e found in the incarnate nature of Jesus Christ. "Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:6-8). In this example of Christ's love, lessons abound. Love cannot always seek to possess. Love cannot be used to justify the decision to preserve life at all costs and for as long as possible. Part of true love is letting go. In the incarnation of the Word, Jesus did not cling to equality with God at all costs. True love of humanity allowed Christ to let go of pure divinity, just as true love sometimes calls for a person to let go of life. Actions that attempt to preserve life unconditionally, then, fail to adhere to an important facet comprising Christian love. True love sometimes must learn to let go. Therefore, assertions supporting the preservation of life at all costs are invalid.
             The situation involving the elimination of suffering at all costs cannot be dealt with quite as easily as the unconditional preservation of life. We first must discuss the situation of allowing someone to die. In this passive action, nature simply is running its course. In allowing a person to die there is an acceptance of God's natural order which mimics Christ's own becoming obedient unto death, including the suffering of death on the cross. Based on this example, it appears that the possibility of letting die can be established as a highly permissible act, an act fully in conjunction with the principles of Christian love. Take for instance a terminal patient living out his or her final days. If at some point the patient stopped breathing, according to the principles of love, it would be permissible to withhold procedures of resuscitation and allow the patient...