George's Decision to Opt for Euthanasia is Unwarranted and Ungodly

George's Decision to Opt for Euthanasia is Unwarranted and Ungodly
From a Christian worldview perspective, George's decision to opt for euthanasia is unwarranted and ungodly. Christians believe that life is God-given as we are all created in the image of God. With life considered God-given, births and deaths are part and parcel of all the processes God created for us, and all we can do is respect God's purpose in our lives. Accordingly, human life has an intrinsic value, and our day-to-day living here on earth is purposely designed to allow us to share in God's own life. Men are created in God's image and are therefore granted the rational capacity to see good and pursue that which is good in the eyes of God. Accordingly, Christians are expected to live lives close to God's life of grace, love, peace, and harmony. To pursue euthanasia is to argue that one's life has become useless and no longer worthwhile, which is wrong in the eyes of God the creator (Grove, Lovell, & Best, 2022). Christianity does not permit the killing of human beings, whether infants, fetuses, old, or those suffering from incurable illnesses.
George's Interpretation of His Suffering – Fallenness of the World
The world's fallenness demonstrates man's broken relationship with God causing humans lots of evil and suffering. Ideally, lots of suffering facing humans are largely due to our sins and error. Prior to the fall of man, as told in Genesis, the world was with no death, suffering, pain, or loss. The book of genesis 1:31 reads, "And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth days." Everything was good, and God was happy, but when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, tragedy and suffering became part and parcel of human existence (BH, 2021). The fall of man became a tragedy that affected man and all his generation, as told in Romans 5:18 – "Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation." George's interpretation of his suffering is that we get sick because we live in a fallen world and not because we are no longer worthwhile. Our world is already a tragedy, but through Jesus Christ, we always have assurances of hope, grace, and restoration.
George's Interpretation of His Sufferings – Hope of Resurrection
Christian faith by itself is founded on the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day. According to apostle Paul, if Christ had not risen on the third day, our faith as Christians would be meaningless and possibly non-existent (1 Corinthians 15:14). Ideally, the resurrection of Christ is the sole anchor of our humanistic assurances and that even though we live in a fallen world, we are forgiven and that Christ has granted us the hope and grace needed. While death and sin devasted man through Adam and eve, resurrection has been given to man through Jesus (Viljoen, 2018). 1 Corinthians 15:22 states, "for as in Adam all die, so in Christ, all will be made alive." Georges is certainly in a hopeless situation, but understanding that there is nothing that God cannot do is the basis of his recovery. God, through Christ, assured men hope through resurrection, and it is important for George to realize that, like Christ, there is always a home for healing, hope in forgiveness, and hope in brokenness. With Christ's resurrection, no suffering, pain, or rejection, among others, are permanent.
Georges Value of Life Amid Incurable ASL Disease
George has been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but this does not make him worthless. Christian worldview informs George's view about his value of life by emphasizing that human life is sacred and a priceless gift from God, and whatever the circumstances, it must be protected and treasured. God does not want anyone to suffer, but he promised to help us get through sicknesses and suffering (Baird, 2021). With reference to Ecclesiastes 3:1-3, He reminds us that "For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to … heal." George's current sickness results from many things, including age, environmental toxins, and others. But amid all these, God will sustain (the righteous) on their sickbed, and in his power, he will restore them to full health (Psalms 41:3). Everything happens for a reason, and George's situation should help him look at life from a different perspective. His sickness should lead him to faith and increase his pursuit of a life of higher purposes. Sickness such as ALS should not make Georges opt for a premature end of life but instead face life with all its mysteries with full trust and hope in God (Peterman & Schmutzer, 2016). Even though God granted man the free will to do as they wish, the freewill does not include choosing when to die to avoid suffering. Choosing to die, especially when faced with diseases, denies God's fundamental relationship with humans.
Values and Considerations in the Christian Worldview
The discussion about euthanasia is never tolerated from a Christian worldview perspective because suffering is part and parcel of human life, and like Christ, man must face suffering (Weikart, 2017). Christian values and consideration further argue that human ...