With medical technology extending life indefinitely,is it ever right to pull the plug?

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Overview

Advances in medical technology have helped more and more people survive extraordinary physical trauma. In a recent CHRISTIANITY TODAY article, Lindsey O’Connor reflects on her two-month coma. She writes that while life can be extended and viable beyond previous limits, there are fundamental questions and powerful emotions for Christians to consider—hopefully long before they are called upon to decide whether to try a medical procedure or allow a loved one to die.

What issues are involved in life-and-death medical decisions? Is each of us responsible for making a living will? How do we decide if someone should live or die? In this study, we’ll address such questions and search for biblical guidance on making these high-stake decisions.

Table of Contents

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 90:10–12; Psalm 139:15–16; Ecclesiastes 3:1–8; Luke 6:6–11; Philippians 1:18b–26; James 5:14–16

LEADER'S GUIDE

    • Identify the Current Issue

    • Discover the Eternal Principles

—Teaching point one: God, who is the author of life, defines the span of life in every individual.

—Teaching point two: God does not equip us to make completely knowledgeable decisions about life and death—but he stands ready to guide us in decision making.

—Teaching point three: Faithful prayer using a variety of methods and styles can have a profound effect on critical medical situations.

—Teaching point four: Medical technology can advance God’s sovereign purpose—or it can promise more than it can deliver.

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