The Assisted Suicide Debate: A Theological Reflection

The Assisted Suicide Debate: A Theological Reflection 

If you are feeling suicidal help is available, please speak to someone today by calling Samaritans on 116 123.

A theological reflection on assisted suicide within the context of England requires deep engagement with the sanctity of life, human dignity, and the compassionate nature of God’s love. As Christians, we are called to walk with others in their suffering, holding to a firm conviction that life is a sacred gift from God. This belief forms the foundation for opposing assisted dying, but it also demands that we speak into the debate with empathy, understanding, and a call to care for those in crisis and suffering.

The Christian tradition consistently teaches that life belongs to God and that each life has inherent value, no matter its condition or quality. In Psalm 139:13-16, the psalmist proclaims that God formed us in the womb and that all our days were written in God’s book before one of them came to be. Life, in this view, is sacred not because of its external quality but because it is rooted in God’s creative and sustaining power. As believers of this life-affirming message, Christians are entrusted with the responsibility of preserving life and caring for those suffering, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually.

At the same time, Christians are also called to confront suffering with compassion. Jesus’ ministry on earth demonstrated a profound sensitivity to the pain and anguish of others, whether it be physical healing, emotional comfort, or spiritual liberation. It is crucial, therefore, that the Christian response to the assisted suicide debate does not become an abstract, theological argument detached from the real lives of those who are struggling. The voices of those enduring terminal illnesses, debilitating conditions, or deep despair must be heard and honoured. As Christians, we can never trivialise the pain that might lead someone to contemplate ending their life, but we must also offer another way: a way of hope, support, and dignity.

Opposition to assisted suicide should not merely be a rejection of legislation but a call to create a world where no one feels their only option is to end their life. This means advocating for better palliative care, ensuring that the dying are treated with dignity and comfort, and that no one suffers alone. It requires us to demand better funding and resourcing for health and social care, particularly for end-of-life care, mental health services, and support for those with life-limiting conditions. These are tangible expressions of Christian compassion and justice, creating a framework where life is honoured even in its most fragile stages.

Importantly, the debate around assisted suicide also touches on human autonomy and control. Many advocates for assisted suicide emphasise the right to choose the manner and timing of one’s death. However, from a Christian perspective, autonomy is understood in light of our relationship with God. Our lives are not solely our own; we are stewards of God’s creation, including our own bodies. This belief challenges the notion that we should have ultimate control over life and death. Instead, we are called to trust in God’s sovereignty, even in the midst of suffering and uncertainty, while doing everything we can to alleviate that suffering.

The Christian voice in this debate must be characterised by passion and compassion, as well as a profound respect for human dignity. Our opposition to assisted suicide must not come across as judgmental or lacking in empathy, but as part of a broader commitment to life-affirming care. We must advocate for a world where people do not feel abandoned in their suffering, where mental health crises are met with real support, and where those nearing the end of life receive the care and comfort they need to die with dignity, not prematurely.

The policy asks of the UK Government should include:

  • Improved palliative and end of life care,
  • Improved funding and resourcing of social & health care,
  • Improved funding and an ongoing commitment to research cures and treatments for life-limiting and life-ending conditions,
  • Improved social security safety net to ensure vulnerable people do not see assisted dying as the only option available to them,
  • Improved commitment from the Church to improve society and play an active part within it.

In speaking into the assisted suicide debate, Christians must be humble, recognising that we do not have all the answers but can offer a vision of hope, care, and love. As we advocate for life, we must also work tirelessly to make that life—no matter its limitations—one worth living.

The Salvation Army’s positional statement on euthanasia, assisted suicide, and living wills is available here: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/2020-05/euthanasia_assisted_suicide_and_living_wills.pdf

A reflection on the current debate published in the British Medical Journal is available here: https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj.q982

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