Today in chapel on the campus of
Columbia International University, we had what was perhaps one of the best chapels many of us can remember.
Beginning with a multimedia presentation summarizing the life and circumstances surrounding Terri Shiavo, we listened to Switchfoot perform “On Fire.”
Dr. Dixon moderated a panel discussion on topics related to Terri Schaivo and how we apply this to our current life and ministry situation. The panel included
Dr. Baarendse (SB),
Dr. Larkin (WL),
Dr. Shiffman (SS),
Dr. Crutchfield (JC) and
Mr. Janosik.
What follows are my notes from the Chapel Panel Discussion:
1. “How should Christians think about current events? Should we stay current?”
(LD) Lk 13:1-5 shows us how Jesus was “up” on the issues.
(SS) We must meaningfully engage the culture, we cannot be ignorant. We must be concerned with issues, but not consumed by them. Beware of becoming issues-oriented and not Christ-oriented. Beware of losing the peace and joy of living the abundant life given by Jesus.
(DJ) Be apologists. Get both sides of an issue. Make certain your answer reflect the hope that is in you.
(WL) Love God with all you mind and answer from that perspective. Media has no such foundation. When we have this foundation, we are better equipped to answer questions as: “What does it mean to be created imago dei?” and “ What does it mean that death is the result of sin and is to be done away by Christ?”
(LD) Be resourceful. Use resources wisely.
2. “How do we know media is not misinforming us on issues?”
(SB) Language molds the way we think. Orwell knew that for the government to control the people, language had to first be controlled. He gave us an example of this in his book 1984. Orwell gave us “newspeak” that produced the word “unpersons.” As we read the newspapers we can look for word patterns. Terri was called “PVS”, which was a term used by the media to help us think of her as a “non-person” because by definition a vegetable is nothing more than cabbage. The “extreme measures” by which she was kept alive was the need for food and water, just as a baby. Does a baby deserve to die? No person is cabbage.
(DJ) “quality of life” is being emphasized over “quantity of life.” Where is the spirit? Consider the victims of coma, many of whom have not only recovered from worse situations than Terri, but also report the ability to have seen, heard and felt everything that was going on around them, only they did not have the ability to respond.
3. “What about “right to die” and “right to live” issues?
(WL) First, God is the sovereign giver and taker of life. Second, consider the nature of human life. If man is only his body, then his life consists of nothing more than the physical. On the other hand, because man is whole and has a soul, he is more than a body alone and life is much more. Terri was a person with a soul.
4. “With advancements of technology, what measures should we take to keep our loved ones alive?”
(SS) People are discussing issues as “Living Wills” and are very specific about their wishes, even appointing rights. Terri left no Living Will and we were left to deal with someone else’s decision.
(WL) C. Everett Koop wrote his book “The Right to Love, The Right to Die” as a pediatric surgeon with experience in dealing with children and disease. He laid out his “philosophy” of dealing with this issue: first, understand the nature of the disease; second, understand the nature of the patient; third, understand the reaction of the patient to the disease; fourth, is there hope of recovery; fifth, is death imminent? It is still a judgment call, but Koop would err on the side of life. Terri’s situation was not hopeless or irreversible. She was not near death. To withdraw nourishment was to engage in “mercy killing” for convenience.
(DJ) Our culture is moving toward death, not life. We are echoing what is happening in Europe, who is allowing death by choice. Anyone can ask for “the pill” and end it—at any age, at any time.
(WL) Who should decide? Who is considered “competent”? The challenge of the Living Will is we don’t know how one is thinking at the time of death. People do change their minds. Durable Power of Attorney allows one of like mind to speak on behalf of one regardless of Living Will. [note: in some states, living wills are not acknowledged or honored unless it is physically on the person at the time of admittance.]
5. “R.C. Sproul wrote an article [released just today] on “neo-barbarism”. Are we to be the moral conscience of our culture and should we influence protestors or supporters of a cause?”
(SB) Yes, we are the moral conscience. If we are not, then who is? Look at the heroic figures in the book of Daniel who stood up against barbarism. Look at how the church faced Nazi Germany. Read Irwin Lutzer’s book “Hitler’s Cross” and discover how Hitler did not begin his reign of terror by gassing Jews. He “reassigned” the status of the handicapped. The courts were ready in Florida long before anyone showed up. Barriers were put up before the decision to pull Terri’s feeding tube was publicized. Sadly, when the announcement was made, there was no big rush of Christians that were expected. The 10 year old homeschooler that was arrested approached a policeman with an open Bible and read “if your enemy is thirsty, give him a drink.” He asked if it was alright with the policeman to obey scripture; if not, he was going to take water to Terri instead—and he was arrested! When things like this are taking place and we like to sit back and turn our consciences off, we need to repent. Where were we when that boy was arrested?
(WL) Francis Schaeffer pointed out a way to respond: first, resist evil; second, show compassion to those who suffer because of evil; third, live in hope; last, work for restoration. Our challenge is to speak the truth in love and hope, being unstoppable. Live truth and love in compassion and restoration.
(SB) God is God of the weak, the powerless, the orphan and the widow. God is on the side of the weak. Culture is on the side of the strong. Our churches are not to the point the early church was of rescuing the cast-offs of Rome and raising them as their own.
(DJ) During the early church, the secularists saw the compassion of the Christians during persecution. How is the world seeing the love of Christ when we are silent?
(LD) As we stand with our consciences and are thrilled by Biblical standards, the world is not going to accept it graciously.
6. “How can we prepare ourselves being the minority and standing for the truth? We want to be liked in the world!”
(DJ) Take Apologetics!
(WL) God’s law was given for His glory, not for man’s good alone.
7. “How can we use an opportunity like this to share Christ? What issues should we agree on to effectively evangelize?”
(DJ) No matter where you go, people are asking the same fundamental questions: “where did we come from? Where are we going? Who are we?” These are questions everyone has and the places at which we can engage the culture.
(SB) We are concerned about the life of others in relation to heaven and historically, it is the Christian who has also been concerned about life on earth. This is where we get to know God! C.S. Lewis reminds us that eternity is now—it has already started. See the movie “Million Dollar Baby” for another take on this. We are made to believe a person is no better than a wounded dog that should be destroyed. Why did Terri live for 15 years if she wanted to die? Her parents visited her every day and spoke into her life.
(WL) We have the best news to tell people. We care because God cares. He is true and living and this is refreshing to the culture of death. Err on the side of life. There is a true line between life and death: live out compassion and caring.
(SS) [addressing audience] How do you think? Is this a terrible world in which we live? No so many years ago, religion was not in the news as it is now. Satan is in overdrive to get as many men dead as fast possible to keep people from worshipping God. God is in overdrive to save them.
