Why is euthanasia wrong?

Job 38:1-2, 4; 40:2, 8Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? . . . Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. . . . Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers? . . . Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right?”

Psalm 119:73You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands.

God created each person as a unique individual. God breathed life into us, and he alone has the right to decide when our lives should end. Taking someone’s life, even for the sake of compassion, assumes that we know best when that person’s life should end. Taking away God’s gift of life from someone implies that we no longer respect his ability to be involved in that person’s life.

Genesis 9:5-6“I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image.”

Exodus 20:13“You must not murder.”

Proverbs 24:11-12Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

To justify almost any action, right or wrong, is not difficult. For example, we may argue that a penniless father stealing food is better than letting his child die of starvation. How we justify our actions, or someone else’s actions, depends upon what we value most. If we most value mercy for the great pain near the end of life, then we can justify someone choosing a lethal intervention. But if we value God’s sovereignty, we believe he has a purpose for everyone’s life; thus, until he decides to end it, it still has value.