Christianity Tolerance End of life – Multicultural Day John Barker

Christianity Historical ‘Christ’ – ianity –A king figure come to rescue people –Jesus Book = Bible (66 books spanning many yrs) Message known as the gospel (‘good news’ gk.)

Prophetic 2000 years of God’s dealings with people – anticipating the coming of the ‘Christ’ How he would be born Live Die and Rise

Documents / History (accounts of Jesus) Source Latin Greek Other Quoted 5’300 10’000 24,000

AuthorWritten Earliest Copy Time SpanCopies Caesar (History) BC900 AD1,000 years10 Pliny (History) AD850 AD750 years7 Suetonius (Roman History) AD950 AD800 years? Tacitus (Greek History) 100 AD 1,100 AD 1,000 years20

The Good news / Gospel Only good news if there is some very terrible news or situation to bring good news into

Six Steps through the message of the Bible

God the creator of all and loving ruler over all 1

God 1

You are worthy… to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. Revelation 4:11 1

God I’ll live in your world my way 2

2 ways to rebel Religiously –If I do this God will owe me Irreligiously –I’m going to live as the god of my life –Luke Luke

Humanity in Rebellion – bleak! There is no one who is really good, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who looks for God. All have turned away, they have together become worth nothing; there is no one who does good, Romans

Chaos War Addiction Abuse Sickness Death Pollution Jealousy Anger Famine 3

With no pleasure at all God gives us the separation from Him and His blessings that we ask for – Very Bleak! Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgement Hebrews 9:27 3

Jesus – the man who died for rebels 4

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, Isaiah

Jesus – the risen Ruler 5 J

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1.3 5

The Choice 6 J

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 6

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.“ John 3:36 6

Two Issues

Tolerance Lots said in the multicultural arena Be and let be Keep Quiet about ideas – especially absolute truth claims

A Christian View - Tolerance Open discussion of issues View of Humanity as family – when differing views conversation as siblings is helpful image Ethics may be hard but because of Chaos in the world but there are often better and less good decisions Tolerance

End of Life Thomas Sydenham ( ) summarises nicely( ) (Sydenhams Chorea) (Medical History taking)

"It becomes every man who purposes to give himself to the care of others, seriously to consider the four following things: First, that he must one day give an account to the Supreme Judge of all the lives entrusted to his care. Secondly, that all his skill, and knowledge, and energy as they have been given him by God, so they should be exercised for His glory, and the good of mankind, and not for mere gain or ambition.

Thirdly, and not more beautifully than truly, let him reflect that he has undertaken the care of no mean creature, for, in order that he may estimate the value, the greatness of the human race, the only begotten Son of God became himself a man, and thus ennobled it with His divine dignity, and far more than this, died to redeem it.

And fourthly, that the doctor being himself a mortal man, should be diligent and tender in relieving his suffering patients, inasmuch as he himself must one day be a like sufferer."

Find a large support amongst Christians for palliative care rather than assisted suicide / euthanasia