Statement by the Carryduff Free Presbyterian Church: Kirk Session and Committee
We give hearty thanks and praise to Almighty God for His gracious answer to the prayers of His people in the defeat of the proposal to introduce assisted dying legislation by the UK Parliament. We recognise in this outcome the providential hand of God. He is the One who rules over the nations, restrains evil and orders the affairs of men according to His sovereign purpose.
The Word of God declares: “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.” Psalm 103:19. And again: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Proverbs 21:1. We therefore refuse to give the glory to man. We give all glory to Almighty God, who has heard the cries of His people and, in His mercy, has restrained this assault upon the sanctity of human life.
This was never merely a political disagreement or a question of medical policy. At its heart lies the fundamental question of whether man has the authority to decide that an innocent human life should be deliberately ended. This is a matter of life or death.
The answer of Holy Scripture is unequivocal. Life belongs to God. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being.” Acts 17:28. Man is made in the image of his Creator and maker. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.” Genesis 1:27. The command of the Almighty remains: “Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13. No change in terminology can alter this moral reality. To describe the deliberate ending of an innocent person’s life as “assisted dying” does not remove the solemnity of what is being proposed.
Death does not become morally good merely because it is requested, medically facilitated or sanctioned by Parliament. We believe that any law which permits the intentional killing of innocent human beings represents a profound departure from the moral law of Almighty God.
We are especially concerned for the elderly, the disabled, the chronically ill, the terminally sick and all who may feel themselves to be a burden upon others. They must be protected. A civilised society should surround such people with care, dignity, and love and never create a legal pathway by which their deaths can be brought about. The Lord commands: “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.” Psalm 82:3.
The measure of a society is not how it treats those who are strong, healthy and productive, but how it treats those who are weak, dependent, and vulnerable. The answer to suffering must never be the intentional ending of the sufferer’s life. The National Health Service must never become the National Death Service. The Christian Church must instead insist upon and proclaim compassion, sacrificial love, proper medical care, practical support, and the comfort of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We believe this occasion should remind the Church afresh that prayer is not a meaningless religious exercise. God hears the prayers of His people. The Scripture says: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16. And our Lord Jesus Christ taught: “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1. Thousands of Christians have prayed concerning this matter. We therefore rejoice that the Lord has been pleased, in His providence, to answer those prayers. We say with the Psalmist: “This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:23. Let no Christian take this answer to prayer lightly. Let it strengthen our faith, humble our hearts and encourage us to continue standing upon the truth of God’s Word.
While we rejoice at the defeat of this proposal, we issue a solemn warning against any future attempt to introduce assisted suicide or euthanasia by another name or through another legislative route. Parliament does not possess the authority to redefine God’s moral law. Governments are ordained by God to exercise justice and restrain evil and not to give legal sanction to the deliberate taking of innocent human life. The Scripture declares: “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God,” 2 Samuel 23:3.
We therefore call upon those who exercise political authority to govern in the fear of God and to remember that every exercise of earthly authority is ultimately accountable to the King of kings. “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear.” Psalm 2:10–11.
We also address a word to the professing Church. The hour calls for courage. We must not allow fear of criticism, political pressure or cultural hostility to silence the testimony of God’s Word. The command remains: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet.” Isaiah 58:1. And Jude exhorts us: “Ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3. The Church must therefore continue to proclaim the truth concerning the sanctity of life, the authority of God’s Word and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We rejoice today, but we do not relax our vigilance. Those who seek to normalise assisted dying may return to this question again. The Church must therefore continue to pray, teach, witness and speak clearly.
We urge Christians throughout Ulster and beyond in our UK to continue praying for our legislators and for all in authority. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority.” 1 Timothy 2:1–2. We pray that God will give our elected representatives courage to resist every attempt to weaken the protection afforded to human life. We thank all of our Northern Ireland MPs who especially voted against this legislation.
Ultimately, our confidence is not in political parties, Parliaments, campaigns or human institutions. Our confidence is in Almighty God. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1.
We therefore give thanks to God for His mercy in this matter. We pray that He will continue to restrain evil, protect the vulnerable, give wisdom to those in authority and preserve our land from laws which contradict His righteous standards. And to those who are suffering, approaching the end of earthly life, or walking through the valley of death, we proclaim the words of our blessed Saviour: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25.
Our ultimate answer to death is not assisted death. It is Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and the Life. Therefore, with grateful hearts, we declare: The Lord has heard our prayers. The Lord has restrained this evil. The Lord alone deserves the glory. “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.” Psalm 115:1.
