Introduction
Death and dying are harsh and unpleasant truths of existence. Questions of faith and philosophy have always been at the heart of discussions about death (Mirkes, 2017). In bioethics, euthanasia is considered a contentious topic; death and related topics like assisted suicide are viewed differently from a Christian worldview.
George, diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is the subject of this paper’s case study analysis. Eventually, a patient with this degenerative disease will lose the ability to communicate, move, eat, and take a breath and will ultimately die. The paper will focus on George’s impending death and the Christian stance on euthanasia.
Christian Narrative and the Fallenness of the World
Suffering and the world’s fallen state go in tandem with Christian thought. It all started in the Garden of Eden when God placed Adam and Eve to tend to and cultivate God’s creation (Roberts II, 2017). Until they ate the fruit about which God had warned them, Adam and Eve enjoyed abundant food and experienced no pain.
When Adam and Eve sinned, God distanced Himself from them, marking the beginning of the fall of creation. Thus, the Christian account places the origin of human suffering in the world’s fallenness. God said Adam and Eve would have to work for their sustenance from then on. Consequently, human suffering is God’s punishment, as everything was altered thereafter.
After reading the Bible, George would conclude that his trials were God’s test of his devotion. According to Christian doctrine, everything happens for a reason. In addition, Christians think God uses everything that happens to them to show or teach them something. God’s grace is seen through the restoration of health following adversity (Roberts II, 2017).
Jesus said a blind man was experiencing hardship because God wanted to display His glory by curing him. Thus, Christians would tell George to pray for God’s restoration and be patient as he discovers the meaning of his suffering and God’s will. According to the Scripture, George could be healed by his faith and prayers. This is because Christians have faith that God can do anything.
Christian Narrative and the Hope of Resurrection
According to Christian belief, God made everything in the world, and Jesus was incarnated as a human so that people could see God’s image in Him. A Christian would see what is occurring to George as God’s will because of this. Roberts II (2017) claims that human affliction aims to bring people closer to God and make them more aware of Christ’s suffering.
Christian teachings about Jesus’ death radically alter how Christians think about and deal with death. While death is tragic and horrible, Jesus triumphed over it on the cross. As a result of Christ’s victory over death, Christians believe their mortal bodies will be resurrected at the end of time.
Christians believe God continuously restores shattered human nature and will eventually redeem them from the grave. This encourages people to draw near to God and do what He wants. Christians’ faith is strengthened when they view adversity as God’s will, which helps them maintain their convictions even in the face of hardship.
Christians who think their pain is divine punishment have an opening to make amends for their sins and regain God’s favor when they experience hardship. God’s orderliness is demonstrated by His permitting human suffering in the hope that sinners may repent and know God’s love. Some individuals may interpret their pain as punishment, but it is evidence that God loves them and wants them to fulfill His plan for their lives (Roberts II, 2017).
Similarly, Christians believe they will rise from the dead as Jesus did. These considerations can help George take stock of his life, repent, and have faith that God has cleansed him and that his suffering will end when he dies. Even after George has repented, he can hope to be resurrected when Christ returns to take His church.
The Christian Worldview
Even in the middle of ALS, a Christian perspective holds that George should see his life as necessary and a gift from God and that it should not be ripped away by a human being but by God. As a result, George is anticipated to keep fighting through the agony of his illness and everything that comes with it. Christians think it is essential to keep one’s faith in adversity (Roberts II, 2017). No one should decide to take their own life because they are going through anything as complicated as George’s.
Despite having a debilitating and fatal condition like ALS, George is still a wonderful human. Since the introduction of sin into the world, everyone has had to deal with the pain that comes with living (Orr & Meilaender, 2004). For this reason, God continues to place great value on George’s life, and there is a reason why he allowed him to develop ALS. George has to ask God for guidance in understanding the purpose of his illness and how he may utilize it to bring glory to God. Therefore, George should bear the pain in the strength of the Christian belief that every human life is sacred and should be treated as such.
Euthanasia
Like other faiths, Christians are expected to live up to specific standards. Killing is forbidden since taking another person’s life is a terrible sin. A Christian should not consider euthanasia because it is equivalent to murder (Orr, 2001). According to Christian teaching, George should courageously endure adversity because trials and tribulations are opportunities to strengthen one’s faith and grow spiritually. The Christian worldview would prioritize virtues like accepting pain and suffering as inevitable in life if it were considering whether George should choose euthanasia. Jesus died on the cross, but not before enduring intense anguish and asking God to spare him from having to take the cup of punishment if that was His will.
To the extent that George’s affliction is God’s will, he must accept it and pray for the grace to endure it. In addition, God uses affliction to draw people to Himself and prompt them to seek forgiveness through repentance. As a result, George needs to take advantage of his trials to learn the lessons God has for him and grow spiritually.
According to Torr (2000), one’s attitude about death is heavily influenced by beliefs about what happens after one dies. If they adopt the Christian perspective, people can be assured that God controls their lives. It affirms that everything, even suffering and death, is by God’s will and the ultimate hope of eternal life and Jesus’ resurrection. George should consider his life and illness God’s will in action. In addition, God uses people’s pain for a reason, and He alone is the source of life and existence.
Morally Justified
George would have done it morally if he had lived until God took his life. Hence, in the eyes of the Christian, George does not have the option of euthanasia. Taking a life and tampering with God’s plan is both abhorrent and immoral in the eyes of Christians since human life is a gift from God (Roberts II, 2017). In addition, Christians believe that pain is inherent to God’s will for humanity, making it immoral to attempt to alter that will in any way. Following Christ’s example on the cross, Christians should be able to accept the anguish and suffering of a terminally ill person.
Decision
As a Christian, accepting pain and natural death as God’s will to get people to a better place and life is consistent with my belief that demise is changed into light through resurrection. Thus, I will bear the suffering of my illness and trust that the Lord will bring about my death at the appointed time. This is because the Christian worldview opposes euthanasia.
According to Christian ethics, this constitutes the same level of evil as murder (Roberts II, 2017). As a Christian who believes in and respects God’s law, I would rather wait for God to accomplish His purpose with my life than end it voluntarily with the help of medical professionals. As the Bible indicates that sins can be the source of pain, I will instead repent and seek healing from God. This will pave the way for me to reach paradise and the promise of eternal life. I will also continue to testify in the hope that God will use my suffering as a testament to His miraculous power and provision.
Conclusion
Death and dying are harsh and unpleasant realities of life. Religion and philosophy have constantly been at the center of conversations about death. George, who has been diagnosed with ALS, is this study’s focus of the case review. A Christian should not accept euthanasia, as it is comparable to murder.
In the Christian worldview, life is sacred, and only God has the authority to take it. God allows suffering to draw humanity closer to himself as part of a larger plan. George should accept the pain of having ALS because it is part of being human. Therefore, George’s consideration of voluntary euthanasia is counter to Christian ethics. In determining whether George should choose euthanasia, the Christian worldview would place a premium on traits such as embracing pain and anguish as unavoidable.
References
Mirkes, R. (2017). Three end-of-life cases: Resolving their moral dilemmas. Ethics & Medicine, 33(2), 107-120. Web.
Orr, R. (2001). Pain management rather than assisted suicide: The ethical high ground. Pain Medicine, 2(2), 131-137. Web.
Orr, R., & Meilaender, G. (2004). Ethics & life’s ending: An exchange. First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, 1(145), 31-36. Web.
Roberts II, A. (2017). The higher-brain concept of death: A Christian theological appraisal. Ethics & Medicine, 33(3), 177-131. Web.
Torr, J. D. (2000). Euthanasia: Opposing viewpoints. Greenhaven Press.
