Introduction
Like every religion, Christianity has a specific attitude to such existential questions as illness and death. One of the most difficult choices in this area is between living with an incurable disease and euthanasia. It is essential to study the principles and ideas of Christianity to make a decision consistent with this religion’s vision of the world. The case of George, a man diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), may prove that resorting to euthanasia is unnecessary.
The Suffering of George and the Fallenness of the World
In the Christian worldview, there exists a close bond between the concepts of sin and suffering. According to Western churches, original sin was committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, which led to the fall of humanity from God’s grace. The story of the first couple on the Earth and the forbidden fruit marked the beginning of an irreversible cycle of human suffering. No one can escape this cycle because every newborn child carries a part of Adam and Eve’s guilt. Smith (2019) highlights that “we belong to a storyline that we neither begin nor complete” (p. 24). That means every person’s destiny is connected to the ancestors’ destinies and will inevitably influence the fates of the next generations (Smith, 2019). Considering the explained theory of the world’s fallenness, George may be consoled by the fact that all people are sinful by their nature and therefore subject to suffering. There is time for atonement in everyone’s life, and the roots of this problem are in the distant past.
The Suffering of George and Resurrection
The life and death of Jesus Christ showed God’s love and care for people because he endured torments for the sins of the whole world. The central notion in this story is resurrection, which implies the possibility of revival after suffering. Resurrection “provides new life for believers, enabling them to see, think and live anew” (Dockery & Wax, 2019, p. 3). These words may serve as solace for George, promising him relief after all the hardship. He can be sure that he will not be left without the forgiveness of God.
The Christian Worldview and the Value of Life
The Christian worldview pays attention to the value of human life. It is known that God made both man and woman in his image. One cannot equate God because he is our supreme creator, but people have an honorable mission of “reflecting his character in our love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness” (Life Application Study Bible, 2019, p. 6). Knowing that one is capable of such profound feelings “provides a solid basis for self-worth” (Life Application Study Bible, 2019, p. 6). Even undergoing such a devastating illness as ALS, George should remember that he remains God’s image-bearer as well as all the others. He should not think that he will lose dignity and power. Although his body is constrained by ALS, his life is still precious and meaningful.
The Christian Worldview and Euthanasia
Euthanasia cannot be regarded as the right way out of this situation because it contradicts the moral and ethical principles of Christianity. If life is given to us by God, then taking it away without his permission will be a disrespectful attitude to his will. Taking a look at the concept of seven deadly sins, one of them is sloth expressed through self-pity and despair. Sloth means boredom with God and life, which makes it much easier for the Devil to possess this person’s inactive soul. Thus, choosing euthanasia as the quickest way to cease his existence, George would be characterized as a weak person, unable to resist his fears and suffering. When Jesus Christ was crucified, he did not ask God to end his pain sooner than necessary. Instead, he spent his last hours on the Earth praying for the people who exposed him to torture. Thereby, every person experiencing hardship should understand that God gives one as much burden as he or she can carry.
The Options Available for George
The salvation George is looking for may be found in some of the Christian worldview’s virtues. It is essential to accept the current situation with courage and patience as one of the steps to peace and joy. Humility will teach George to obey God’s will and understand the meaning of such a lesson as this illness. With the help of the charity, George will be able to diminish his suffering by loving God and the people around him. When worrying about his relatives, who will have to care about him continually, George should remember that true love can deal with any challenges. Other virtues that will guide him towards decent life are faith and hope. Peterson (2020) states that the key to understanding the meaning of suffering might be “to focus on a deeper relationship with God” (p.121). This relationship can be reached by the development of trust in God and the strengthening of faith. Thus, George’s primary task is the formation of a grateful and conscious attitude to life and humble waiting for the time when God will decide to end it.
A Personal Opinion on George’s Case
If I were in George’s situation, I would continue holding on to life as long as possible. There is hope when there is life, and that is the truth familiar to the followers of all religions. Under no circumstances should we interfere with God’s plans, because this leads to mess and violence in the world. History proves that the power of spirit, earnest prayer, and faith in the Lord’s mercy can work miracles even in the darkest hour. Sometimes, people overcome diseases that were considered incurable, get back to life after severe accidents, and, eventually, come to a deeper understanding of life. Indeed, this fact encourages us to endure the challenges sent to us. Every day may be marked by some extraordinary event and by God’s blessing, so we do not possess the right to deprive ourselves or anybody else of this chance.
Conclusion
The consideration of such Christian worldview’s elements as fallenness of the world and resurrection leads to the conclusion that euthanasia does not correspond to the ideas of this religion. All people are sinful by nature and therefore must suffer, but this does not diminish the value of their life. Thus, George should accept his illness as one of the life stages and continue living with ALS while God allows him to do so. The best option for him is to concentrate on being a virtuous person and wait for the relief expected after death by the Christians.
References
Dockery, D. S., & Wax, T. (2019). Christian worldview handbook. B&H Publishing Group. Life Application Study Bible (2019). Tyndale House Publishers.
Peterson, M. (2020). C. S. Lewis and the Christian worldview. Oxford University Press.
Smith, M. S. (2019). The genesis of Good and Evil: The fall(out) and original sin in the Bible. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.