Christian Medicine in a pluralistic world Matthew 5

Christian Medicine in a pluralistic world Matthew 5: 13 -16 Salt and light

World view (basic beliefs) + medicine Medical practice Vision of medicine Health/Disease/Death Truth/Science/Research Ethics/Values/Norms Human being God

Common problems of the Christian doctor § § § Dualism: sacred-secular split Pluralism: non-integrated compartments Individualism: few/no deep friendships Intellectualism: emotionally underdeveloped Professional helper: neglect own psyche Therapon = priest: religion underdeveloped

How deal with common problems? § Integrated life under the Lordship of Jesus § Heart / family / church / profession / society § Prayer, evangelism, discipleship § Personal growth and development § Relationship with Jesus strong and healthy § Follow example of Jesus in relationships § Family / friends / church / profession / society § Professional growth and development § Purposeful interaction Christian professionals

Mansion of Christianity Main entrance of the Creeds Apostle’s Athanasian Nicene What is a Christian? n ra he Lu t co Pe nt e lic ho Ca t r Ot he od Or th Ba pt is t ox st al Relationship Christians

What is a Relationship Christian? in S f o ll Wa I Not yet Relationship Christian I Obedient Relationship Christian Disobedient Relationship Christian

Relationship Christian: some characteristics § § Reciprocal love towards God, 1 John 4: 19 Orthodox beliefs / creed, Acts 2: 42 Bible final authority over all, 2 Tim 3: 16 -17 Christ is Lord over all, Ps 2; Rev 19: 16 § Saved by grace through faith, Eph 2: 8 -9 § On the throne of my heart, Gal 4: 6; John 1: 12 § In every sphere of life, Eph 1: 20 -22 § Serve Him whole-heartedly, Rom 12: 1 -2

Three approaches to medicine 1. TRADITIONAL APPROACH § Dualistic scientific medicine 2. “NEW” APPROACH § Pluralistic semi-scientific medicine 3. A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE § Christian Medicine: Total Patient Care

Dualistic scientific medicine § § § § § God: atheism / agnosticism Human: matter; the sum of the parts Ethics: Hippocratic (duty) / situational (conseq. ) Spirituality: denial thereof or dualism Health: (pneumo)-socio-psycho-somatic (WHO) Medicine: technology; empiricism; EBM Aim: restore lost functionality; kill the germ Driving force: at best, humanitarian love Doctor: technologist

Pluralistic semi-scientific medicine § § § § § God: polytheism / monism / animism mixture Human: energy/matter mixture Ethics: consequential / virtue mixture=relativism Spirituality: humanist /eastern / animist mixture Health: energetic / spiritual harmony Medicine: technology / spirituality mixture Aim: repair disharmony Driving force: ecological-spiritual concern Doctor: complementary mixture therapist

Christian medicine: TPC § § § § § God: Theism; for Christian: Christ-centred Human: imager 10 -facetted whole Ethics: authoritative framework re good/evil Spirituality: In relation to God through Christ Health: 10 -facetted shalom Medicine: focused 10 -facetted ministry Aim: specific contribution to shalom Driving force: agape-love Doctor: called professional steward

Total health: Optimal shalom in all of life 1. Faith 2. Ethical 3. Judicial 4. Aesthetic 5. Economic 6. Social 7. Linguistic 8. Cultural/technical 9. Psychological 10. Somatic WHO: 4 of 10 Minimum Maximum

Medicine, salt and light § Salt: § Medicine inside the national system § Influence in personal area of authority § Working in secular institutions § Battling in dualistic / pluralistic reality § Light: § Developing models alongside the national system § Influence through inspiring examples § Working in Christian institutions § Seeking to integrate all under the Lordship of Christ

Christian doctor or doctoring Christian? Lord and Saviour Christians are doctoring Christians Doctoring Christians have maximum potential to be salt and light for the glory of God Let us seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness in our lives and in our professions together Matthew 6: 33