Bruce, Bruce,
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. You made some very valid points, which are quite true. But, now--what if the wife had a "Living Will" in which she had written that she did not want to be kept alive by artificial means if she was comatose? Would you then think it was right to keep her alive by feeding tube? What if the wife was young, and had not yet written a living will, but had communicated verbally to her husband the same desire? Should he not obey her wishes? How do you know that the person's soul has not already gone on to be with the Lord when they are comatose for a long time? You stated that you do not believe one should be kept alive by artificial means forever. So how long do you think they should be? Izzy -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bruce Woodford Sent: Friday, September 19, 2003 12:43 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] Ethics question Izzy, You wrote:"Okay, Bruce, we all know the pat, standard, rote, expected, programmed answers. I was hoping for a little thought on this subject. What if someone in a vegetative coma state is already with the Lord? Do you think the Lord expects to keep their body alive by artificial means forever? What if it was a young woman who desired children, and now can never have them, or experience the joy of a marriage? Does anything ever compel you to get inside someone else's frame of mind? As long as the vegetative person was well cared for, would God be so rigid and unfeeling that he would want the spouse to never be able to have a life? Does your God come in a pre-programmed box? .Nevermind. Izzy PS In case you think that I would be so callous as to remove the feeding tube from someone, let me remind you that I was married to someone in a very vegetative state for 25 years! Thank the Lord, He had mercy on my situation! ROFL!!!" Dear Sister, Please forgive me for communicating that I'd given your question no thought! I certainly did, but you asked what God would require, and so I thought it best not to express opinions but to the the Holy Spirit of God speak to the situation through His own Word. But now you have asked some other questions: -"What if someone in a vegetative coma state is already with the Lord?" If one has departed, if the soul and spirit are separated from the body, the body is dead. There is no more need to care for such. Bury the body and the one who was formerly married to the departed one is free to marry another. Romans 7 is clear on that score. -"Do you think the Lord expects to keep their body alive by artificial means forever?" No I do not. -"What if it was a young woman who desired children, and now can never have them, or experience the joy of a marriage?" It is never God's desire that a young married woman whose husband is physically or mentally incapacitated should bear children by any other man while her husband is still living. Rather, in the midst of her deep trial, it IS his purpose to make Himself known to her in all of His sufficiency for her every need. -"Does anything ever compel you to get inside someone else's frame of mind?" Yes, when people share what is on their mind, I am often compelled to consider their perspective. Thank you for doing just that here! -"As long as the vegetative person was well cared for, would God be so rigid and unfeeling that he would want the spouse to never be able to have a life?" Dear Sister, If the incapacitated spouse is in need of being well cared for, they are still a spouse and their spouse is still married. God is never rigid and unfeeling!! The Lord Jesus was tempted in all pointas like as we are apart from sin and in that he himself suffered bneing tempted, He is able to succour (help) them that are tempted. But LIFE is never to be found in a spouse, in a happy marriage, in bearing children etc. If anyone enters a marriage relationship thinking that LIFE is found there, they are going to be sorely disillusioned! BUT, if they realize that LIFE is only found in Christ (I John 5:11,12), then regardless of their circumstances, good relationships or bad, smooth sailing or daily pain and aggravation...they can still experience a full, joyful and meaningful life by maintaining coomunion with and drawing their sustenance from their Lord! Your brother in Christ, Bruce _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
