Christian Healthcare
in a pluralistic world
Matthew 5: 13-16 Salt and light
World view (basic beliefs) +
healthcare
Healthcare practice
Vision of healthcare
Health/Disease/Death
Truth/Science/Research
Ethics/Values/Norms
Human being
God
Common problems of the
Christian care-giver
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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
 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
Relationship Christians
Mansion of Christianity
Main entrance
of the Creeds
Apostle’s
Athanasian
Nicene
What is a Christian?
What is a Relationship Christian?
I
Not yet
Relationship Christian
I
Obedient
Relationship Christian
Disobedient
Relationship Christian
Relationship Christian:
some characteristics
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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
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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
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
Dualistic scientific healthcare
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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
Pluralistic semi-scientific healthcare
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God: polytheism / monism / animism mixture
Human: energy/matter mixture
Ethics: consequential / virtue mixture=relativism
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
Christian healthcare: TPC
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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
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
Healthcare, salt and light
 Salt:
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Healthcare inside the national system
Influence in personal area of authority
Working in secular institutions
Battling in dualistic / pluralistic reality
 Light:
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Developing models alongside the national system
Influence through inspiring examples
Working in Christian institutions
Seeking to integrate all under the Lordship of Christ
Christian care-giver or
care-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