Basic Principles of Christian Bioethics

The four basic principles of a Christian biomedical ethics are:
1. The Sovereignty of God
2. The Sanctity of Human Life
3. The Concept of Personhood
4. The Way of Love

There will not be any meaningful discussion on biomedical ethics without recognizing the sovereignty of God. Even atheists wish they have a God when they are sick! It beholds us to recognize that it is in Him that we “live and move and have our being.” The sanctity of human life exists because humans have the image of God. Not only do humans have the image of God, they also have personhood because they can know God. In knowing God, they know themselves and thus are able to love others in the way of love. Jesus effectively summarizes the approach to biomedical ethics as “(this) Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these" (Mark 12: 29-30 NIV).

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