A fellow student posted this to our class Facebook page initially asking people to reconsider assisted suicide because of spiritual reasons (which might not have been the best thing to do, tbh...). Needless to say it got a fair amount of virtual stink eyes and offended commentators. He couldn't possibly imagine being in that much pain, people have the right to choose how they want to die, religion shouldn't effect policy, etc. All reasonable points, definitely. After having been at the bedside of loved ones suffering, and seen life support being taken off and other painful circumstances, I can't say that I would condemn someone like Brittany for making such a decision, and perhaps I wouldn't even try to change her mind.
I can't say that if I were suffering like that that I would not curse God, or want to die, or feel like the pain was pointless. But I do believe that at the end of each angry prayer, I would be reminded that I am not my own, which is humbling and comforting at the same time.
Again, this makes no sense to anyone who heart has not been shaped by the Holy Spirit, so how can we possibly argue with those very real human hurts with our reasoning? As a doctor, I will have no power to stop anyone from doing anything (with all sorts of hairy issues from extramarital sex to abortion). Is it sinful if I don't try? I don't know. Is it still painful to counsel? Of course. But aren't there a lot of theological debates about other normal practices such as birth control?
I do know that God does the saving, and that sin can be washed away at any point. In all these grey areas, there's still power in prayer. I don't know how I'm going to tangibly show God's love in practice other than being kind... which is already standard protocol.
