End of Life Decisions from a Christian Worldview
Healthcare workers face various challenges in their efforts to ensure that patients receive high-quality healthcare. Diversity in beliefs and faiths among the patients is one of the greatest challenges that healthcare providers encounter in their daily operations. Having an in-depth understanding of the various cultures and beliefs is very hard for healthcare practitioners. While most of the cultures place great value on families, religious beliefs complicate their perception of life and other social-cultural practices. According to EuroMed Info (2016), many contemporary societies endeavor to intertwine their cultures with existing religious beliefs.
Although it is easy for some patients to forego their beliefs when seeking medication depending on the severity of their conditions, some patients uphold their beliefs until the end of their lives. In the modern world, patients are not only enlightened concerning their rights but they can refuse certain kinds of medication because of their beliefs. This paper explores, from a Christian worldview, a case of George, a patient suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in his mid-50s. George understands the difficulties that he would face because of the ALS including the inability to speak, move, and eat. He contemplates his end of life options including voluntary euthanasia.
From a Christian worldview, “God created human beings in his own image and likeness” to serve and worship Him, and partake in creation by reproducing and filling the earth. According to the scripture, God created Adam and Eve after creating all other things and placed them in the Garden of Eden (Meilaender, 2013). In Genesis chapter 3 the first man committed the first sin by disobeying God when they ate the forbidden fruit. Consequently, God cursed Adam and Eve. Christians believe that it is because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve that the world will continue to experience suffering from time to time. In Genesis 3:17-18, God cursed the man saying that “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it” and that the world “will produce thorns and thistles” for humanity.
In light of this Christian narrative, George would argue that his suffering is consequence disobedience of the first family of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The fall of man created a spiritual barrier between humankind and God and thus all descendants will suffer in their lives (Meilaender, 2013). Sickness is among the sufferings that God imposes on people. As such, George may interpret that God understands his sufferings. Nonetheless, while some Christians argue that sufferings are ways of bringing the victim closer to God, others believe that sufferings happen to people because of a lack of spiritual connection with God.
Despite this Christian narrative of the “fellness of the world”, the bible gives hope to the Christians after the fall. Although God cursed women that they will always have to endure pain when giving birth, Genesis 3:15 gives hope by stating that the humankind will have victory by the seed of a woman. The latter shows that the sufferings of labor pains symbolize both a curse for women and some hope for redemption. In connection with Genesis 3:15, the bible continues to give hope by stating that “For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).
As highlighted above, Adam disobeyed God and suffering entered the world but the obedience of Jesus Christ to die on the cross brought salvation and hope for a life without suffering in God’s kingdom (Worldview, 2017). Christianity teaches that people with sufferings including sicknesses should endure and believe in Christ and all shall be well as they will not die but live eternally with God in his kingdom. Referring to the scripture in the book of Job, Christians believe that after enduring suffering God will reward them double portion (Meilaender, 2013). In the first two chapters of the book of Job, the bible explains an array of sufferings that Job had to endure but later God rewarded him double portion for remaining faithful to God.
Therefore, George may interpret his sickness as just temptations that God would reward after remaining faithful. In John 11:25, Jesus Christ asserts that “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, they will live.” Notably, Christianity is founded on the resurrection of the body. In light of this, George may not worry because of the perceived progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) because even if he dies, he will live with Christ.
While George contemplates voluntary euthanasia, Christianity worldview would inform him that his life is of great value in different ways. Both Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia have been making headlines in recent years. While some individuals may not have an issue with euthanasia, Christians will view euthanasia as suicide that contradicts Christian teachings. The bible teaches that murder is a sin and none should kill. In the book of Job 1:21, the bible teaches that Give gives and Him alone has the right to take away life. Christianity would remind George that all souls belong to God. Ezekiel 18:4 states that “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine.” Besides, the Bible asserts that the human body is a temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19) and thus contemplating euthanasia contradicts God’s commandments.
Every Christian believes that nothing is impossible before God and that God can never allow a temptation that is greater than an individual’s abilities to befall on him. Therefore, George can endure and overcome the suffering and pain caused by ALS. Permitting euthanasia will signify a failure of a Christian to stick to his faith. Claiming that the suffering by George can be greater than what he can endure would imply that God is a liar and some encounters are beyond His powers.
Christian worldview would emphasize on various considerations and values in deliberating for or against euthanasia. Christians unanimously agree that life is a gift from God. Individuals can only protect their bodies from dangers but only God has the right to take away human life. No individual has the authority or right to take another person’s life even when the person wants to lose a life. While quoting Genesis 1:27, Christians also claim that humans are created in the image of God and therefore they should respect the works of God by respecting their bodies and those of other people.
According to the scripture, God made man and “breathed him” to give him life. Christianity observes life as divine and conducting euthanasia would be an act of disrespect to God the creator. One of the greatest Christian values is patience. The bible teaches that Christians should learn to be patient for God will act at the right time. From a Christian worldview, 1000 days are equal to one day and one day is equal to 1000 days before the years of God. Besides, Christianity teaches that nothing is impossible before God. By understanding these values, Christians would consider becoming patient and faithful to God while praying that God does His wish and eliminate pain and grief instead of conducting euthanasia. Therefore, Christianity will always consider God’s power and authority before everything.
While physicians may consider the stage of the sickness, pain, and grief as well as the will of the patient, Christians will emphasize that God is the creator and the giver of life. While considering the biblical story of Lazarus, Christians believe that God has the power not only to heal the sick but also to raise the dead. Jesus Christ demonstrated God’s power when He resurrected from the dead.
Another important element that Christian would consider is being prayerful for the will of God to happen. When Jesus Christ endured pain during ministry to save the world through the Cross, He prayed to God that He will happen and that God eliminates pain and grief. However, Jesus Christ endured to the end of his mission despite suffering and agony. Christians must, therefore, consider prayers throughout the journey of suffering and cannot give in to euthanasia as an option.
Given the discussed values and considerations, George has limited morally justified options from a Christian worldview. Comfort care is one of the most appropriate options for George (Worldview, 2017). Most importantly, the Christian worldview does not encourage euthanasia or place it as an option for taking one’s life. Therefore, George cannot permit euthanasia from a Christianity point of view. Euthanasia which means “good way of dying” or “good death” is an intentional medical procedure for taking an individual’s life to relieve both suffering and pain. As such, in euthanasia, a physician or another designated person carries out the last action that causes the death of the patient (PHI-413V, 2020). Euthanasia can either be voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary euthanasia occurs when the patient willingly informs the physician the need to use possible means that can cause their death. In involuntary euthanasia, patients do not willingly partake in the activities causing their death. Physicians can directly inject or use other forms of treatment to influence the death of the patient – active euthanasia or neglect the patient to let die – passive euthanasia.
Christians would view whatever kind of euthanasia as a kind of suicide that is a sinful act. Although the Bible states that death will happen to every person, none should yearn for death. Christian worldview considers death as a diversion of the original plan of God. The resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates that God is the ruler of everything and has power over death. According to the bible, people who have faith in God will see God’s face after death and will be judged according to their deeds throughout their lives. Sinners will go to eternal fire while righteous people will see God’s kingdom (Meilaender, 2013). Christians will avoid the sin of euthanasia so that they don’t limit their chances of seeing the kingdom of God. As such, the only option for George is to endure pain and suffering, remain faithful to God, and give God a chance to rule over his life as he continues with medication. In light of this, George has the option to give healthcare practitioners a chance to relieve him from pain through medication and comfort care.
From a personal worldview, George is indeed in a critical condition that can frustrate one’s belief, cultural practices, and socioeconomic experiences. While understanding that Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease, making the end of life decision is hard and morally challenging. However, contemplating euthanasia can never be a personal decision and that comfort care would be the best option if I were in George’s situation. It is hard to imagine that George would be a prisoner of his body because the disease would not let him move, speak, breathe, or eat. By giving a chance for comfort care, I would create room for prayers and God’s intervention. Although I have never been in such a critical condition, hope for restoration can relieve some agony and grief, especially when family, friends, and healthcare providers give hope for restoration.
In conclusion, healthcare practitioners encounter hard times in their efforts to relieve the patient’s pain. On some occasions, physicians may have euthanasia as the best option for the patient but patients will have to consent to these decisions if doctors do not overlook patient rights. Christian worldview observes euthanasia as a sin and not an option to relieve pain.
References
EuroMed Info. (2016). How culture influences health beliefs. Retrieved from http://www.euromedinfo.eu/how-culture-influences-health-beliefs.html/
Meilaender, G. (2013). Bioethics: A Primer for Christians (3rd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co. ISBN-13: 9780802867704
PHI-413V Topic 3 Overview (2020). Retrieved from:
https://lcugrad3.gcu.edu/learningPlatform/user/users.html?operation=home&token=RO0MjicaP5zVQcH3G2%2bdNZiHH5iW53idwOm2PGLieWYLE8Vk1Z8NfLczKSUsWrxl&classId=2212092#/learningPlatform/loudBooks/loudbooks.html?currentTopicname=Death,%20Dying,%20and%20Grief&viewPage=past&operation=innerPage&topicMaterialId=44cef744-6c1b-444c-a4a2-c434299c810e&contentId=8b05b279-7bae-44da-8b65-c7581ed497f4&
Worldview, (2017). Helping you better understand the world’s cultures and belief systems. Retrieved from http://www.worldviewu.org/
References