The Lutheran ethicist Gilbert Meilaender has observed that “a good bit of public attention in recent years has been focused on developments at the beginning of life: new reproductive technologies, for instance, and research on embryos. But questions about what we ought to do for those near the end of life may be more enduring and are, at least by my lights, more puzzling.” (Gilbert Meilaender, The Freedom of a Christian: Grace, Vocation, and The Meaning of Our Humanity Grand Rapids: Brazo Press, 2006. page 167.)
God has not left us without a word so as to wander through the maze on our own. The theology of the cross of Jesus Christ is a beacon of light that resources us with the kind of help so desperately needed in the midst of puzzling end-of-life issues. The cross of Christ is both the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:23-24) This is not wisdom from and of the world as we find in autonomous reason which is characteristic of the theology of glory. This is not a wisdom resulting from human speculations or emotions, but rather a wisdom revealed and given through the cross. When we see our end-of-life issues through the cross we see with the eyes of God.
End-of-life issues deal with the ultimate matters of life and death. It is the cross of Christ that puts us right with God. The apostle Paul writes, ”For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Also the writer to the Hebrews says, ”Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
We can face the end of life with confidence because Jesus Christ has defeated the enemy of death. For the believer in Christ, the Savior of the world, it is death with a difference. The cross promises what no science or medicine can: immortality. ”But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). Through the cross and Christ’s resurrection comes new life, eternal life, life with Christ without end.
Often when facing end-of-life issues, the reality of sin and guilt rise to a place of prominence. “What did I do to deserve this?” and other related questions occupy our thoughts. The cross proclaims to us that our suffering is not God exacting payment for our sins for God laid on Christ all of our sins (Isaiah 53: 6). He took on Himself all that we have deserved because of our sins. He left none of our sins unaccounted for. ”He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Perhaps you are reading this article having already made end-of-life decisions on the basis of the world’s way of thinking. Jesus took that on Himself at the cross. He is your Lamb of God who takes away your sin!
The cross proclaims to us that suffering is not a sign of God’s absence or disfavor toward us. Jesus Christ did not turn His back on suffering nor did He walk away from those suffering. He suffered for us on the cross and He suffers with us in all that life brings. He does not abandon us to suffer alone.
The cross establishes that we belong to God and that our lives are not our own to do with as we please or to do what might seem to be reasonable to us as the theology of glory would determine. ”For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Life is not ours to give nor is it ours to take. We leave our lives in the hands of the One who has the power to lay down His life and to take it up again. This calls us to make decisions that have as their aim the care of life and not the taking of life. Indeed the cross of Jesus Christ makes the difference in facing and living through our end-of-life issues. Thanks be to God!
Dr. Eugene Boe is Academic Dean and Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. www.lbs.edu