A Canadian church recently made the unanimous decision to perform a euthanasia “ceremony” in which one of its elderly congregants, with medical assistance, committed suicide in the church sanctuary.
Churchill Park United Church of Winnipeg, which conducted the so-called “Crossing Over Ceremony” for 86-year-old Betty Sanguin, justified their actions, insisting that it “seemed appropriate” to hold the service considering the many other “significant life rituals” in which the church takes part.
“For us, it was perfectly natural to hold this service for Betty in our sanctuary because death is a natural part of life,” the church’s pastor, Rev. Dawn Rolke, concluded in an interview with Christian Post.
No Biblical Consideration
Putting aside the curious use of the word “natural” in discussing the lethal injection of Mrs. Sanguin, the absence of Biblical consideration in the church’s decision has been especially telling to many Christians.
Director of Communications and Engagement at the Christian charity CARE, James Mildred, lamented the church’s decision to participate in assisted suicide which he called both troubling and unbiblical.
“The fact that a church in Canada has endorsed the practice of assisted suicide is deeply troubling. I can honestly say that it is my clear conviction that God’s word is clear on this matter,” Mildred stated. “Time and again, the Bible teaches us that our lives are in God’s hands, and we are not to murder or be involved in helping someone kill themselves.”
Euthanasian In Canada
Canada is one of a very small number of countries that have legalized the practice of euthanasia. According to statistics from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, and the United States, Canada has the highest rate of medically assisted deaths in the world.
In March of 2021, Bill C-7 received “Royal Assent” (meaning it passed both Canadian Houses of Parliament). The amendments to the bill expanded those eligible for assisted suicide by including those not terminally ill. It also waved the ten-day waiting period for those who are terminally ill and permitted doctors and nurses to lethally inject a person incapable of consenting if they were previously approved for “MAiD.”
Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, stated that the changes to Bill C-7 make Canada the “most permissive nation concerning euthanasia.”
As Harbingers Daily previously reported, a growing trend amongst Canadian funeral homes, such as Northview Funeral Chapel in London, Ontario, has been to offer all-in-one packages where people can purchase rooms to end their lives, alongside their funeral services and burial.
Ken Ham, Founder and CEO of Answers In Genesis, discussing euthanasia in Canada explained that the “culture of death” is a consequence of rejecting God.
“The religion of death permeates our world,” Ham said. “Of course, when people are encouraged to kill humans in the womb, then why not out of the womb? And where does it stop? What if governments decide certain people are detrimental to the culture because of their beliefs or certain physical attributes?”
“Oh, that has happened in history and is happening today in places!” he explained. “It’s a consequence of people who reject God and become their own god. As God states in His Word: ‘all who hate me love death’ (Proverbs 8:36).”
A Seared Conscience
It is one thing for the world to promote assisted suicide, it is an entirely different matter when those who claim to represent Christ advocate for the deadly practice.
Scripture is not silent on the issue of euthanasia. On the contrary, the Bible discusses at length the profound value God places on human life whom He made in His image (Genesis 1:27).
Unfortunately, many churches today have prioritized appeasing and celebrating our Christ-rejecting culture rather than holding to Biblical truth.
With any cursory look at the Winnipeg United Church’s website, a person will find lengthy discussions about justice, affirmation, solar panels, and LGBT inclusivity. They will find assurance that all in-person attendees are “double vaccinated.” However, the words “Christ,” “God,” and “Bible” are seemingly nowhere to be found.
The Bible calls believers to be separate from the world and judge every matter by the authority of Scripture (Acts 17:11, 1 John 2:15-17, Romans 12:2).
Although deeply troubling, the Bible speaks about increasing apostasy and a “loss of natural affection” that will permeate the world in the time prior to the return of Christ (2 Timothy 3:3, 4:3-4).
The apostle Paul described those who have departed from faith and truth as having their “conscience seared with a hot iron”:
1 Timothy 4:1-2 KJV – “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”
Ken Ham, urged Christians that as “our culture fights for the right to end lives,” it is the duty of the people of God to “stand on the authority of his Word” and stand for the sanctity of life.
