Suicide by omission?
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It actually arises out of a number of things. There's the assisted suicide for terminally ill issue, there's those who say 'God gave man the brains to make medicines so we should take them' arguments, there's someone I know who isn't taking meds on the basis of shortening their stay here, there's others who think we should prolong our lives thru meds for as long as we can... I was just wondering if there was a defining line we could identify as to the whole meds vs lifespan issue.
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The ability to lengthen one's lifespan is not a determining factor for whether a person is committing suicide, even if omission is considered. There are a lot of things we could do to lengthen our life span, that we don't do. Like eating healthy, for example. One could lengthen their life span quite a bit by a healthy diet. The fact that a person doesn't eat the healthiest diet in the world doesn't mean they are committing suicide, slowly. Sure they might have a moral obligation to eat healthy for the sake of others(family, friends, ministry) but one cannot say it is suicide. It is just letting things run its course, we all are going to die. Just some people do things to delay the inevitable.
Does delaying the inevitable stand as a morally right thing to do? Sure, we can continue to do things for the Lord and family. Our presence is desired. However, to not take medicines that could further your life is not suicide, in some cases its mercy. They are ready to go. The jump from increased life span to not increasing your life span is suicide is quite drastic.
Sure, we ought to have a long life, and its wonderful. However the choice to not live and to go be with the Lord is ultimately up to the Lord and yourself, by the decisions you make. Its a matter of edification, even more so towards those that will no longer be touched by your ministry and walk. They are allowed to make that decision, its their own body. Can it be selfish? Yes. Thats why Paul argued with himself whether he should go to be with the Lord or continue to preach the Gospel. He chose the latter. He stayed to preach. Though he desired to be with Jesus, he knew more work could be done, more souls reached.
Obviously loved ones want a person around forever, and they feel it is selfish of the individual not taking medicine to deny themselves a longer life. There are a lot of things to consider, is the person just done with life, ready to move on? Are they in pain and are crying out for mercy, wanting to be set free from agony? Are they guilt ridden and feel death is what they deserve? So many angles on this. However, to say the person who denies medicine is committing suicide is a stretch, they are just choosing to not delay the inevitable. Is it wrong? In certain cases, but in others it may be justified.
I think something else to consider is that medicine/pills are not always a cure, but simply alleviate the symptoms of disease. It is a symptom treating business, and instead of just dealing with symptoms people should get to the root cause. For Joe's heart, it may have been too high a protein/fat diet with too few carbs and veggies. So he needs a diet change. For people with heartburn, they dont need to get these pills that alleviate heartburn they need to stop eating the food that is offending their body causing the discomfort (high protein foods and acidity). Its about getting to the root cause and resolving it, and not treating the symptoms. Resolve the root and the symptoms will go.
Does delaying the inevitable stand as a morally right thing to do? Sure, we can continue to do things for the Lord and family. Our presence is desired. However, to not take medicines that could further your life is not suicide, in some cases its mercy. They are ready to go. The jump from increased life span to not increasing your life span is suicide is quite drastic.
Sure, we ought to have a long life, and its wonderful. However the choice to not live and to go be with the Lord is ultimately up to the Lord and yourself, by the decisions you make. Its a matter of edification, even more so towards those that will no longer be touched by your ministry and walk. They are allowed to make that decision, its their own body. Can it be selfish? Yes. Thats why Paul argued with himself whether he should go to be with the Lord or continue to preach the Gospel. He chose the latter. He stayed to preach. Though he desired to be with Jesus, he knew more work could be done, more souls reached.
Obviously loved ones want a person around forever, and they feel it is selfish of the individual not taking medicine to deny themselves a longer life. There are a lot of things to consider, is the person just done with life, ready to move on? Are they in pain and are crying out for mercy, wanting to be set free from agony? Are they guilt ridden and feel death is what they deserve? So many angles on this. However, to say the person who denies medicine is committing suicide is a stretch, they are just choosing to not delay the inevitable. Is it wrong? In certain cases, but in others it may be justified.
I think something else to consider is that medicine/pills are not always a cure, but simply alleviate the symptoms of disease. It is a symptom treating business, and instead of just dealing with symptoms people should get to the root cause. For Joe's heart, it may have been too high a protein/fat diet with too few carbs and veggies. So he needs a diet change. For people with heartburn, they dont need to get these pills that alleviate heartburn they need to stop eating the food that is offending their body causing the discomfort (high protein foods and acidity). Its about getting to the root cause and resolving it, and not treating the symptoms. Resolve the root and the symptoms will go.
I know this may read as if I'm trying to lead to a fore-conceived answer. But honestly it's just been on my mind... are we to take every method we can and suffer as long and hard as humanly possible to put off that which we strive since salvation to achieve? If we know we could put it off are we wrong to not do so? At what point does the declining of such aids become self destruction? And if we're really bad off with no end in sight, are we really wrong to sight our own end? Then, just to fill out the discussion, is one still saved if they self destruct?
I think no, no, intention of heart, no and yes. But then I'm jaded, I'm like Paul - I don't really want to be here, but as long as God has a use for me I'll put up with it. But really I go to funerals and think you lucky sob, partying before God and I'm not. I see people struggling to cling to dying flesh and I think really, when you get to the other side you're going to wonder why you held out for so long. I guess you could call it Throne Room envy, lol, but I got a serious case of it.
So really your thoughts and experiences and teachings are of interest to me, and I appreciate the responses.
And yes I'm taking my heart meds again.
Dang it.
I think no, no, intention of heart, no and yes. But then I'm jaded, I'm like Paul - I don't really want to be here, but as long as God has a use for me I'll put up with it. But really I go to funerals and think you lucky sob, partying before God and I'm not. I see people struggling to cling to dying flesh and I think really, when you get to the other side you're going to wonder why you held out for so long. I guess you could call it Throne Room envy, lol, but I got a serious case of it.
So really your thoughts and experiences and teachings are of interest to me, and I appreciate the responses.
And yes I'm taking my heart meds again.
Dang it.
A
Nope. There's not. And I am terrified some might think there is or start promoting one.
I have extremely high triglycerides through no fault of my own. (I gave up red meat decades ago, simply because I can't digest them easily. We avoid trans-fats naturally, because hubby has high blood pressure and we both have diabetes -- mine borderline, but I'm there -- so we have no choice but to make our meals from fresh ingredients. The only things we get out of the middle of the store (where prepackaged foods, canned foods, and junk food is), are things in the baking aisle, prunes, sugar-free candy, coffee, and diet free, caffeine-free soda. All that for years before I even knew I had high triglycerides.
One statin wasn't cutting it. I'm on two. Most people can't do two because of the side effects. My new doctor tells me one is poison, and I have symptoms of something like being poisoned. Memory problems, aphasia, (which technically is a memory problem, but it's a weird one), my right hand has been useless for things like holding a plate or clicking a camera, and now my left hand -- my dominant had -- is developing the same thing. If I can ever sleep at night during the week, he wants me to go get blood work done. (IF. 6:47 AM as I write this and haven't been to sleep yer. Bed, yes, but not sleep.)
Without stains, my arteries clog. With them, I lose some of me. This is my doctor and my decision to make, with input from hubby, (my logic when fear overwhelms me), and prayer.
I certainly don't want someone telling me pharma is evil, because it's not. (Not even what the word meant back then.) I certainly don't want people coming down on me about me committing slow suicide when I may well have to decide which way this goes. God, help us all if this starts being a doctrine!
I have extremely high triglycerides through no fault of my own. (I gave up red meat decades ago, simply because I can't digest them easily. We avoid trans-fats naturally, because hubby has high blood pressure and we both have diabetes -- mine borderline, but I'm there -- so we have no choice but to make our meals from fresh ingredients. The only things we get out of the middle of the store (where prepackaged foods, canned foods, and junk food is), are things in the baking aisle, prunes, sugar-free candy, coffee, and diet free, caffeine-free soda. All that for years before I even knew I had high triglycerides.
One statin wasn't cutting it. I'm on two. Most people can't do two because of the side effects. My new doctor tells me one is poison, and I have symptoms of something like being poisoned. Memory problems, aphasia, (which technically is a memory problem, but it's a weird one), my right hand has been useless for things like holding a plate or clicking a camera, and now my left hand -- my dominant had -- is developing the same thing. If I can ever sleep at night during the week, he wants me to go get blood work done. (IF. 6:47 AM as I write this and haven't been to sleep yer. Bed, yes, but not sleep.)
Without stains, my arteries clog. With them, I lose some of me. This is my doctor and my decision to make, with input from hubby, (my logic when fear overwhelms me), and prayer.
I certainly don't want someone telling me pharma is evil, because it's not. (Not even what the word meant back then.) I certainly don't want people coming down on me about me committing slow suicide when I may well have to decide which way this goes. God, help us all if this starts being a doctrine!
I looked it up, here's something I found in a search for Biblical suicides:
Best Answer: Actually, it's fuzzy about king Saul, the Bible contradicts itself on that one.
Suicide:
Saul's Armbearer (1 Samuel 31:5)
Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23)
Zimri (1 Kings 16:18)
Judas (Matthew 27;3-5)
Samson (indirectly committed suicide)
Attempted Suicide:
King Saul ( 1 Samuel 31:4) Later killed by Amalekite (2 Sam. 1:10)
Asked to be Killed:
Abimelech ( Judges 9:54)
Elijah (1 Kings 19:4)
Did Christ commit suicide? He could have stopped His crucifixion at any time but He didn't. Is that equivalent to not taking a pill that could extend your life?
Best Answer: Actually, it's fuzzy about king Saul, the Bible contradicts itself on that one.
Suicide:
Saul's Armbearer (1 Samuel 31:5)
Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23)
Zimri (1 Kings 16:18)
Judas (Matthew 27;3-5)
Samson (indirectly committed suicide)
Attempted Suicide:
King Saul ( 1 Samuel 31:4) Later killed by Amalekite (2 Sam. 1:10)
Asked to be Killed:
Abimelech ( Judges 9:54)
Elijah (1 Kings 19:4)
Did Christ commit suicide? He could have stopped His crucifixion at any time but He didn't. Is that equivalent to not taking a pill that could extend your life?
