Christians have become known throughout history for their willingness to care about human health and well-being.
Christians established and organized hospitals that still exist to this day. Christians founded orphanages at times when those societies could care less about the parent-less. Christians stayed and cared for the sick during times of plague when many others fled for their lives. And while Christians addressed these physical needs, they continued to care for the spiritual needs of one another and the people they cared for. They continued to worship, pray, and commune together on a regular basis. They lived what they learned. They gave away what they had received from God. They did what God said. They modeled their attitudes and lives after Jesus'. The most beautiful thing is that they did all this not to gain God's favor, but because they had God's favor and because they wanted the hurting around them to know and experience the grace of God too.
In fact, caring about human health and wellness became an authentic way for Christians to witness. After becoming the hands and feet of Jesus and literally "washing" feet as their Lord did, they were asked big questions. They were given an opportunity to share their deepest convictions. Their sacrificial ways gave them a captive audience.
And what did they gain many times from their faithfulness in dire circumstances? Maybe one more friend. Maybe even the illness of the person they cared for. Maybe a financial drain on their resources that they considered more than worthwhile. And beyond all this, one more brother or sister in Christ. One more baptized. One more family awaiting the resurrection from the dead and life everlasting.
Sadly, I have noticed two unhelpful and unbiblical trends in our day when it comes to church's stances towards human health and wellness.
On the one hand, some churches declare that they leave human health completely up to the doctors, social workers and the like. I try not to engage in red-faced arguments about this because it would be an unnecessary drain of energy. I try, imperfectly, to continue to "participate in the sufferings of Christ" by being available to get deeply into people's lives. I try, imperfectly, to continue to lead my church family to do the same with me.
I simply ask, can you divide a person like you cut up a pie? Can you divorce a person's physical, emotional, and mental well-being from their spiritual well-being? Can you then isolate the spiritual well-being, treat it, and send it back into the pie and hope it survives? I not only learned to ask these questions from real life ministry experience, but first from the brother of Jesus,
"If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" James 2:16
This does not mean I doctor them, become their mental health professional, make an exercise plan for them, or proclaim myself their life coach. I know my pastoral role, (which is limited but essential because I introduce them to the Surgeon of Souls and continue to apply his wisdom to their hearts and minds), and I know my limits. Therefore, I find other people to help them with all other areas. At times, this means other Christians within the body of Christ with specific gifts that meet their needs, other agencies in the community with expertise, or other professionals who specialize.
I am learning how to do this because of my biblical convictions that people are complex and amazing creations, "fearfully and wonderfully made", who must be cared for holistically. Let us use all the gifts God has given in this world to help each other. This includes his revealed Word in the Scriptures, the waters of baptism and the Lord's Table. This also includes modern medicine, research-based psychology and mental health practices, safe natural remedies and personal trainers, just to name a few.
On the other hand, some churches only address human health and wellness issues and largely ignore spiritual issues. Topics like heaven and hell, angels and demons, atonement and conversion are either not addressed or are watered down. Perhaps they are perceived as too controversial. Perhaps they are considered too futuristic and some would rather focus exclusively on the human condition in the here and now.
I advance a few more simple, respectful question that need more dialogue. Can we really claim to care about human-kind if we try and make them comfortable, equal, and empowered in the here and now, but don't offer to prepare them for the life beyond this one? Can we truly be comfortable, equal, and empowered in the here and now if we don't know the author of life and salvation? By what means, by whose means, will we make people comfortable, equal and empowered in the here and now? Will we do so by the conflicting ways and words of people or by the ancient, eternal ways and words of the God of ages?
I am convinced there is a wiser way for the Church (us) to fully engage with the world's suffering. I have seen it with my own eyes! I have experienced it personally even before getting into the trenches with others! I need Jesus in the trenches with me to even be able to be in the trenches with others, and he is!
Just as the gospel of Jesus called earlier Christians to care about physical health and well-being, social problems such as orphans, the widowed and the aborted unborn, the gospel of Jesus calls us to care about mental health and well-being. The gospel of Jesus actually addresses the basic needs every human being has (another post to come). When we see how Jesus has addressed these needs for us and continues to do so through his "living and active" words that now live in us, we will get it.
And when we care about what Jesus cares about, we will "go and do likewise".
More to come.
