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Pastor's Corner by Pastor Larry

February, 2006

A few months ago, President Bush took the initiative to ask the Federal Supreme Court to examine the legitimacy of Physician Assisted Suicide in Oregon. On Tuesday (Jan. 17), the Supreme Court upheld the right of Oregon’s state law. It states that it is legal for physicians to assist patients with terminal illness to commit suicide. At this moment, Oregon is the only state that permits physicians to prescribe medication to end a patient’s life if certain criteria are met. With the Supreme Court’s decision, it is believed that the door is opened for other states to pass similar legislation this year. This issue has been circling the political arena in California during recent times. It will not be surprising if this is presented on a voting ballot within the next couple of years. 

Euthanasia has been a “hot-topic” in society, as well as in the Christian circle recently, probably second only to “same-sex marriages.” Euthanasia is a highly emotionally charged topic because it involves pain and suffering which people want to avoid at all costs, in addition to the dignity of human beings from a theistic and an atheistic view, and financial obligations from the involved families and society, just to name a few. In this short newsletter, I will not attempt to dissect this complex issue, but rather to simply say that although it is morally wrong and biblically incorrect to actively take someone’s life whether it is by homicide or suicide, it is not wrong to passively let someone die without using any mechanical device to prolong life. Within these two spectrums is a gray area in which more discussion is needed.

At the time this newsletter is being written, Judge Alito is to be voted by the full Senate to be a Supreme Court Judge. His confirmation is believed to pass. What does this mean? Does that mean Christians will win by adding one more conservative judge on the bench? Hardly! While the conservatives celebrated the appointing of Judge Roberts as Chief Justice, thinking that with his conservative views, some of these “border-line” issues, such as physician assisted suicide and abortion rights, would be overturned. The latest Supreme Court decision was a rude awakening. I’m not here to criticize the outcome because I don’t know enough of the decision process in the legal system, though I’m a little disappointed. In the end, I’m once again reminded by the words of God that we shouldn’t rely on men because they are inconsistent at best. I feel that sometimes Christians, with good intention, put too much faith on the leaders. It is futile to put our faith in people, no matter how dynamic or conservative the person is. Our Christian worldview must be grounded on God who is still in control. At no time in history did God lose control of the world’s direction, and neither will He lose control of your destiny.

Before I sign off, I want to say that the world will run its course, and in the end, a new heaven and a new earth, where there is no politics, will be established for those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is inviting you to come along with us to this beautiful place.

Pastor Larry

數月前，布殊總統主動向聯邦最高法院提出檢視俄勒岡州醫生協助病患自殺 (physician assisted suicide)的合法性。在星期二（1/17），最高法院表示贊同俄勒岡州這法案的權利，指出醫生為末期病患提供協助自殺是合法的。現時只有俄勒岡州是允許醫生協助末期病患者要求用藥物來了結殘生的。很多人相信最高法院的裁決會為其他多個州在今年開了方便之門來通過類似法案。其實加州政界已經在這問題上醞釀多時，如果在未來一兩年內成為提案之一也不足為奇。

安樂死在社會上，甚至在基督徒圈子已經是個「熱門話題」，可能僅次於「同性婚姻合法化」這個話題。安樂死是一個令人激動的話題，因為內裡包括到人要想盡辦法去逃脫的痛苦，亦牽涉到從有神論及無神論的觀點來看人的尊嚴，亦関係到社會及病患家人經濟的負擔（這些都是其中一些例子）。在這短短的月訊中，我無意詳析這個複雜的問題，但想簡略的說，雖然無論是謀殺或自殺在道德上和聖經教訓上都不正確，但讓一個不願意靠機器來延長生命的人來說卻是沒有錯。在這兩個意識中卻有灰色地帶是需要更多的討論。

在寫這次月訊時，艾里托法官將會被參議院投票是否接納他為最高法院的法官。他的肯定相信是會被通過的。這又如何？是否意味著基督徒就會因多了一位保守派法官而得勝？斷乎不是！保守派人士在慶祝羅拔斯法官被委任為首席大法官時，認為以他保守的觀點，一些如「協助病患者自殺」或「墮胎權益」這等邊緣性問題必會被推翻。最高法院最近的裁決就正好是當頭棒喝，叫人如夢初醒。雖然我也稍微失望，但並非在此批評甚麼，因我知這些法制上的決策是甚為複雜。思想後，我再次被神的話語提醒，就是我們不應倚靠人，因為人極好都是變幻無常的。我覺得有時基督徒對領袖及他們所定的政制付出過大的信心。無論這人是多麼磁力或多保守，當我們將信心放在人身上就是徒然的。基督徒世界觀應建基於那位仍然掌控的神。過往今來在歷史中，神對世界要走的方向從未失控，同樣也從未在你生命中失控過。

擱筆以先，我希望你知道這個世界會隨著神的時間走完全程。最後將會是一個新天新地為凡相信神的兒子耶穌基督而立的世界，那時就不會再被政治因素而影響。祂也邀請你與我們一同進入這美地。

唐若愚牧師

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