Christian Medicine in a pluralistic world

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Christian Medicine in a pluralistic world

• Matthew 5 13-16 Salt and light

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Medicine, salt and light

• Salt
• Medicine inside the national system
• Influence in personal sphere 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

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World view (basic beliefs) medicine
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What is Christian?What is medicine?What is
Christian medicine?
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Lord and Saviour Christians
Baptist
Catholic
Orthodox
Pentecostal
Lutheran
Other
Main entrance of the Creeds Apostles Athanasian N
icene
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Lord and Saviour Christians
I
I
I
Not yet LS Christian
Disobedient LS Christian
Obedient LS Christian
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LS 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

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What is medicine?

• Core medical situation
• Sick person asks physician for help
• Three elements of core medical situation
• Complaint of the patient
• Competence of the physician
• Professional character of the relationship

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Essence of medical practice

• Complaint of patient

• Competence of physician

b
a
c

• Professional character of the relationship

a. Act in best interest by providing care ?
benevolence ? medicine an ethically qualified
profession
b. Competent performance in all areas of reality
c. Medical disciplinary court ? professional
standards
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Three approaches to medicine

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

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Reductionistic 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

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Pluralistic semi-scientific medicine

• God polytheism / monism / animism
• Human energy/matter/informational mixture
• Ethics situational / existential mixture
• Spirituality eastern / animistic mixture
• Health energetic / spiritual harmony
• Medicine technology / spirituality mixture
• Aim repair disharmony
• Driving force ecological-spiritual concern
• Doctor complementary mixture technologist

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Christian medicine TPC

• God Theism for Christian Christ-centred
• Human imager ? 10-facetted whole
• Ethics authoritative framework re good/evil
• Spirituality God-referenced
• Health 10-facetted shalom
• Medicine focused 10-facetted ministry
• Aim specific contribution to shalom
• Driving force agape-love
• Doctor called professional steward

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Total human 10-facetted diamond

• Social
• Linguistic
• Cultural / technical
• Psychological
• Somatic

• Faith
• Ethical
• Juridical
• Aesthetic
• Economic

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Total health Shalom in all of life

• Faith
• Ethical
• Juridical
• Aesthetic
• Economic
• Social
• Linguistic
• Cultural/technical
• Psychological
• Somatic

Minimum
Maximum
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Christian doctor ordoctoring Christian?