The Northern Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland wishes to place on record its abhorrence of any proposal to legalise euthanasia or assisted dying. The biblical law is simple: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13), with the only ordinary exceptions being killing in self-defence, in war, and in the judicial execution of murderers. All else – whether abortion (except to save the mother’s life), suicide, or euthanasia – is murder and will be treated as murder at the Day of Judgment: “No murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:21).
The people of Britain have already become their own executioners in killing nearly ten million of their unborn children, and it would be a further Divine judgment if we take upon ourselves to kill our old and sick folk as well. Sickness and old age teach us important lessons about sin and about human frailty, and we should not run away from those lessons. All these things point us to our need of Jesus Christ as our Saviour from sin and death. If we have Him, then we can patiently await death: “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come” (Job 14:14).
Rev. Douglas Somerset
Presbytery Clerk,
18 Carlton Place, Aberdeen, AB15 4BQ