In late March, a Toronto couple married almost 73 years died together by medically assisted death in their home. “Their children, who watched from the foot of the bed, say the couple drew their last breaths at almost the same moment,” reported The Globe and Mail.
In late March, a Toronto couple married almost 73 years died together by medically assisted death in their home. “Their children, who watched from the foot of the bed, say the couple drew their last breaths at almost the same moment,” reported The Globe and Mail.
For some Canadians this story is proof euthanasia is working as it should now that it’s been legalized. The couple died legally at a time and place of their choice, with family watching.
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For others of us it is more like a dystopian nightmare, proof our country is moving in the exact wrong direction. It’s a matter of debate whether there was any fatal illness involved in this couple’s situation, other than their inevitable and pending natural end of life, which they wished to hasten. And so they did, legally.
How do we make sense of all that’s going on around us and among us? Faith Today, as always, tries to help by pulling together biblical wisdom and journalistically verified Canadian stories.
Some people dismiss the well-worn phrase a “slippery slope” as alarmist, not giving enough credit to our country and its citizens to erect reasonable limitations and protections around the taking of life. But all of us wonder where we’re headed – it’s only human to do so.
Faith Today helps acknowledge the concerns among us and respond by seeking to deepen our understanding and expressions of caring for our neighbours, both Christian and non-Christian.
We hope you will find our four cover stories focused on life issues (in the month that some of us participate in an annual March for Life) challenging but not depressing. Life is beautiful, reflecting the beauty of its Creator. It’s worthy of our care and protection, for the tiniest and newest among us, to the oldest and most fragile.
Believers struggling with these challenges can also find consolation in knowing God is ultimately in charge, His kingdom is coming, and He has immeasurable resources to equip His people for His mission. Let’s be faithful intercessors for our fellow citizens and our world.
We can intercede for young adults among us – you’ll find three features related to their experiences this issue – and for the pastors among us – check out the list of winners to last issue’s Send Your Pastor Out to Dinner contest at Blog.FaithToday.ca/Hooray-for-Pastors.
Speaking experientially, our hope in God does not always erase our fears. There’s no denying an unplanned pregnancy can be a fearful thing, not to mention taking that vulnerability into a crisis pregnancy centre full of strangers. Fear of dying, of bringing the offences we’ve committed before a perfect and holy God, is real. Although our hope is sure, it does not dispel our fear of how so many people in our society will be hurt by the many ways our society seems to be abandoning biblical wisdom.
And so we pray, Come Lord Jesus. And until You come, use us to advance your Kingdom.