The Ministry of Medicine

When most people think of "ministry," they usually think of pastors, missionaries, church music leaders, etc. However, Webster's defines ministry simply as "the act of serving." With this in mind, whether you are a pastor or a janitor, a CEO or a trash collector, all of us, as Christians, ought to be "in the ministry" every day. (Mark 10:43-45)

As a future physician, my opportunity for ministry is huge! Christ's earthly ministry was characterized by the ministry of healing. His focus wasn't on the masses as a whole, but on each individual. Every day, physicians have people come to us with a conscious, urgent awareness of the frailty of life. What pastor or missionary wouldn't pay to have a waiting room full of people willing to wait for an hour and a half to talk to him about their fears of death and the problems they are having in life? Yet a physician has this every day and we get paid for it??

Many patients, although they may not necessarily say it, aren't looking for the latest drug or treatment plan. Often times they just need someone to talk to and occasionally admit that they are searching for something to satisfy them in life and comfort them in regards to their fears about life after death. What an incredible opportunity to share the truth about the only One who can bring true comfort on earth and hope for the life to come.

The other role, particularly of the primary care physician is that of health maintenance and disease prevention. All of us need to be spiritual "physicians" to ourselves. We must daily "vaccinate" ourselves against sin by spending time in prayer and meditation. And we must "exercise ourselves unto godliness."

The Christian's responsibility is to daily become more like Christ. As physicians, our focus should be on serving our patients through the compassion and servant spirit that the Great Physician showed as He healed His "patients." But we would be fools to stop there. We must also point our patients to the God that not only can heal their physical illness, but their spiritual one as well. And although every patient's physical health will ultimately fail them, we must exemplify a life of ever increasing spiritual health.

Ministry isn't a title or position. It is an attitude of Christ-like service and compassion for souls.