Assisted dying and the failure of compassion
Posted at Reformation Scotland:
Legislation to permit assisted dying is due to be debated in the House of Commons again. When the bill’s supporters reach an impasse with their arguments from everyone’s supposed autonomy to decide for themselves that their life should be ended, they appeal instead to compassion. They insist that they are motivated by kindness and that the most compassionate response to people’s suffering or perceived loss of dignity is to assist them to die. This directly contradicts the moral imperative to preserve human life. Condensed within the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill,” is the twin principle that it is morally wrong to murder and morally right to preserve our own and our neighbour’s life. This means that when people are in need, we should take steps to alleviate their suffering and allow them to live a fuller life. Assisting someone to end their life is fundamentally a non-compassionate response. In the following abridged extract from his commentary on the ten commandments, Thomas Watson explains.Life is the most precious thing, and God has set the sixth commandment as a fence about it, to preserve it. “Thou shalt not kill” (Exod. 20:13). He made a statute which has never to this day been repealed, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed” (Gen. 9:6). In the Old Testament, if someone killed another unawares, he was permitted to take sanctuary; but if he killed him willingly, then, even if he fled to the sanctuary, the holiness of the place would not defend him (Exod. 21:14).
Ways of committing this sin
There are various ways in which we may be said to murder someone.
With the hand. This is how Joab killed Abner and Amasa (2 Sam. 20:10).
By plotting their death. Though Jezebel did not lay her own hands on Naboth, yet she contrived his death, and caused two false witnesses to swear against him, she was the murderer (1 Kings 21:9–10).
By poison. The wife of the Roman emperor Commodes tried to kill her husband by poisoning the wine he drank. So, many kill little children by medicines that cause their death.
By having the intention to kill. When Saul made David go against the Philistines, he intended for the Philistine to kill him (1 Sam. 18:17). Here was intended murder, and in God’s account it was as bad as actual murder.
By consenting to someone’s death. Saul consented to the death of Stephen (Acts 22:20). Someone who gives consent is accessory to the murder.
By not hindering someone’s death when it is in our power. Pilate knew that Christ was innocent, but did not hinder His death; therefore he was guilty. Washing his hands in water could not wash away the guilt of Christ’s blood.
By unmercifulness. This includes taking away what is necessary for the support of life, even including the tools by which someone gets their living: “No man shall take the upper or the nether millstone to pledge, for he taketh a man’s life” (Deut. 24:6). It also includes not helping him when he is ready to perish. You may be the death of another by not relieving him, just as much as by committing violence against him. If you don’t feed someone who is starving, you kill him.
