LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 219

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11. CHURCH AND CULTURE

To Emphasize the Sanctity of Life and the
Dangers of Physician-Assisted Suicide
RESOLUTION 11-06A
Overtures 11-4–5, 15 (CW, 540–41, 547–48)

WHEREAS, Satan’s original and continuing temptation
invites us to worship at the altar of personal autonomy
rather than acknowledge that we have been “bought with a
price” (1 Cor. 6:19–20) and that “we are not our own”; and
WHEREAS, Current culture often portrays death as our
friend and a means to escape from the sufferings of life,
rather than recognizing that Scripture says death is our
enemy (Rom. 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:26, 55–57); and
WHEREAS, God forbids murder (Ex. 20:13) and suicide (Ps.
31:14–15a) and “Euthanasia, in its proper sense, is a
synonym for mercy killing, which involves suicide and/or
murder. It is therefore, contrary to God’s Law.” (LCMS
CTCR, Report on Euthanasia with Guiding Principles [1979]
First Principle); and
WHEREAS, Advocates for physician-assisted suicide have
exploited people’s fear of suffering; and
WHEREAS, The underlying logic of physician-assisted
suicide denies the inherent, God-given dignity of all human
beings regardless of age, physical condition, mental
capacity, or any other life circumstance; and
WHEREAS, Physician-assisted suicide is inherently
abusive to elderly, disabled and otherwise dependent
people, therefore no “safeguards” offer protection from this
evil; and
WHEREAS, The “right to die” by means of physicianassisted suicide can be felt by the elderly and disabled as the
duty to die; and
WHEREAS, The legalization of physician-assisted suicide
may alter the trust relationship between doctors and their
patients and families; and
WHEREAS, Physician-assisted suicide introduces
financial incentives as insurance companies, financial
heirs, government entities, and others may be tempted by
financial self-interest to pressure patients into considering
physician-assisted suicide; and
WHEREAS, The legalization of physician-assisted suicide
may have the effect of normalizing suicide and thus
increasing the rate of non-physician-assisted suicide in the
community; and
WHEREAS, Cultural impulses are leading many to deny
the Scriptural truth that God intends the body to be the
temple of the Holy Spirit and he intends the body to be
raised to everlasting life (John 11:25; 1 Cor. 6:19–20; 15:20–
22); and
WHEREAS, Scripture reveals suffering to be a means by
which God can bring blessing; therefore suffering is neither
Resolutions

meaningless nor something to be avoided at all costs (Rom.
8:26–28; 2 Cor. 12:9; Heb. 12:5–10; James 1:2–4; 2 Cor. 1:3–4);
and
WHEREAS, Scripture calls us to love our neighbors by
protecting their physical well-being; and
WHEREAS, We are called that we “may be blameless and
innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a
crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as
lights in the world,” by “holding fast to the word of life”
(Phil. 2:15–16); therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) in convention declare its opposition to physicianassisted suicide and legislative efforts on state and federal
levels to legalize it; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention encourage the
congregations of the Synod to educate congregational
members about the sanctity of life and the dangers of
physician-assisted suicide; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention encourage
congregations and their members to be intentional in
reaching out in love to all people impacted by physicianassisted suicide; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention encourage the
Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty to address the issue
of physician-assisted suicide in discussions about public
policy; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention encourage
congregations and their members to have a voice in the
public square opposing physician-assisted suicide.
Action: Adopted (9)
Without objection, the chair put the resolution to an immediate
voice vote, by which the resolution was adopted.

To Remember the Persecuted Church
RESOLUTION 11-07A
Overtures 11-16–17 (CW, 548–49)

WHEREAS, Jesus taught us that “they will lay their hands
on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the
synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before
kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your
opportunity to bear witness” (Luke 21:12–13); and
WHEREAS, Jesus promised, “Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you
and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you
falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward
is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who
were before you” (Matt. 5:10–12); and

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 219