ETHICAL DILEMMA ESSAY
At least once, unless extremely lucky, we are either peer pressured or presented with an opportunity to experiment with a drug, this could be an illegal drug as well as it being portrayed as a legal drug. Often consequences are not minor but major and are negative and sometimes the result is completely unexpected. How we choose to be influenced can have an impact on shaping our worldview.
Ethical Dilemma
Members of Paul’s team have been experimenting with a new performance- enhancing drug that seems to have remarkable results. The drug not being a banned substance or illegal and because of the teams continuous winning streaks the coach has ignored teammates using it. Paul faces either to also take this drug or lose the starting position he has worked extremely hard for on his team. Paul’s want to succeed so badly may influence teammates pressuring him into also experimenting with the enhancing drug so he can “catch up” with the others. Paul knows that there are two options, one is to accept the sample offered by his teammate thus securing his starting position that has been already threatened that he could possibly lose, or two, refusing the sample and most likely losing his position but morally being able to live with that consequence and all possible negative effects that could develop because of taking this drug.
Core Beliefs
1 Cor.8:7-13: What would this activity due to my conscience? Does this activity or could this activity affect the growth of a fellow believer? Could my actions also affect others, if so would it not be wiser to be involved in something that does affect others? What if their conscience is even weaker? The outcome could cause others to think this is ok and they themselves experience far worse negative effects than myself. (“Christian Moral and Ethical Dilemmas, Dealing with Dilemmas Predicaments and Sticky Situations” n.d.)
Resolution
The Bible does not say anything exactly about using drugs. We learn through Scripture that it is although wrong. The Bible tells us that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and we should honor God with it. (1 Cor. 6:19-20) Knowing consequences of what drugs can do to our bodies such as harming organs says we would be destroying the temple of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 13: 1 it says to follow authorities that God himself put into place. By using drugs, we are not following authorities but instead going against what God has wanted. Per to this Paul should not be tempted in destroying his body and in so rebelling against authorities God put into place only because of the risk of losing a position on his team. The outcome or side effect of situation could be far worse than a starting position on his team.
Evaluation
Unintended consequences and the perceived benefits are the downfalls to experimenting with any type of drug. Once a drug becomes abusive it has been shown to alter gene expression and brain circuitry, which affects human behavior. When you become addicted, brain changes start to interfere with normal abilities to make decisions and you become dependent on how and where you can get more of the drug. In an article wrote by the National Institute on Drug Abuse they have identified some of the negative effects of drug addiction to include cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and lung disease any of these can happen after one time of doing drugs (“Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),” n.d.)
Paul could very well become addicted after just one use or worse his life could end or even a close teammate could have also had a negative affect happen to them.
Comparison
God’s ethical order can be said to be the only absolute true source of morality, in fact, is the only possible morality. There is no other option to compare to, 2 Cor. 4:18, Apostle Paul says the physical order is temporary, but the order not seen is eternal. We learn standards by which we should conduct ourselves in situations such as the one Paul faces when the Bible does not give exact instructions on what to do (“What is Christian ethics?” n.d.). Paul faces a decision that can not only affect him but also affects his teammates and his ability to be truthful in respect of what is wrong and right. His entire future can be formed by making this one decision which could have terrible if not possibly deadly consequences for himself or other teammates involved. The comparison between doing something on your own and or using something to enhance your ability clogs your ability to be ethically moral with yourself and others.
Conclusion
God does not tolerate evil or moral indifference. To prevent sin from separating ourselves from His Word we must stay in accordance with his moral order. Only those willing to treat God’s moral order with same respect shown by the physical order are completely obedient to the Christian code, there is yet any other system that can claim absolute truth from God sent to humanity. We rely on God and His Word to show moral order (“Christian Ethics,” n.d). Paul will feel morally and ethically better if he chooses to resist this temptation presented by his other teammates. Paul also will not have the all sudden added addiction created by drug use nor will he be affected health wise by the negative consequences of the performance- enhancing drug that is being abused by other teammates. His only affect would be of losing his starting position on team but the greater consequence could be death if he chooses wrongly in his decision when teammate offers him the sample of the drug to try.
References
“Christian Moral and Ethical Dilemmas, Dealing with Dilemmas Predicaments and Sticky Situations.” (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://godsmercyandgrace.com/indexm15.htm
Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (n.d.).
Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/medical-consequences-drug-abuse
What is Christian ethics? (n.d.)
Retrieved from https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-ethics.html
Christian Ethics. (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.allaboutworldview.org/christian-ethics.htm