Christian Healthcare in a pluralistic world

1
Christian Healthcare in a pluralistic world

• Matthew 5 13-16 Salt and light

2
World view (basic beliefs) healthcare
Healthcare practice
Vision of healthcare
Health/Disease/Death
Truth/Science/Research
Ethics/Values/Norms
Human being
God
3
Common problems of the Christian care-giver

• 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

4
How deal with common problems?

• Integrated life under the Lordship of Jesus
• Heart / family / church / profession / society
• Prayer, evangelism, discipleship
• Restoring link local church - healthcare
• 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 other Christians in
  healthcare

5
Relationship Christians
Baptist
Catholic
Orthodox
Pentecostal
Lutheran
Other
Mansion of Christianity
Main entrance of the Creeds Apostles Athanasian N
icene
What is a Christian?
6
What is a Relationship Christian?
Wall of Sin
I
I
I
Not yet Relationship Christian
Disobedient Relationship Christian
Obedient Relationship Christian
7
Relationship Christian some characteristics

• Reciprocal love towards God, 1 John 4 19
• Orthodox beliefs / creed, Acts 2 42
• Bible final authority over all, 2Tim 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 John1 12
• In every sphere of life, Eph 1 20-22
• Serve Him whole-heartedly, Rom 12 1-2

8
Three approaches to healthcare

• 1. TRADITIONAL APPROACH
• Dualistic scientific medicine
• 2. NEW APPROACH
• Pluralistic semi-scientific medicine
• 3. A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE
• Christian healthcare Total Patient Care

9
Dualistic scientific healthcare

• God atheism / agnosticism
• Human matter the sum of the parts
• Ethics Duties / Virtues / Goals
• Spirituality denial thereof or dualism
• Health (pneumo)-socio-psycho-somatic (WHO)
• Healthcare technology empiricism EBM
• Aim restore lost functionality kill the germ
• Driving force at best, humanitarian love
• Care-giver technologist

10
Pluralistic semi-scientific healthcare

• God polytheism / monism / animism mixture
• Human energy/matter mixture
• Ethics consequential / virtue mixturerelativism
• Spirituality humanist /eastern / animist mixture
• Health energetic / spiritual harmony
• Healthcare technology / spirituality mixture
• Aim repair disharmony
• Driving force ecological-spiritual concern
• Care-giver complementary mixture therapist

11
Christian healthcare 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
• Healthcare focused 10-facetted ministry
• Aim specific contribution to shalom
• Driving force agape-love
• Care-giver called professional steward

12
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

Minimum
Maximum
WHO 4 of 10
13
Healthcare, salt and light

• Salt
• Healthcare 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

14
Christian care-giver orcare-giving Christian?
Relationship Christians are care-giving Christians
Care-giving 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