euthanasia
Pray the News – June 30th, 2024
A news article caught my eye this week that focused on euthanasia, the practice of intentionally ending life to eliminate pain and suffering. There are many reasons why someone might consider assisted suicide or the termination of life on request, either for themselves or for a loved one. This is a complicated and highly debated philosophical and bioethical issue involving many areas, including the right to decide, personal freedom, abuse, physician responsibility, and the sanctity of life. Currently, the AMA’s code of medical ethics states that “permitting physicians to engage in euthanasia would ultimately cause more harm than good” and “euthanasia is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer.” However, attitudes are rapidly changing around the world.
God is not silent on our anguish and suffering. Listen to the Psalmist’s honest cries in Psalm 77:1-14 – “1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3 I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints. 4 You keep my eyelids from closing; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I consider the days of old, and remember the years of long ago. 6 I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit: 7 ‘Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love ceased forever? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?’ 10 And I say, ‘It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed.’ 11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have displayed your might among the peoples.’”
Let’s pray. Lord God, we praise you as the author and sustainer of life. You created everything there is and placed humans to reflect your image in the world. Your purpose and desire for all people is that we would live in the shalom of God, the place of flourishing, wholeness, and delight. We ask for you to turn the hearts of medical professionals, healers, sufferers, families, and ethicists to you, the God who is with us and the God who is over all. We pray that you would give each one the desire to do what is in harmony with your word. We ask for you to pour out the desire for flourishing, wholeness, and delight. We ask you to send encouragers to those who are weary and troubled. We don’t understand why there is so much pain and suffering in the world. We look to you, Lord God, as the source of all life, all healing, all comfort. And we ask you to send help, send wisdom, send healing, send grace. We ask all these things, oh God, in the precious name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
