopes of salvation were to be found in Christ and invested into sin-darkened sinners by God the Spirit- "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Cor. 4:6).

This Gospel of mercy, grace, light, knowledge and glory will eventually conquer more and more souls with the love of Christ.

2Corinthians 4:15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

This is what we too want to see- more and more people accepting the grace of God and coming to know Christ as Saviour and Lord.

2Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore [plead with] you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Thus we plead too. It's not a matter of life and death - it's far far far more important than that because it determines our eternal state. This is our witness when we meet to worship and proclaim the Word. We plead with people (to be receive the mercy and grace and forgiveness and blessing of God) and we plead with God (in prayer to open the eyes of the spiritually blind when they hear the Gospel). Our ministry is a pleading ministry - I plead with you.

More TV Pilots

How to the kind of life that God will reward...

Helping Make Life Better - How To Live A God-Rewarded Life, Part 1 from Andrew Corbett on Vimeo.

Helping Make Life Better TV Show Pilot

This episode features local songwriter and Gospel artist Erica Hofsink and Tom Pugh performing a song inspired by the recent Victorian Bushfires. We also feature an interview with Brian Hartley who was given just a few months to live just over 5 years ago. Through the grace of God, Brian has enjoyed an extended life and tells of how he was converted from the Christadelphian cult to Christianity.

Helping Make Life Better - How To Receive God's Rewards from Andrew Corbett on Vimeo.

We are looking to produce a complete series of these pilots and VODcast them through iTunes when they are complete.