Assisted Suffering       Today's a good day to talk about suffering and pain. Oh yay, what a happy topic! Life is full of shadows in the valleys of death. You will eventually walk in the darkness of suffering and grief; illness, emotional pain, death, and fear.       In this edition of Bible Shorts With Biblebob we cover Euthanasia, suicide, Hospice and "pulling the plug," (removing life support.) Euthanasia and suicide are two totally different topics.           Euthanasia is dying through the assistance of someone else. Suicide is dying through an act of self. One is called assisted dying, but both of them can be called "assisted suffering." Death usually causes sadness, grief and suffering. Suicide ends suffering for the one who is dead. Suicide creates untold suffering for those who are left behind. Suicide is a byproduct of hopelessness.      There is always hope found in the Bible. "Come, my young friends, and listen to me, and I will teach you to honor the Lord. Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart. The Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their cries; but He opposes those who do evil, so that when they die, they are soon forgotten. The righteous call to the Lord, and He listens; He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; He saves those who have lost all hope." Psalm 34:11-18 GNT "He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths, as He has promised. Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for You are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me." Psalm 23:3-4 GNT      The world will try and persuade you that the shadow of death is the best way to relieve your pain and anxiety. Assisted dying (suicide) has been legalized in 11 states in America and six countries in Europe. The Bible has several stories about assisted suicide. Saul asked for his death to be facilitated. The order was refused and he took his own life. "Then Saul said to his armour bearer, 'Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and mistreat me.' But his armour bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore, Saul took his own sword and fell upon it." 1 Samuel 31:4 ESV In another story about Saul's death a man takes credit for killing Saul, thinking that he would be rewarded by David for killing his enemy. He ends up dead. "I saw that Saul was leaning on his spear and that the chariots and cavalry of the enemy were closing in on him. Then he turned around, saw me, and called to me. I answered, 'Yes, sir!' He asked who I was, and I told him that I was an Amalekite. Then he said, 'Come here and kill me! I have been badly wounded, and I'm about to die.' So I went up to him and killed him, because I knew that he would die anyway as soon as he fell. Then I took the crown from his head and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them to you, sir." David asked him, "How is it that you dared kill the Lord's chosen king?" Then David called one of his men and said, "Kill him!" The man struck the Amalekite and mortally wounded him, and David said to the Amalekite, "You brought this on yourself. You condemned yourself when you confessed that you killed the one whom the Lord chose to be king." 2 Samuel 1:6-10, 14-16 GNT      When the 7th and 8th Graders I teach in Debate Class were presented this topic for discussion, several of them brought up the Sixth Commandment that says, "You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17)      What do you think? Is it wise to end someone's suffering by granting them a death wish? Does a purposeful act of ending one's life create even greater suffering for those left behind? Does assisted death or suicide become assisted suffering for those left to deal with the aftermath of pain and sorrow? How can you assist someone who is suffering?      Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. biblebob.org

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