Abstract
This paper provides a thorough analysis of a case study on end-of-life decisions, focusing on George, a successful attorney with ALS. From a Christian worldview, George’s suffering reflects the fallen nature of the world, while hope lies in the resurrection. As a person created in God’s image, George’s life holds inherent value. Despite considering voluntary euthanasia, his choices conflict with Christian beliefs, which prioritize palliative care and dignified living until natural death. Embracing faith, I would prioritize quality care and trust in God’s plan for my own life.
Background
George’s case can be viewed differently from a Christian perspective. He has ALS, which has exposed him to severe suffering. This is a degenerative disease that is deadly and is known to lack a specific treatment strategy. Additionally, it affects the nervous system, and its effects are likely to intensify over time, causing greater pain and worsening its impact on the patient (Mayo Clinic, 2023). His sufferings do not occur naturally; however, they are consequences of the fallenness of the world.
Despite the significant effort one puts into living an everyday life that resonates with God’s values, one will always get entangled and challenged by the sinful nature of the world, which includes multiple temptations and even sufferings to test one’s faith in God (Koontz, 2020). However, those who stand firm and uphold their faith in God are granted eternal life at the end of their sufferings. This forces Christians to remain strong and steadfast in their faith, regardless of the consequences they face, often stemming from the overreaching effects of a sinful world.
ALS is a deadly disease, and its existence can be linked with the sinful consequences the world faces as punishment for human deviation from God’s expectations. The primary challenge with these issues is that even those who live according to God’s guidelines are not exempt from such suffering.
As such, George should not be worried or abandon his faith in the Creator, as his situation is not his fault. Instead, it is a challenge that everyone can experience as they explore the sinful nature of their societies. God is merciful and understands the situation, its impact on his followers, and the potential rewards they will reap for their endurance. Nonetheless, George is expected to stay strong, fight for his life, and emerge as a victorious believer who overcomes the consequences of the world’s fallenness, which is depicted in Jesus’ story. He was not sinful and had not sinned.
However, he had to undergo hardship, being ostracized by the Pharisees, and he endured all that pain and suffering to set an example for the rest of the Christians and believers to understand the nature of society. He was a sacrificial lamb who came to save humanity, and whoever believed in him stood a chance to emerge victorious despite their pain. Like Jesus Christ, who took his cross and endured the pain of the sinful world, Christians are expected to encounter such challenges.
Interpreting Suffering Through the Christian Narrative
Despite the significant challenges that George may face in the sinful world, there is hope for those who believe and uphold their faith in Christ. George will eventually find grace and hope in the promise of resurrection. This is a Christian belief that, at the end of their suffering and death, God will send his son to rescue humanity once again (Tabb, 2023). As such, those who will be found worthy and valuable in the Christian values will be granted eternal life that is pure and perfect (Tabb, 2023). They will no longer have to suffer, as they will live with Christ Himself, receiving tremendous rewards and forever living with the Savior.
In this sense, human suffering is not an issue to worry about. It prepares believers for the crown they will receive as they celebrate their endurance and faith in God. This is a significant insight into George’s suffering, underscoring that his life experiences, though hard to endure, are a temporary phenomenon. It will not last forever, as there will be hope when Jesus comes to drive his followers to eternal life. As long as he maintains his beliefs and endures the pain with hope in God’s mercy, George is assured resurrection with Christ, and he will be restored to a perfected state, free from pain, suffering, and disease.
Christian Worldview in Informing the View on the Value of Life
The Christian view of life is crucial in informing George that his life matters and has value in the eyes of the Creator. Christians believe that their life and existence stem from God. God has a personalized connection with human life, as He created them in His own image and likeness (Chistyakova, 2019). This gives everyone an equal opportunity before God to be worthy and valuable.
Additionally, God created humans for a specific purpose. He wants humans to continue disseminating his values and spreading good news to the nonbelievers. This emphasizes the primary aim of humans, as indicated in the scriptures, which is to proclaim God’s gospel to everyone, so that the world may see His wonders in their lives. George must understand that he is still breathing because God wants him to live. This gives him the power to be valuable, like the rest, in proclaiming God’s message to the world. He must understand that his worth is seen in his ability to fulfill God’s intentions on earth, empower the weak, and feed the needy, rather than in his physical conditions.
George has endured devastating life experiences, a disease that alters his physical conditions and ability to perform his daily duties like the rest. However, his physical condition does not deny his worth as a human being created by God (Tabb, 2023). His life is still valuable in the eyes of God, and his physical appearance is just an outward appearance that does not interfere with his human nature. He deserves respect like anyone else.
His condition makes his case unique, as he deserves extensive care to help him maintain his life and thrive while struggling with ALS. He should be treated as God’s creation, not just by his physical appearance, which will give George hope to stick with his faith and wait for God’s decisions. He is the guide and controller of everything. Human life depends on him, and he determines whom to take and when. Regardless of the situation or conditions one may experience, one’s life matters in God’s eyes, and one should strive to maintain God’s grace.
Contemplating Euthanasia: Christian Values and Considerations
George’s life is critical and deserves respect, even amid suffering. This means that undertaking any decision, such as euthanasia, that interferes with his life is an abomination before the Christian values (Standish, 2019). However, George experienced overwhelming experiences with the ALS attack on his body. He might feel euthanasia is the only way to overcome such feelings and avoid the unnecessary costs of care that he is likely to bring to his family and friends. However, the Christian worldview does not recognize such viewpoints. Christians value the sanctity of life, compassion, and the sovereignty of God (Standish, 2019). This means George should know his life is essential and cannot be deliberately cut short through euthanasia.
In addition, he should consider acts of compassion towards his valuable life and remember that God has the ultimate say in when his life will end. In the Christian worldview, George is only human and has no chance to make decisions about his life, making euthanasia an awful decision before God. Christians associate euthanasia with suicidal acts. It is an intentional way to end life prematurely. Jesus, in his teachings, condemned such actions, advising Christians to remain strong in their faith and never relinquish their values and hopes in the face of challenges. They must be resilient and strive to achieve a meaningful life, helping them emerge victorious as God’s chosen people.
Among his prominent themes was the idea that everyone should be keen to avoid questioning the will of God. They must not take matters into their own hands to pursue actions that do not align with God’s will. After all, Jesus emphasized that one’s life matters above all else. It is the most significant gift one can wish for. While other earthly materials may be necessary for a comfortable life, they do not have the same value as human life. This means that the cost of care and the potential losses George might face in his life are not significant in a critical decision like this.
Morally Justified Options
By framing euthanasia as the only option in this case, the Christian worldview presents other alternatives to help George make these challenging decisions. Christianity’s high value of life and God’s sovereignty call for an approach that helps one prolong their life (Standish, 2019). Humans are encouraged to be patient, seek medical attention, and pray for God’s mercy to help them prolong their lives (Standish, 2019).
Christian prayers are a powerful tool for overcoming life challenges, as they provide a direct way to communicate with God and express one’s suffering and experiences. God is merciful. He understands whatever difficulties his followers are going through. He lets George suffer, meaning he has a better plan, which is why patience also matters. Even if God does not answer his prayers, he is advised to remain patient and see what God has in store for him in the afterlife.
Pursuing these options can be a viable choice for George. He is experiencing significant pain and might be tempted to give up. To begin with, finding a possible step toward managing the pain is essential. However, seeking medical attention, finding ways to relieve pain, and turning his attention to God through prayers and family support can be a viable strategy than considering euthanasia.
According to Barnett et al. (2018), Christians value palliative care over euthanasia. This is an undertaking of all possible approaches to managing pain caused by untreatable diseases such as cancer. Patients under this care receive thorough treatment, encompassing psychological, mental, and physical care (Barnett et al., 2018). They aim to maintain a healthy life that can help George leverage his strengths to minimize the pain he is experiencing and find peace, even if he is under overwhelming life experiences posed by ALS.
Personal Opinion
In my opinion, sticking to one’s values and beliefs is essential. Being a Christian requires considerable thought and education to uphold Christian values. These are the driving forces that determine the various steps a person takes in life (Tabb, 2023). In this context, it would be more appropriate for George to align all his decisions and actions with his faith in Christ and the sovereignty of God. It is vital to embrace the hope and meaning that his faith provides. He must forgo euthanasia as the only hope is to leverage the pain and embrace other options, such as palliative care. This will help him adhere to his Christian values, embrace God’s power, recognize his worth, and seek God’s mercy, thereby gaining hope of resurrection with Jesus.
In addition, George requires extensive care, including the support of caregivers and family members, to help him prolong his life, become more comfortable, and maintain his faith in God, which will reinforce his Christian values and lay the groundwork for him to portray his endurance and trust in God’s sovereignty (Tabb, 2023). While recognizing the difficulties that ALS presents, I would strive to maintain a faith-based perspective, find purpose in my suffering, and seek to make the most of the time I have left.
References
Barnett, M. D., Cantu, C., & Galvez, A. M. (2018). Attitudes toward euthanasia among hospice nurses: Political ideology or religious commitment? Death Studies, 44(3), 195–200.
Chistyakova, O. V. (2019). Religious anthropology of eastern (Greek-byzantine) patristics – tuiasi. European Journal of Science and Theology, 15(6), 145-155.
Koontz, S. (2020). Why does God allow human suffering? Living by Design Ministries.
Mayo Clinic. (2023). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mayo Clinic.
Standish, K. (2019). Understandings of suicide. Suicide through a Peacebuilding Lens, 51–92.
Tabb, B. (2023). God’s answer to human suffering: The cross of Christ and problem of pain. Desiring God.