Questions & Answers

Any action or any failure to act with the intent to cause death or accelerate the dying process is contrary to Scripture (Genesis 9:6; Exodus 20:13; Matthew 25:42). Scripture does not make a distinction between the denial of food or the denial of fluids. Scripture first looks at the heart and compels individuals to examine their motive.

Today's culture increasingly views a declining quality of life brought on by age, disease or accident as justification to deny continued life-sustaining measures. The decision to remove a person's food or fluids is often shrouded in euphemisms to "let them go" or "set them free" without first challenging the motive.

Any action to deny food and/or fluids which is intended to shorten life and hasten death is contrary to Scripture and is an affront to the Creator who holds dominion over life and death (Deuteronomy 32:39).

On the other hand, Scripture also reminds us that a person's time on this earth is limited (Psalm 90:10; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:27). Life does come to an end, and for most people it is a progressive process that occurs over a span of time. As the body ages and the organs of the body begin to fail, efforts to resuscitate or even sustain the body cross a line between beneficial and futile care.

Sometimes that line is clear and easy to see: the organs begin to fail and, without the knowledge or resources to reverse the process, death becomes imminent. In such a circumstance the provision to continue feeding may antagonize or accelerate the dying process because of the body's inability to digest the food. The continued administration of fluids may provide comfort in the closing moments of life. In some circumstances, however, fluids also may not be able to be processed by the body and could agonize the dying process unless they are stopped.

Scripture speaks against actions and inactions which ignore God's dominion over life and death. The real challenges are in the so-called "gray area," because it is unclear whether death is imminent or an action is futile.

The reality is that all people involved with medical care and treatment decision-making are sinful and imperfect. Their judgments are often clouded by ignorance and/or biases. For that reason, when a particular circumstance becomes especially difficult, it is good to obtain second and third medical opinions and ask Christian family, friends, and clergy who are devoted first to serving God and who have a good knowledge of Scripture.