The most certain thing in human life is death. The experience of death is the most intimate one and is primarily dictated by our beliefs and values. The identification and recognition of the feelings, beliefs, attitudes, and values that shape our insights as well as our understanding when faced with difficult situations is highly significant. Religion serves a great role in determining death and life choices. This paper seeks to look at the possibility to opt for euthanasia as an end of life decision from a Christian worldview. Generally, according to the Christian perspective, euthanasia can neither be accepted in the interest of a patient nor anyone else. Human life can only be treated as an end to itself.
Case Study: Interpretation of Suffering
From a Christian’s perspective, George would interpret his illness as suffering that result from the initial sinning by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The Bible dictates that evil entered the world because of the human beings rebelled against God. As a result of the sin committed by man, pain, suffering, and death were released to the world, resulting in its fallenness. The scripture also indicates that God is in control in all situations. Hence in this regard, George will view his pain and suffering as God’s plan. Biblical worldview provides hope and reassurance during challenging times (Cherry, 2018). Christianity holds that God uses difficulties in the end stages of life to instill discipline in human beings and strengthen the faith of believers.
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The belief that God cares for humanity and is strong enough to deal with every situation forces believers to conclude that God has powers beyond comprehension. Noteworthy is that God entered into suffering because of humanity (De Villers, 2016). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ came into the world in human form, lived, was crucified because of the sins of man, and died on the cross. Eventually, He defeated death, and as such, every Christian is assured of eternal life in heaven. It is for this reason that Christians in George’s situation will believe that the disease, pain, and suffering that man undergoes is for the greater good and cannot be compared to what Christ endured for human’s sake.
The main message of the Bible is to provide hope for the good news after death. In this sense, it helps Christians learn how to deal with suffering and focus on having a better life. More often than not, Christians are encouraged to know that they are not alone and should cry out to the Lord in times of suffering. Cherry (2018) denotes that the Bible offers a vision of Christ, who answers prayers and relieves suffering.
Suffering and Hope for Resurrection
Christians commission their actions to the belief that Christ has prepared a home for them in heaven. Although this belief is heavily pegged on the hope for resurrection, it solidly forms the foundation for Christianity. The scripture presents Satan and death as enemies to humankind. Death and suffering was ushered into the world, resulting in the fall and, as such, belongs to Satan’s domain. More importantly, Christian narratives dictate that death and Satan were all defeated by Christ upon His resurrection. Believers in Christ embrace resurrection because it allows Christianity to flourish without self-pity or resentment for their suffering (Nordqvist, 2016). It also portrays God’s victory over the power of death. Through the resurrection, Christians learn that God favors life, and as such, life will always triumph over death. This, therefore, forms the basis of Christianity.
The Christian narrative demands that believers find peace, strength, and means of perseverance by believing that there is an eternity afterlife. George interprets Jesus's resurrection as an invitation to look at the ultimate reward beyond the suffering and pain. This calls for all Christians to get out of their worlds of entitlement. It also summons them to spiritual peace and freedom.
Through the resurrection of Christ, Christians can see the broader picture of existence. It lifts the veil that demystifies death while revealing the reality of the life after. From a Christian’s perspective, death can never be accepted but, at the same time, must not be feared as one that cannot be defeated (De Villers, 2016). In the context of resurrection, suffering and death can never be viewed as the end but rather the beginning. Through the resurrection, human suffering tends to mold and shape the life of every Christian as it summons hope with a belief of an afterlife.
Resurrection depicts God’s victory. Biblically, the life after death promises the end of suffering to a Christian. This is a place where all wrongs will be made right. Justice will be served to those who endured life in Christ.
Value of Life from Christian Worldview
The appropriate use and understanding of the scripture can help revive hope, love, encouragement, sustenance, and forgiveness from a dying person. The Christian worldview depicts that life is a gift from God with an incalculable value (Nordqvist, 2016). Moreover, the scripture asserts that God loved each believer before the foundation of the world, and as such, human life is sacred and should be protected and respected. The sanctity of life is further presented in the Bible, where Jesus reminded his disciples of how each person is precious to God. Consequently, although George’s illness would cause instability in his life, the Bible will continue to give him hope. The scripture will likely meet his spiritual needs and channel his attention to the fact that the God he serves is a dependable one who will forever cherish him. There by offering him comfort and encouragement to continue valuing his life despite the suffering.
Christianity holds that birth and death form part of life’s processes created by God and that all persons were created in the image and likeness of God. This means that George’s Christian’s perspective will hold on to the fact that the human life intrinsic value by virtue that it is in the likeness of God. As such, his life should be valued because he is destined to share his life with that of God (Cherry, 2018). As George contemplates his life, he will make a decision to live his life in a manner that will be pleasing to Christ. He will channel his effort toward preserving and prolonging his life with the aim of promoting God’s love.
According to the Christian worldview, all people are equal and hold the same value. This view will heavily influence George’s view of his life. Unlike social truths, human dignity in Christianity is not measured by intelligence, mobility, and worldly achievements. This view dictates that even patients in a vegetative state should be considered human and should be valued the same as anyone else (Nordqvist, 2016). With this perspective in mind, George will place more value on his life and overlook aspects like human dignity. Patients with physical disabilities, degenerative diseases, and near the end of life are considered to have the same value as any other healthy human being. Hence, suffering and pain do not justify life as invaluable and cannot be justifiable reasons for ending one’s life.
The decision to Opt for Euthanasia
In the Christian worldview, human life should be preserved as it bears God’s image. The arguments are based on the fact the dying process has spiritual importance that should not be disrupted. Christianity claims that the interruption of the dying process would intercept the spirit’s movement to heaven. This would deny the believer a chance to experience the joy and plenty of the afterlife. This belief might affect George’s decision to opt for euthanasia.
Also, according to the Christian view, euthanasia is a sin as it goes against the human commandments, which demands that one shall not kill. This makes it morally unacceptable. Human beings' freedom does not extend to ending lives as this undermines God’s sovereignty over life and death (De Villers, 2018). Christianity believes that each human life depicts God’s glory in the world, and eliminating life denies God’s relationship with humanity. The scripture states that God promises the end to human suffering, but until then, all Christians are expected to persevere and endure to the end. In the light of this Christian Worldview, George would dismiss the option of euthanasia with the belief that God uses the emotional pain and physical affliction to strengthen his faith in Christ. He will further assert that God shapes Christians in a painful way to develop them into holy people who are ready to enter His kingdom.
In a Christian view, the proposal of euthanasia indicates that the individual is not worthy. The decision to take life should solely be left for the creator. The decision to euthanize is considered incompatible with recognizing human worth and dignity. Additionally, the Christian view opines that sick people need more love, care as well as human and supernatural warmth. This calls for the community, which includes parents, children, the doctors, and nurses to come together and intensify the care instead of offering euthanasia.
Morally Justifiable Options for George
In the lenses of the Christian worldview aforementioned, George would be morally justified to preserve his life until his death. This is because the Christian beliefs offer builds his relationship with God and give him hope for a better life after the one on earth. It also helps to provide him with comfort and encouragement to live positively. In George’s Christian view, God is the source of everything, including his suffering. This means that establishing and maintaining a stronger relationship with his creator indicates his obedience, which reaffirms his position in heaven.
Worldview Point of View
All in all, a worldview would demand that George does everything to prolong his life as long as possible. He, however, should discuss the option of euthanasia when the disease gets to its very last stage. Buying time will ensure that he gets to spend quality time with his loved ones and make peace with himself.
References
Cherry, M. J. (2018). Physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia: How not to die as a Christian.
De Villiers, D. E. (2016). May Christians request medically assisted suicide and euthanasia?. HTS Theological Studies, 72(4), 1-9.
Nordqvist, C. (2016). Euthanasia and assisted suicide. Medical News Today.
