Intro
Pacifists: people who urge a consistent position of peacemaking any and all circumstances.
Just was Theorists: people who urge appropriate violence only after it has been determined that a violent response would be morally justifiable, meaning they would violently attack any aggressor in order to save their friends, family, neighbors, and themselves from harm or death.
Society says that we must do something is response to such violence (murder) and the death penalty is seen as appropriate.
In opposition to capital punishment, the majority of Christians argue that humans, no matter how sinful and perverse, are created in God’s image, and we have no justification for destroying any human life.
History Meets the Future
1) Notion of “rights”: in the past, women have not always held the right to choose what to do about their pregnancy. Additionally, many ask why a prenatal life would not have the same condition of rights as any other human.
2) Despite the increase in knowledge of fetal life, detailing what happens at any given stage of growth, the question about when life begins remains controversial.
Dying Well
When individuals are experiencing pain and suffering, those who have yielded their hearts to Christ will respond with love and compassion to them. They do this by having the doctor withdraw medical treatment to end their suffering.
Care for the Dying
This is called passive euthanasia literally meaning good or easy death
Quote
In times when such difficult decisions must be made, the care of family and friends must reflect a hope and trust in Christ and his promise of life after death. And for those who struggle with these difficult decisions, the courage of Christ will give strength to carry out His will.
Virtues of Care
Hope
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Courage
Not all death is painful, but many times illness and disease cause great physical pain and suffering. It is very tempting, especially in today’s society, to consider and accept assisted suicide. As Christians, we must have the courage to face and overcome that temptation, no matter how strong it may be, and know that God still has a plan for us, despite of what is happening.
Trust
Proverbs 3: 5.6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Facing the reality of death is such an intimidating experience that some are tempted to take matters into their own hands, but….(go to slide)
Principles to Live-and Die-By
1) Provides a biblical foundation for responding to the issues of euthanasia. So our stewardship is over the life God gifted to us, not the death that must inevitably arrive.
2) Choosing whether we want physician-assisted suicide or just to die when God is