Spirit-Guided Care Discussion
Spirit-Guided Care Discussion Essay
Spirit-Guided Care Discussion Essay
The practice of health care providers at all levels brings you into contact with people from a variety of faiths. This calls for knowledge and understanding of a diversity of faith expressions; for the purpose of this course, the focus will be on the Christian worldview. Based on \”Case Study: End of Life Decisions,\” the Christian worldview, and the worldview questions presented in the required topic study materials you will complete an ethical analysis of George\’s situation and his decision from the perspective of the Christian worldview. Provide a 1,500-2,000-word ethical analysis while answering the following questions: How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, with an emphasis on the fallenness of the world? How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, with an emphasis on the hope of resurrection? As George contemplates life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), how would the Christian worldview inform his view about the value of his life as a person? What sorts of values and considerations would the Christian worldview focus on in deliberating about whether or not George should opt for euthanasia? Based on the values and considerations above, what options would be morally justified in the Christian worldview for George and why? Based on your worldview, what decision would you make if you were in George\’s situation? Remember to support your responses with the topic study materials. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is required.
Individuals base various issues happening in their lives on worldview either consciously or unconsciously. A worldview refers to a framework that people use to view reality and various occurrences in their lives. Therefore, this framework is used as a guide while making sense of life and the entire world. Worldview is any philosophy, ideology, theology or religion, which gives individuals an overarching strategy to understand God, how He works in the world as well as His relationship with mankind. This paper focuses on George’s situation in the case study of “Death and dying.” First, it presents an interpretation of George’s suffering based on the fallenness of the world and the interpretation of the situation based on the hope of resurrection. Besides, this paper addresses how Christian Worldview informs how George views his life as a person. Values and considerations to check-in ruling out whether George should opt for euthanasia will also be covered. Furthermore, the paper will address options that are morally justified in the Christian worldview for George’s situation. Finally, the paper will cover the best decision that would be made if one was in George’s situation.
Interpretation of George’s suffering based on the fallenness of the world
George is in his mid-fifties and successful in his career as an attorney and a legal scholar. However, the physician in the local hospital diagnoses him with a terminal illness, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This condition would change his life completely since he would lose his speech and mobility (Oskarsson et al, 2018). Therefore, he would completely depend on others for survival. Being a Christian who believes in God, George associates his suffering to the fallenness of the world. Although he believes in God, he recognizes that the world is surrounded by both evil and good choices. He believes praying to God for strength and guidance would help him during this trying moment. God is omnipresent and He is ready to answer to anyone who seeks His help. Therefore, God guides and assists Christians at any time they are facing a situation, which is beyond their control.Spirit-Guided Care Discussion Essay
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God is righteous and He created the entire universe, including human beings who are supposed to do good and pleases him (Peterson, 2010)). Nonetheless, all people were created differently but in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, human beings are mandated to take care of their lives since its Gods given gift. However, mankind engaged in evil and sinful activities that separated them from their creator in the fallenness of world concept. Sin separated human beings from their original place where they were enjoying divine health and provision (Visala & Vainio, 2018). Separation from God’s divine provision was marked by Adam and Eve when they were chased from the Garden of Eden after sinning against God. Thus, George’s suffering might be due to the sins that he committed or sins that were committed by his forefathers. The Bible reveals that the sins committed by parents shall reach up to their fourth generation. Incidents of suffering were present in the Bible when an individual or the parents sinned against God. Job suffered and his faith was tried as a result of sin that he committed or were committed by his forefathers. This story inspired George that his suffering could be a test of His faith. In addition to the Christian view, George thinks it is his time to die since one day everyone would eventually leave this world to meet His creator. Being fifty-five years and with grandchildren, this might be the end of his life.
Interpretation of George’s suffering based on the Hope of Resurrection
George’s suffering can be interpreted with respect to hope of resurrection. Christians witnessed resurrection through Jesus Christ who is the son of God. Jesus died and rose again after staying in the grave for three days after his burial. His resurrection gave Christians hope for life after death. Thus, the human would acquire new experiences and get an opportunity to live again even after their death. Furthermore, being a strong Christian, George believes that only his body will die but the spirit will have an opportunity to live again. The life that a person led before death does not determine the destination of his or her soul after death. The souls of faithful believers will resurrect following Jesus’ second coming while those of non-believers will go to eternal hell. Being a strong Christian George believes his soul will be revived someday after Jesus’ second coming together with other believers. However, the resurrection of one’s soul greatly depends on adherence to Gods commandments. After creating mankind, God required him to avoid sin, which would result in separation from His divinity. Human beings were instructed to adhere to God’s ways rather than following the worldly ways. God sent Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden in Genesis chapter 3 after eating the forbidden fruit. Therefore, Christians should read the Bible and other religious doctrines to be familiar with the laws of God and His will in their lives. Doing so would separate them from the sinful nature of mankind, thus making them eligible for resurrection following Jesus second coming.
How Christian Worldview informs how George views his life as a person
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a condition that affects the nerve cells. A person with this condition can no longer perform his or her daily activities (Mehta et al, 2017). Therefore, it would be impossible for George to carry out both professional and personal duties as he did before this condition. Consequently, his impact on his family and the entire society would reduce significantly, which implies that his value has decreased.Spirit-Guided Care Discussion Essay
Every person lives with a purpose. God has good plans for every person he created. Thus, Christians should not give up despite the challenges they might be facing in their lives. Instead, they should cling unto God for help and guidance for them to overcome these challenges. Christian should trust God loves them since He created everybody in His image and likeness. Thus, the life of everyone has values before the eyes of God. After being diagnosed with ALS, George’s life has so many complications, which makes him seem valueless to his family and the community. The Christian world of view presents his situation as a trial of his faith. God wants to test whether George would remain faithful to Him despite what he is going through in His life. Christianity reveals that the lives of individuals are meaningful to God even when they are facing challenges. Being the creator, God has a reason for troubles facing every person. Therefore, God still loves George despite the challenges that he is going through. Additionally, George should know that His value in the eyes of God does not change after the diagnosis. Lives of Christians can never be valueless in the eyes of God even if they are facing challenges. Christians should, therefore, continue trusting in God during difficult situations in their lives.
Values and considerations to check-in ruling out whether George should opt for euthanasia
Just like any other religion, Christianity has set some expectations that followers are supposed to meet. First, Christianity has some guidelines on life and death. Life is God’s given gift to all believers. Thus, no one has the right to take life away. The Bible considers suicide and murder as sins both of them strive to take away one’s life. In particular, murder is prohibited in the fifth commandment “Thou shall not kill.” Christians should, therefore, never think about euthanasia since it is a way of taking away one’s life. Additionally, Christians should persevere all sort of suffering without thinking of murder since it was a punishment that was given to Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. Thus, George should be willing to suffer without thinking of taking his life away to pay for his sins or those of his forefathers.
The analysis of George’s situation is guided by some principles from religious perspective concerning ethics and health. These ethical principles are respect of autonomy, non-maleficence, justice, and beneficence. In respect to autonomy, the physician should consider George’s decision regarding euthanasia. On the contrary, the principles of non-maleficence and beneficence as applied in Christians’ perspective are against the use of euthanasia. Non-maleficence holds that healthcare providers should not inflict any harm to their patients (Murphy & Walker, 2013). Additionally, the principle of beneficence holds that healthcare providers should strive to benefit their patients. Also, the principle of justice holds that George should not be induced euthanasia. Doing so is acting against Christian law, which holds that individuals should wait for their natural deaths.Spirit-Guided Care Discussion Essay
Options that are morally justified in the Christian worldview for George’s situation
As a strong Christian and a believer, everything is possible with God. Being a strong Christian, George should take his medications as recommended by the physician and continue seeking God’s guidance through prayers. These strategies would enable him to recover within a short period. Although some Christian denominations are against the use of medications, it is not against Gods wish. Additionally, the Bible does not prohibit Christians from taking hospital medications.
However, ALS would deteriorate George’s health since the condition does not have any cure. Consequently, it would be impossible for George to carry out both personal and professional duties the way he did before the ailment. In this case, the Christian worldview holds that George should seek God’s guidance on how to go to eternal life after death. Nonetheless, George is not willing to wait for his natural death but rather he wants to end his suffering using euthanasia. Christianity is against the use of euthanasia or any other approach of inducing murder. Individuals should protect their lives until they face natural deaths. Despite the suffering he is going through, George should consider his life as a gift from God, which he should protect rather than terminating.
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The best Decision
George’s situation is tough and no one would be willing to go through it. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic condition, which does not have any cure. The condition would damage his nerve cells and eventually result in death. However, the suffering associated with this condition should not make one give up in life.
If I was in George’s situation, I would choose to remain positive despite the kind of suffering that I might be going through. First, I would adhere to the prescribed medications since it would slow down the progress of the disease. Although the condition lowers the life span of an individual, some people have survived with it for over ten years. George should be hopeful that he might be one of the survivors. Therefore, rushing to take his life away would not be the best decision to make. Additionally, George should trust in God for divine intervention and healing. Seeking God’s help through prayers would help him to overcome this difficult situation. God helps those who trust in him and gives them another chance as He did to Job in the Bible who had lost everything.
In conclusion, George’s suffering is due to the fallenness of the world. Sin separated mankind from God’s divine provision and health. This started when Adam and Eve sinned against God. However, being a strong Christian, George should remain strong since he will resurrect following the second coming of Jesus Christ. Christian Worldview states that George should view himself as a person with value in the eyes of God despite the suffering he is going through. Therefore, George should opt for euthanasia but rather he should remain positive and wait for natural death. Christian worldview does not justify murder even when one is suffering. If I were in George’s situation, I would remain prayerful and adhere to the doctor’s guidance. Despite this disease being associated with reduced lifespan, one might end up living for more than 10 years following the diagnosis.Spirit-Guided Care Discussion Essay
References
Mehta, P., Horton, D. K., & Kasarskis, E. J. (2017). CDC grand rounds: National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) registry impact, challenges, and future directions. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 66(50), 1379.
Murphy, L. S., & Walker, M. S. (2013). Spirit-guided care: Christian nursing for the whole person. Journal of Christian Nursing, 30(3), 144-152.
Oskarsson, B., Gendron, T. F., & Staff, N. P. (2018,). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an update for 2018. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 93, No. 11, pp. 1617-1628). Elsevier.
Peterson, E. A. (2010). A Review of “Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing” 2nd ed. Judith Ann Shelly and Arlene B. Miller (Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2006). 304 pp. Paper, $25.00, ISBN 083082765X. M.
Visala, A., & Vainio, O. P. (2018). Philosophy of religion and the scientific turn. Palgrave Communications, 4(1), 1-8.
Spirit-Guided Care Discussion Essay
