This topic came up in a church chat, and it got my brain wheels rolling. MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) came into effect in Canada in June 2016; according to Canada.ca, there were 13,241 assisted deaths in Canada in 2022. That is a 31.2% increase in MAiD procedures from 2021. I believe we will continue to see that number increase with Canada’s aging population and the increase in incurable medical diagnosis. Today perhaps you have only heard of individuals in palliative care choosing MAiD, but tomorrow it might be a loved one that asks you to hold their hand as they choose to take their last breath. So how should Christians feel about it? What should be our response if we are asked to attend a MAiD procedure?

Let’s look at the bible for direction. And to keep it simple, let’s break this down into 2 easy questions to answer.

1. what does the bible say about taking the life of another?
> for starters, Deuteronomy 5 shows us the 10 commandments, and number 8 is “though shall not murder”. What is murder? The premeditative killing of oner person by another. The bible doesn’t say “murder is allowed if the person grants permission”. It says do not do it, it is a sin. This commandment shows the value God has placed on human life, and that it should be preserved with care.
> We read about many murders that took place (Cain, Moses, David, to name a few ): it never turned out good. We see verses like Leviticus 24:17,Matthew 5:21 stating that the punishment for taking another’s life is judgement/losing your life. Now, yes we have new testament forgiveness through Christ for our sins, but the commandments still stand and thou shall not kill.

2. what is the point of pain and suffering on earth?
>Many verses speak of the purpose of suffering (Romans 5:3, Romans 8:18-21, James 1:2-4, 2 Corinthians 12:10 ). It all comes down to being brought closer to Christ by letting go of our earthy circumstances and suffering. It is asking God to show us how our suffering is bringing the eyes and ears of others to Christ. Man, I could write a massive post on this singe point.

In my 10 years of healthcare work I have seen the pain and suffering from patients in palliative care, with the effects of massive strokes, cancers, multiple-limb amputations, full body burns… I have seen suffering and I have walked along side my patients in their suffering, offering every support I could (including muttered prayers under my breath).

Now, we know the devil is the father of lies and deception, and we see his deception at work in the 3 somewhat accepted forms of unnatural dying in our society: MAid, abortion and suicide. In all three situations one could come to a place of justifying why it is okay for the life to be lost. People argue that it is for the “better” of the individual; the person is suffering with a terminal physical illness (MAid), they are suffering with out of control mental health distress (suicide), or they are suffering pain/ the baby is unwanted/ there is abuse at the hands of a partner for carrying the child (abortion). Our world argues two of these deaths are allowable and justifiable in our healthcare system (abortion and MAid). But God sees all of these deaths the same: the death of a child of His without His consent. Only God should have a say on when a human life ends and when a human life begins. Any time humans try to play God, they are stepping out of the will of God. If you wouldn’t stand in a room supporting a person while they commit suicide or have an abortion, you shouldn’t be in a room supporting a person in a MAiD procedure.

Some will argue “you might be the last person to show them Jesus”. My thoughts? Unless God has asked for you to be in that room praying and repenting for the actions of the person committing medical suicide, your silent presence in a room where the spirit of death is winning is not an act of Christ. You want to offer them salvation? This is a conversation to be had PRIOR to a person being injected with life-ending chemicals, not during the procedure.

We need to take the emotional veil off on this topic and truly see it for the spiritual warfare occurring in that moment. While thinking on this I even asked myself “what would you do if it was your dad?” Well, emotionally I would want be at his side, and hold his hand as he took his last breath. I’d repeat time and time again that he is loved, that he will be so missed, and how proud we are of his life and love for us. That thought alone brings tears to my eyes. BUT, my emotional want cannot out power my spiritual alignment with Christ. And so, even if he requested it, I could not choose death over Christ in that moment and agree to be present in his medical suicide- even if it was medically justifiable. Because I truly believe God is bigger than our suffering, and our will and purpose on earth does not end on our time, it ends on His time when He chooses to call us home.

The value of life: when i was in my teens I attended the funeral of a young man who passed away due to cancer. I forget who shared the following story, but the story said “Will’s aunt was saved at his bedside, and he said ‘if this was the purpose of my life, to see her enter God’s kingdom, then this suffering was worth it’ ” . Those words have stuck with me for 20+ years. When I was younger I use to think how unfair it was that God would rob a family of their son and brother. But as I got older I have come to realize that, yes, it is painful that they lost their loved one, but how beautiful that Will saw a greater purpose in his suffering. How gracious of his family to allow others into those intimate moments, and in doing so others experienced the love and salvation of Christ.

So! That is where I leave it. I think our first instinct in any situation should be to seek God for guidance. Do I think God would ask you to be in a room during a MAiD? Maybe, not likely, but maybe with a specific spiritual purpose. But if I were you, I would say my goodbye, offer a salvation prayer and so much love and truth in that moment, and step out until they have passed.

Ashley –