Life Library — Death
Biblical Insights
No pastor should deal with the problem of counseling in decisions of life and death without first understanding what God's Word brings to bear on the situation. This article considers certain key Bible passages relative to death, and thus provides the pastor with additional insights.
Bioethics and the Culture of Death
We need not fear death or God, because whether we live or die we are the Lord's. What a relief that we don’t have to be in control of life. God took matters into his own cross-imprinted hands and freed us from the threat of death, judgment and hell itself.
Christmas Mourning
The holidays can be a time of sadness and loneliness, especially for those mourning the passing of a loved one. During the Christmas season, the baby Jesus' gentle hand reaches out. In the end, He will take them by the hand and lead them into His joy and peace.
Comfort in the Face of Death
If you want to comfort a loved one who is dying, don't pretend everything will be OK. Our comfort begins at the cross. We provide care to suffering people when we allow them their cries of forsakenness (see Psalm 22). We don't have to pretty up dying with false hopes.
Comfort for Women Who Have Had a Miscarriage
"Writing with pastoral concern, Luther points out that the miscarriage … is not a sign of God's anger … Luther sees the basis for Christian consolation in the unspoken prayers of the mother in which the Spirit is at work and which sanctify the child, and in the prayers of the Christian congregation."
CPR: Yes or No?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is specifically aimed at restarting the heart beating and/or lungs breathing. In a hospital setting, the physician will sometimes write a DNR order which means "do not resuscitate." There is sometimes confusion in the mind of patient or family members over whether or not CPR should be done.
Death as a Mother
Life is a process down the cosmic birth canal, a "being-towards-death." The goal of the second pregnancy, the goal of our body's life, is also a death … for the purpose of being born into a deathless life. Our death is a mother. It gives itself up to bear life.
Don't Do This!
Death is monstrously ugly. It truly is the wages of sin, and each of us will know it personally. Hearing and believing that Gospel message has opened up the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. Death remains ugly. It is not the end, but the beginning of life with God.
He Knows Our Pain
God’s grace is sufficient, even for the sadness of a stillbirth.
If I Should Die
Everyone needs to be ready to die. Death can come suddenly. But if death may come without warning, is it still possible to prepare for it? Yes. The Christian has many avenues of preparation.
I Want to Burden My Loved Ones
We shouldn't hesitate to empower our loved ones to make medical decisions for us as long as they avoid the futile question "What would he have wanted?" and content themselves with the question "What is best for him now?"
Medical Directives and Some Misunderstandings
Medical directives give directions in health care decision-making in anticipation of the possibility that the patient will be unable to do so in the future due to illness (coma, Alzheimer's, etc.). There are two kinds: the Living Will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.
No Better Way to Die
Rosalie Hootman was blessed with a strong faith and time to get ready for heaven. She, in turn, became a blessing and inspiration to those around her.
Pastoral Counseling and "Technical Brain Life"
The pastor's role and responsibility in cases of "technical brain life" are summarized regarding the pastor's responsibility to self, the legal profession, the medical profession and the patient-people (those who have the power to make a decision to "pull the plug or not pull the plug.")
Prepared for Death
When we enter the working world in early adulthood, we begin to save for retirement, though it's 50 years away. If we can be so concerned about our earthly future, why can't we understand the necessity of preparing for death long before it comes?
What About . . . Death and Dying
A reprint of a tract from the LCMS "What About …" series, intended to help us face death and understand what death is, and how Christians face death and deal with grief.