Youth Bible Study Lessons > Exodus

Physician Assisted Suicide and Active Euthanasia

Jul 24th, 2009
by Anthony Delgado.

Physician Assisted Suicide and Active EuthanasiaGod gives life to everything (1 Tim. 6.13). Nothing has life, except what God has desired to live. God has allowed us liberty to choose to act in accordance with His word or to act out against it; to act morally or immorally. Physician assisted suicide and active euthanasia are unethical practices since they go against the intent of God for life. There is no reason to take our own lives; God will take them in His time. There are two participants in the process of physician assisted suicide which are faced with their own ethical dilemmas: the physician and the patient, the person considering euthanasia.

Somehow mankind tends to become lenient to the subject of euthanasia. We tend to believe that our lives are our own and we can do what we want with them. This definition does not stand up to biblical standards. Numbers 35.16 says, “If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer” and Exodus 20:13 says, “You shall not murder.” We are commanded not to murder and to strike someone, even yourself, is murder.

The physician is not committing murder or breaking any other command, at least not directly. That still does not make the practice ethical. The physician is an enabler. According to First Corinthians, chapter eight, if we do anything which leads someone else to sin, then we ourselves are sinning. For this very simple reason, the blood of the murderer (the patient) is on the hands of the physician since he assisted in the murder. Therefore, the physician is just as guilty as the patient, so it is immoral for him to assist in suicide.

There is another fairly obvious dilemma. Even if you do not believe in the Bible, there are characteristics of the scenario which are ‘red flags’. Natural law tells man that murder and even suicide in most cultures is immoral. To argue that a medical or emotional situation warrants the behavior is simply a mask for mans desire to change what God has written on their hearts as sin. Even the physicians role is carefully scripted so as to remain arguably ethical. Most morals are fairly black and white. The more you try to justify a behavior, the more argument you find for its immorality. I believe that is the case with euthanasia and physician assisted suicide, so it should never be practiced under any circumstances.

Image Credits: adamci, sxc.hu

Celebrate the Unleavened Bread

Aug 19th, 2008
by Anthony Delgado.

“Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread” (Exodus 12:17 NIV). Leavening is the process of aerating bread dough. Typically the leavening agent is yeast, a microorganism from the fungi kingdom which is used to turn starches and sugars into carbon dioxide. Most strains of yeast reproduce exponentially when introduced to the right environment, such as flour and water. Leavening is mentioned in many places in the Bible. It is used in the Old Testament as a commandment as well as an illustration tool in the New Testament. Close examination will show that it has the same figurative meaning in both scenarios.

The Israelites were to consecrate their homes by removing any leavening in preparation for the Passover. This meant that they would have to eat unleavened bread which is dense due to its lack of aeration. The Passover is one of many instances of foreshadowing the sacrifice that would be made by Christ in order to cover over man’s sins. “…Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7 NIV). Removing the yeast from their homes was a demonstration of submission to God. Not only that, but it was a way of rooting out evil from their midst. “…whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born” (Exodus 12:19 NIV). If they were not willing to submit in this small way, then how could they possibly devote themselves to God?

Today, we are still to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. “…let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8 NIV). The old yeast is the ways of the Pharisees, which is evil. Paul recognized that the unleavened bread of this Feast is symbolic of sincerity and truth, which should be hallmarks of the life of every Christian (Vince Szymkowiak). We are not bound by the law to celebrate this in the manor that the Israelites did; however, Paul meant that our lives should demonstrate our celebration of the feast, of the sacrifice which Christ made on the cross.

Christ says that the teaching of the Pharisees is leavening and that a little bit of that leavening will work through the whole dough. “…be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:11 NIV). The yeast of the Pharisees is malice and wickedness. We should not entertain thoughts other than what God commanded of us. Like the dough, evil ways will penetrate all aspects of our lives if we accept just a little. Christ came to call sinners to repentance. Trying to live mostly right is not what is desired by God. We are to repent of sin in all areas of our lives in order to fulfill the purpose for which we were called, to glorify God. If we can demonstrate repentance in all aspects of our lives, only then can we fulfill what God chose us to do, “to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Ephesians 1:4).

Remember that “a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough” (Galatians 5:9 NIV). Just as the Israelites consecrated their lives before they celebrated the Passover, we too must consecrate our lives in order to give God the glory which he is due.

Multiple Denomination Relationships

Jul 8th, 2008
by Anthony Delgado.

I came across the following post and thought it would be beneficial to share. This man has some relationship questions which I have heard many times so I have posted his situation as well as practical biblical advice which is applicable to his situation.

“I’m twenty two, never been in a relationship; never even kissed a girl! I always waited for that one girl. So, I met that girl about two and a half years ago. The first moment we met she took my breath away, but I waited to make sure that I liked her for her and not because of first impressions. I waited two years. During those two years she made some mistakes and I thought that we will never happen after that and tried to get her off my mind. But every time she is around it’s like the first time all over and I become speechless! So I finally told her that I have liked her for two years, and well I guess she has had a thing for me for a few months too. I’m not the type of person who starts a relationship or even kiss a girl if I was not sure that it will be long term (leading to marriage) so we have been discussing things before we get too attached. The major thing standing in the way especially with her parents is me being Catholic and they are Protestants! Anyone been in a similar situation? Any couples with different denominations?”

This man is in a good place to be. He has kept himself holy as he has been commanded. The first advice is to forgive the girl for anything she has done. “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matt 6:15). It’s not a sin directly against him, but it can become so, if they become wed, if the actions taken were in any way adulterous. Adultery is defined as any provision reserved for marriage which is performed outside the bonds of marriage, so even if actions were taken when no commitment had been made to another, it is no less adultery. The second piece of advice is to not become involved in adultery. “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). Refrain from actions which have been reserved for marriage until you are married.

It is good to know where one stands in a relationship on the level of commitment. The fear is to scare the other off by suggesting marriage, but the intention for the relationship must be shared by both parties or the relationship will likely fail. The reality is that for either a Catholic or Protestant, the only intent in a relationship should be marriage otherwise there is some other purpose which is being sought out, likely a sinful, selfish desire.

Certainly denomination can be a stumbling block in a relationship. If the parents have a denominational issue, that is common. The truth is that there is only one denomination which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Anything else is tradition. Christ said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Anything but Christ which is observed as part of faith is tradition. Observe Christ and his teachings and you are on the right track. If there is tradition, as long as it is not sin, it is acceptable. See Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 3, 4 and 8 for more understanding on the matters of tradition.