The Power of a Story

Stories Impact Our Views
Stories have the power to make us think about issues in different ways simply by putting characters into situations that we can sympathize with. We want to believe in the characters and we want to see them succeed. We want what they want and we can see life through their eyes. If we are not thinking about what we watch, we can pick up some of the views without even realizing it. This movie is a great example.

The “Quality of Life” Argument
This movie does a great job presenting the best argument for euthanasia. The story pulls you in and helps you care for a character who pushes through so many obstacles. You can’t help but root for her as she seeks to succeed in boxing. The, in a twist that truly catches you off guard if you haven’t heard about it already, you feel the hopelessness. You feel what the character feels.
Basically the argument here is that if your quality of life is hindered so dramatically that you will not be able to enjoy your life the way you want to, you should be able to die gracefully. In fact, letting you die (or killing you) is the most “humane” thing that can be done for you at that moment

The Problem
Scripture does not let us think this way. Scripture says that every life is valuable and that God is the one in control of the time of one’s death. We cannot agree with the argument presented in this movie.

Euthanasia Repackaged
Active and Passive Euthanasia
Active involves actually killing a person.
Passive involves letting them die.
Both are intended to relieve suffering.

What does Scripture say about Euthanasia?

• We are not allowed to kill, which is exactly what Frankie does in the end. One major reason for this is that human life has value according to God. Matthew 5:21-22, Exodus 20:13
• God alone is sovereign and can determine how long a person lives or dies. If we decide, then we are walking on ground only God can tread. Deuteronomy 32:39, 1 Samuel 2:6
• Scripture does not say that suffering is always to be avoided. In fact, suffering itself is designed for the believer’s good. James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-4, Romans 8:28

Nihilism …

As a Worldview

• Life is without value or meaning. While people may seek for meaning, they are seeking for something that does not exist.
• Carpe Deim—seize the day! The reason this is so important is that there is nothing else after this life. You might as well grab all you can get now. “Eat, drink and be merry.”
• There is no hope. In fact, many who hold this view believe the most important thing you can do is commit suicide because then you are embracing the fact that life has no meaning.

In This Movie

• Life was only meaningful when she was pursuing her dream, after that it lost all meaning.
• This means that life only had meaning when she determined it.
  Once “everything” is taken away from her, we are supposed to feel the hopelessness that he feels. Losing her leg, the sores from no being able to move, the fact that it takes people hours to get her ready to be in the chair, etc.

A Response

• God has a purpose for us that we need to recognize. Life does have meaning. We are here to serve Him and do what He has for us. He determines who I am and what meaning there is in my life.
• There is hope. Jesus Christ died and rose again. The resurrection is the reason we do not believe in nihilism. 1 Corinthians 15:12-32