As we enter the next millennium, is medical mission over? Is the sun setting on a golden era?
Many with experience in developing countries believe the scope for Christian healthcare with mission has never been greater. There are more sick, poor and hurting people in the world today than ever before. God loves the world and still desires that his 'saving health' should go 'among all nations'.
Perhaps then it is just the language for which the sun is setting? The word "missionary" conjures up an old-fashioned image of colonialism and paternalism. and words such as "partner" may become more appropriate.
Jesus clearly left his church with the command to mission, and while the way we relate to others has changed, our way of life should still demonstrate Christlikeness in three areas.
1 - Intensity of care: For those we go to
The word 'love' may also have some new interpretations, but the commands to love God and to love one's neighbour are not old fashioned. We can be kept aware of the health situation among the nations by listening. to the BBC World Service, by reading professional journals. and by taking mission magazines.
If we are called to go ourselves, we will take our professional help into a world where some health indicators are getting better and some are getting worse, but scientific answers are not enough to combat the AIDS pandemic, broken marriages and child abuse. Teaching the Christian truths of Jesus’ death and resurrection in the power of his Spirit can halt disasters and meet many needs of those who suffer their consequences.
Intensity of- care: For those we send
Perhaps we know health professionals working overseas and support them in prayer and in practical ways. We can make them our representatives. To do this properly will make many demands on us but will add a valuable new dimension to our lives.
2 - Purity of motive
Hope in a kingdom that does not belong to this world should not be seen as a colonialist threat by those who are concerned with the kingdoms of this world, but unfortunately meeting the needs of the poor may be seen thus and conflict may sometimes be unavoidable.
What are the needs of the poor? I do not think Jesus sees needs as divided into ‘physical, mental and spiritual’. Nor do I believe that he sees healing as a tool for preaching the gospel. His motives were pure. To him, suffering whatever its cause and whatever its nature was suffering.
True healing leads to wholeness. Healthcare in the affluent world has lost its way because it lost that vision, but the Christian mission hospital still has the opportunity to share it. The Christian health professional does not need to be an evangelist, the mission hospital does not need to favour Christians nor those who might become Christians, and it does not need to promote any denomination or culture. It will probably have been founded by a foreign culture and may well work within the context of a denomination, but the only requirement is that the mission staff should be servants of Christ.
The hospital’s mission is Christian service. Where Christians with a heart for mission live and work together, there will be worship and study of the Word which others can join in. The healing ministry should become a holistic ministry to the community, leading not to dependence but freedom.
3 - Humility of method
Serving Christ is an act of faith dependent on his grace and not our ability. It cannot be paternalistic. Grace does not however invalidate skills acquired by training and hard work but enhances them.
The clinical tools potentially available to healthcare today are very powerful compared with those of two hundred years ago let alone two millenia. Sadly widespread poverty often means they are not available. Whether the tools are available or not we remain dependent on God. Healthcare would never usher in his Kingdom even if it were to find the secret of of biological immortality. We may have no more than our shirt to bind a Samaritan’s wounds or we may have a district hospital with reasonable supplies. We may have the technology to eradicate yaws, smallpox, polio, guinea worm, Chaga's disease and leprosy, but other diseases will take their place. Human behaviour and the power of evil will still produce problems like AIDS, resurgent tuberculosis, famine and violence.
Conclusion
Intense care, pure motives. and humble methods or, in the words of 1 Corinthians 13, love. hope and faith? Like the words 'medical mission', these words may be perceived by changing cultures with different meanings, and may produce different emotional responses, but they, define Christ's way of living and working.
They are not utilitarian tools to be used with political skill and a hidden agenda, but concepts to inspire service which openly represents the master who, according to Albert Schweitzer, 'sets us to the tasks he would perform in our time'.
Many with experience in developing countries believe the scope for Christian healthcare with mission has never been greater. There are more sick, poor and hurting people in the world today than ever before. God loves the world and still desires that his 'saving health' should go 'among all nations'.
Perhaps then it is just the language for which the sun is setting? The word "missionary" conjures up an old-fashioned image of colonialism and paternalism. and words such as "partner" may become more appropriate.
Jesus clearly left his church with the command to mission, and while the way we relate to others has changed, our way of life should still demonstrate Christlikeness in three areas.
1 - Intensity of care: For those we go to
The word 'love' may also have some new interpretations, but the commands to love God and to love one's neighbour are not old fashioned. We can be kept aware of the health situation among the nations by listening. to the BBC World Service, by reading professional journals. and by taking mission magazines.
If we are called to go ourselves, we will take our professional help into a world where some health indicators are getting better and some are getting worse, but scientific answers are not enough to combat the AIDS pandemic, broken marriages and child abuse. Teaching the Christian truths of Jesus’ death and resurrection in the power of his Spirit can halt disasters and meet many needs of those who suffer their consequences.
Intensity of- care: For those we send
Perhaps we know health professionals working overseas and support them in prayer and in practical ways. We can make them our representatives. To do this properly will make many demands on us but will add a valuable new dimension to our lives.
2 - Purity of motive
Hope in a kingdom that does not belong to this world should not be seen as a colonialist threat by those who are concerned with the kingdoms of this world, but unfortunately meeting the needs of the poor may be seen thus and conflict may sometimes be unavoidable.
What are the needs of the poor? I do not think Jesus sees needs as divided into ‘physical, mental and spiritual’. Nor do I believe that he sees healing as a tool for preaching the gospel. His motives were pure. To him, suffering whatever its cause and whatever its nature was suffering.
True healing leads to wholeness. Healthcare in the affluent world has lost its way because it lost that vision, but the Christian mission hospital still has the opportunity to share it. The Christian health professional does not need to be an evangelist, the mission hospital does not need to favour Christians nor those who might become Christians, and it does not need to promote any denomination or culture. It will probably have been founded by a foreign culture and may well work within the context of a denomination, but the only requirement is that the mission staff should be servants of Christ.
The hospital’s mission is Christian service. Where Christians with a heart for mission live and work together, there will be worship and study of the Word which others can join in. The healing ministry should become a holistic ministry to the community, leading not to dependence but freedom.
3 - Humility of method
Serving Christ is an act of faith dependent on his grace and not our ability. It cannot be paternalistic. Grace does not however invalidate skills acquired by training and hard work but enhances them.
The clinical tools potentially available to healthcare today are very powerful compared with those of two hundred years ago let alone two millenia. Sadly widespread poverty often means they are not available. Whether the tools are available or not we remain dependent on God. Healthcare would never usher in his Kingdom even if it were to find the secret of of biological immortality. We may have no more than our shirt to bind a Samaritan’s wounds or we may have a district hospital with reasonable supplies. We may have the technology to eradicate yaws, smallpox, polio, guinea worm, Chaga's disease and leprosy, but other diseases will take their place. Human behaviour and the power of evil will still produce problems like AIDS, resurgent tuberculosis, famine and violence.
Conclusion
Intense care, pure motives. and humble methods or, in the words of 1 Corinthians 13, love. hope and faith? Like the words 'medical mission', these words may be perceived by changing cultures with different meanings, and may produce different emotional responses, but they, define Christ's way of living and working.
They are not utilitarian tools to be used with political skill and a hidden agenda, but concepts to inspire service which openly represents the master who, according to Albert Schweitzer, 'sets us to the tasks he would perform in our time'.
