Today at work, a co-worker told me that he believes in God, but that if he ever gets cancer or leukemia that he will elect to not receive treatment (chemo/radiation, etc).
Now, if this really does come about, and he dies because he refused treatment, would God consider that suicide? Would he be among the "etrnally damned"? Why or why not?
Your kind thoughts, please.
2007-10-10 10:59:46 · 19 answers · asked by Wired 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thumbs up for everyone so far. These are some really good answers. Thank you.
2007-10-10 11:40:51 · update #1
i don't rightly know. this question hits home. my mom died from cancer. she desperately hung on for two years. you see, i had a brother who was only 11 when she was diagnosed. the hope of seeing him graduate kept her going. would she have opted for chemo otherwise? i don't know. it bought her two very precious years. that is a very personal decision. i don't know if God would consider not taking treatment suicide. there were times when i told her to hang on because I was selfish and wanted her in my life. i personally think that God expects us to have the good sense to help ourselves and accept help when it is offered. but that's my own personal opinion. :)
2007-10-10 16:11:43 · answer #1 · answered by trace 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. Suicide does not necessarily mean he is eternally damned
2. It wouldn't be suicide because the person naively believes he is doing what he should to save his life
3. The person obviously has a very mixed up view of what faith and divine intervention is all about. God gave people, even unbelievers, knowledge to be able to cure a lot of diseases. To refuse this is to refuse what God is offering. However, I don't think a person is necessarily eternally damned for stupidity.
EDIT:
Going over the other responses, I looked at your question again, and realized I didn't quite read it right. The person is only refusing chemotherapy and radiotherapy? Well, that is not necessarily even stupidity. It's a legitimate choice. I don't know what choice I would make in that circumstance, but I would want to know all my options and what my chances were.
2007-10-10 11:07:50 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that not receiving chemo and/or radiation would be considered suicidal.
My uncle had colon cancer, had his colon removed, and did chemo per Dr's recommendations. He died. Could he still be alive today if he had not gotten chemo? Who knows.
I also know another lady who had stomach cancer, and she was on chemo off and on for years. Her last 3 years were sick and almost bed ridden. Is that better than living live to the fullest and accepting your destiny?
I wouldn't call it suicide, just another personal decision.
(Unless you are in TX where the court took away a little girl for neglect because their parents didn't want to put her through radiation after having Chemo, after the doctors said that it may or may not help, and she really didn't need it)
2007-10-10 11:12:24 · answer #3 · answered by ♫O Praise Him♫ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would not think it is the same as suicide.
Sometimes the treatment is worse than the disease.
I have a Living Will in which I refuse any life support. I also stated that I do not want any feeding tube.
Some people might consider this as being "non-Christian," but I do not.
My refusing life support or a feeding tube COULD be considered suicide by some people, but they have no right to judge me.
What your co-worker feels is best for him is HIS decision and no one else's. I say, "no," he is not damned for refusing treatment.
2007-10-10 11:06:09 · answer #4 · answered by batgirl2good 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, God would not treat it as suicide. Why? Simple. No treatment of cancer is guaranteed to succeed or even add to the person's life. Not to mention it usually leaves the person half dead wishing on the other half.
Do not forget the cost of such treatments too. What if you undergo all these treatments and gain nothing but debt to pass on to your loved ones?
None of us are guaranteed a pass out of this life so embracing death is a mark of the true Christian. That does not mean if you pump yourself full of drugs that you are less merely too attached to this world. I consider myself in this group right now as I have children and I would do almost anything if the odds were in my favor to extend my life.
2007-10-10 11:10:53 · answer #5 · answered by crimthann69 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, really good question. Well, did he say he wouldn't receive any treatment or would he consider fasting a treatment. Some people go into fasting when they get cancer, believing that God (and He can) can heal their body.
i don't think it would be suicide, personally. Not really sure what the Bible says about this.
2007-10-10 11:03:52 · answer #6 · answered by Suzi♥Squirrel 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure God will understand his ignorance and forgive him. Afterall, luke (the writer of luke and acts) was a doctor, so there is nothing against medical treatment. It is up to the person's conscience, and what he was thinking. If he purposely didn't take treatment, because he didn't like his life, then it would be suicide. If he didn't take it, because he thought it is what God wanted, it is still a bad and illogical decision, but he might be forgiven.
2007-10-10 11:05:45 · answer #7 · answered by Tony C 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do not believe that God would look at that as suicide. But your co-workers reasoning may come under question. Is He doing it as a test for God to see if God wants him to live? If God does He will cure him? Or is he doing it because it says not to do drugs in the Bible? either way I believe he is safe in Gods eyes. I was just wondering. Peace
2007-10-10 18:36:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Suicide
2007-10-10 11:04:29 · answer #9 · answered by Ras G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is why he should get treatment and it is suicide and he will not be damned if he has Christ here is why.
A preacher was having his usual sermon when all of a sudden there was a cloud burst. After about one full hour of complete non-stop rain, everyone began to evacuate because the whole church was flooding, but the preacher just stood there preaching in the ankle-deep water.
A man drives by in a car and shouts through the church doors, "Preacher, you better get out of there before you drown!"
The preacher replied, "Don't worry. God will save me."
The man then drove away.
The water was now knee-deep and a man in a raft floated over to the church and said to the preacher, "You better get in here before you drown!"
Despite the second warning the preacher just stood there and replied, "Don't worry. God will save me."
The man then rowed away.
The water was now waist-deep and a man in a power boat came to the preacher and said, "You better get out of there before you drown!"
Despite the third warning, the preacher just stood there and replied "Don't worry. God will save me." With that the man jetted away.
The water was now neck-deep and a man in a helicopter came by and yelled to the preacher, "You better get out of there before you drown!"
The preacher refused to move and replied, "Don't worry. God will save me."
With that the man flew away.
The water then got so deep that the preacher was sucked under and died. When he opened his eyes he noticed that he was in heaven.
He then saw God and asked, "Oh God! Why didn't you save me from that horrible flood?"
God then replied, "I sent you a car, a raft, a power boat, and a helicopter! What else do you want from me?"
2007-10-10 15:38:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋