Interpretation of Suffering in Light of the Christian Narrative

End of Life Decision
Name
Institution
Course
Professor
Date
End of Life Decision
Abstract
In Christianity, men cannot fully comprehend God’s power and miraculous powers to save and navigate people through difficult life situations. This facet is best summarized in three common Bible-derived attributes of God; that God is Omnipotent or all-powerful, Omniscient or all-knowing, and Omnipresent or He is everywhere. The facet is encompassed in all Christian beliefs, understandings, and practices. George’s diagnosis with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and the consideration of his future life under the incurable illness raises an ethical and moral dilemma. His anxiety and fears are augmented by the dreaded effects of the illness, including losing the ability to talk, loss of mobility, breathing difficulties, and eating deterioration. To evade the anguish of these effects, George opts for voluntary euthanasia. Financial implications of his condition and his family’s emotional and psychological wellness are additional factors to be considered. A Christian worldview is important in this scenario, considered and weighed against basic healthcare principles and dynamics in terms of what is expected from patients in George’s situation, what is not expected from them, at what cost, and with what consequences.
Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Christian worldview, fallenness, euthanasia.
How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, emphasizing the world’s fallenness?
The aspect of the world’s fallenness can be described as the sad separation between God and man triggered by the fall of man into sin at the Garden of Eden in the Christian narrative. In the Holy Scriptures, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God and listened to Satan, God imposed difficulties in the lives of men as long as they live on earth as a punishment (Dickinson et al., 2019). The difficulties include diseases, labor as a way of life, hunger, and death. Since the fall, the sufferings are synonymous with every man’s life, and the eventuality of death is inevitable. George’s life before the diagnosis seemed to be going well. He had a successful career as an Attorney and a job as a law lecturer at a university. He also had a blissful connection to his family, as evidenced by his involvement in coaching his son’s basketball team. From a Christian Worldview, George’s sudden suffering can be attributed to the consequences of the original sin at the Garden of Eden committed by Adam and Eve (Dickinson et al., 2019).
A reflection of George’s coming suffering due to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a severe and unforgiving consequence of the world’s fallen nature. The progressive degeneration of the spinal cord and brain nerve cells with deteriorating motility rendering complete loss of muscle control are unimaginably painful consequences of the disease (Rossi et al., 2013). As a result of the disease, George will not be able to work and provide for his family. Hunger and distress will gradually become a norm in his once happy and peaceful family. Even though he is sick, his family’s needs remain constant. From a Christian worldview, th...