'Scotland has led the way, Westminster must follow'

“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126v3)

After three years of speculation, debate and scrutiny, late Tuesday night the Scottish Parliament voted to reject the legalisation of assisted suicide by 69-57 votes. Along with The Christian Institute’s nearly 60,000 supporters, I rejoice that our gracious and merciful God has truly done a “great thing”.

Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill sought to allow those deemed to be terminally ill with less than six months to live to get help from a medic to kill themselves. It is now the third time in 16 years the Scottish Parliament has refused to endorse state-sponsored suicide.

Christians have been wonderfully united on this issue, and I thank God for all the other groups and individuals that have worked so hard to see off this dangerous piece of legislation. But this has never been just an issue for Christians (despite what the Bill supporters would have you believe). God’s common grace is such that MSPs of all faiths and none across much of the political spectrum voted against it. God’s command “You shall not kill” still resonates.

'Vehemently opposed'

Despite the best efforts of lobby group Dignity in Dying, some of the most vulnerable people in society – people struggling to come to terms with a terminal diagnosis or a disability – will continue to be protected from state-sanctioned killing. No assisted suicide Bill would ever have been acceptable, but this proposal was so dangerous that even people in favour of the principle of assisted suicide couldn’t bring themselves to back it.

There was nothing in this Bill to prevent doctors raising the issue of assisted suicide with patients unprompted. There were no proper safeguards to protect patients from coercion or untreated mental illness. Or to prevent vulnerable people opting for assisted suicide because of unmet social and palliative care needs. An amendment to prevent someone being approved for assisted suicide if motivated by financial hardship was rejected. There was not even an opt-out for hospices who would rather choose care over killing. It was vehemently opposed by disability groups, two Royal Colleges and palliative care practitioners.

After three long years and a well-funded pro-Bill marketing campaign, in the end there was simply no getting past the fundamental issue: should we tell some people that their lives aren’t worth living rather than pay for their palliative care?

Let’s remember that everywhere assisted suicide has been introduced (and I do mean everywhere) the criteria for it always expands. So, the vote last night was a vote to protect not only those deemed to have six months to live but those who will live for many years.

It was a vote to protect the disabled, and the elderly, the lonely and depressed, the mentally ill and the financially insecure. Those who feel, or are made to feel, like a burden on their family or even the NHS.

Terribly, there are so many who already regularly hear words to the effect that they would be "better off dead". They should not be forced to hear it from the state.

Hope and compassion for these vulnerable people has won out over the counsel of despair from the assisted suicide enthusiasts.

Pray for Westminster

Today is unquestionably a day for celebrating. But especially for those of us at the centre of the fight for life and hope, it is sobering to consider that in just a few hours’ time the House of Lords will vote on whether or not to allow women in England and Wales to kill their babies up to birth without sanction.

For the next few weeks at least, Peers will also continue to argue about legalising assisted suicide in England and Wales.

Scotland has led the way, Westminster must follow. Brothers and sisters, please pray that Westminster would take courage from Scotland’s example and cast their votes for life.

Affirming dignity

We must continue to hold out the light of hope in the darkness. Not merely by arguing for better palliative care – which is the "assisted dying" the public really wants – but with a clear, bold proclamation of Christian truth.

Our dignity is not dependent upon our circumstances. Our value does not come from our economic utility. They come from our status as image bearers of Almighty God. As I have said many times, compassion means walking with people through their suffering, not erasing the sufferer.

When we invest in new treatments, and in palliative care, and when we surround our fellow human beings with our love, our time, even our mere presence, we affirm their dignity. And in doing so, we uphold our own humanity as well as theirs.

Scotland’s former First Minister Humza Yousaf (who voted against the Bill) was simply stating the obvious last night when he said: “When the unintended consequences are death, there’s no correcting it afterwards”. He is right of course, but there is a deeper truth here: death is not the end. We should not want to hasten the end of those who are not following Christ. The power of the gospel is such that it overcomes not only the fear of death and dying but death itself. It is the final enemy, but it already stands defeated by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah.