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Decision-Making Cases

Choose only one of the decision-making cases below to answer questions in the “Ethical Decision-Making” assignment. The questions at the end of each case are intended for you to reflect on. Do not copy the case into your assignment document.

Decisions of Life and Death

Janie is your sister’s best friend, and when Janie was a senior in high school, she fractured her neck in a diving accident. The doctors say that she is a quadriplegic–paralyzed from the shoulders down. All of Janie’s dreams for college, romance, and a meaningful life seem to be over; she cannot even take care of her own basic needs. Janie has even talked to your sister about whether it makes sense to keep on living. Knowing that you are reading the Bible for your Christian worldview class, they want to know if the Bible has anything to say about life and death issues, such as suicide and euthanasia.

Abortion

After trying for many years, Ruth finally gets pregnant. A blood test confirms that her baby has Down syndrome, and her doctors suggest she abort the fetus. A child with Down syndrome would involve extra care which could continue for a lifetime. Ruth has a successful career and wants to maintain a healthy balance between her career and family. Yet she feels very uncomfortable with abortion. Knowing that you are learning about the Christian worldview, Ruth wonders what the moral response would be.

The Shirt

Edwin is a college student and has a wife and two young children. His favorite store is an online vendor that sells decent, quality clothing for college-student prices. As he looks at the page, though, he recognizes the pattern of the shirt from a documentary he saw the night before about the crowded, unsafe factories in South Asia and the children they employ. Remembering that you are in a Christian worldview class, he texts you to see if the Bible might have anything to say about buying that shirt.

College Admissions

Jess and Rebekah love their children and want their children to have whatever advantages possible. Even though their children have not really had stellar high school careers and are on a trajectory for a community college, Jess and Rebekah had hoped their children would attend Ivy League schools. Recently, Jess and Rebekah have been approached about “enhancing their children’s possibilities” on getting in to a more prestigious school. It will cost some significant money for what amounts to rigging the system. They are having second thoughts, though, and knowing that you have studied Christian worldview, are seeking your biblically based advice.

The Need to Succeed

GCU graduate Jamal is a worker at a neighborhood children’s center. He works with a very limited budget, and more children in the program means more funds from foundations. He is tempted to inflate the numbers slightly, which will possibly allow him to provide more programs for more children in the future. Remembering back to his Christian worldview class, what guidance does the Bible and sound thinking provide?

LopesWrite Interloper

Aaron is a busy college student–is there any other kind? He has work, class, and even ministry responsibilities. Late one night, feeling the pressure of all of the things he needed to do, he considers doing a “copy and paste” from some sources he is pretty sure that a plagiarism checker will not pick up. Before he goes ahead with it, he picks up his phone and texts you. How do you advise him?

The Client List

Susan has been working at an internship, and it required a confidentiality agreement when she began. It aligns with her major, she makes decent money while in school, and it could possibly lead to a career after graduation. Recently, a former coworker has suggested that she take the client list with her–Susan was responsible for gathering some of those clients in the first place–and join in a start-up. Susan remembers that you have studied Christian worldview and has invited you for coffee so that you can bring some biblical principles that might help her in deciding what to do.

If any of these cases cause you distress due to traumatic circumstances, please contact The Office of Student Care in Building 26 if you are a traditional student on the Phoenix campus, or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 if you are an online student.

© 2020. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

If any of these cases cause you distress due to traumatic circumstances, please contact The Office of Student Care in Building 26 if you are a traditional student on the Phoenix campus, or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 if you are an online student.

© 2020. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

Case Chosen: Decisions of Life and Death

1. What are the key issues in this case?

The central issue is whether Janie’s life has value despite her disability and whether suicide or euthanasia could be considered a moral response to her suffering. Her despair stems from losing independence, her dreams, and her identity. The broader issue involves human dignity, suffering, and the biblical perspective on life’s purpose even in hardship.

2. What biblical principles apply to this situation?

The Bible affirms that life is sacred because humans are created in the imago Dei (Genesis 1:26–27). Psalm 139 emphasizes God’s intentional creation and intimate knowledge of every person. Suicide and euthanasia conflict with the biblical commandment “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13), since life belongs to God, not to individuals. Suffering is not meaningless in Christianity; Paul teaches that suffering can produce perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3–5). Moreover, believers are called to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), suggesting the community’s responsibility to support Janie in her struggles.

3. How should Janie’s situation be approached from a Christian worldview?

From a Christian worldview, Janie’s life still has inherent worth and dignity regardless of her physical limitations. Ending her life would not align with God’s purposes for human life. Instead, she should be encouraged that her value is not tied to productivity or independence but to her identity as God’s beloved creation. Practical responses include offering emotional, spiritual, and community support, helping her find adaptive ways to pursue purpose, and assuring her that God can still use her life for good despite her suffering.

4. What advice would you give to Janie and her family?

I would gently affirm Janie’s feelings of loss while reminding her that her life still carries deep value and purpose. I would point her and her family to passages affirming God’s love and presence in suffering (Romans 8:38–39). I would encourage counseling, support groups for people with spinal injuries, and involvement in a faith community where she can find hope and companionship. Finally, I would remind them that life, even when difficult, is a gift entrusted by God, and the community can help her rediscover meaning in this new reality.

References

• The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Zondervan.

• Grand Canyon University. (2020). Christian worldview course resources. Phoenix, AZ: GCU.

• Genesis 1:26–27; Exodus 20:13; Psalm 139; Romans 5:3–5; Romans 8:38–39; Galatians 6:2.

• Kilner, J. F. (2015). Dignity and destiny: Humanity in the image of God. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.

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