nabeepchen

This segment comes from an interview with Michael Moore, about his new film Sicko. It appeared in the Seattle PI, and I thought his comment about socialized medicine vs. Christianized medicine was very provacative, to say the least. Certainly not something that the neo-Christians of Bush’s ilk want to hear.

“Socialized medicine” has become demonized as a political term. How do you reclaim it as a viable political idea?

By just coming right out there and ridiculing their efforts, showing them up for who they are, and then proudly claiming it. At one point when I was making the movie, I was thinking of renaming it myself, from “socialized medicine” to “Christianized medicine,” because that essentially is what Jesus would do. He said, “When you get to the Pearly Gates, we’re going to ask you a series of questions: When I was hungry, did you feed me? When I was homeless, did you give me shelter? When I was sick, did you take care of me?” As we are a “Christian country,” as I often hear people say, maybe if we actually started acting that way, we wouldn’t have to deal with terms like “socialized medicine.” It would just be the normal Christian thing to do.

How many people call themselves Christians really feel this way? Afterall, a Christian is a follower of Jesus, right?

I was curious, so I did a quick search for Christian medical and nursing groups, and I’m relieved to see that at least one group is trying to put true Christian beliefs into practice. From MedicalNewsToday.com:

The Christian Medical & Dental Associations, the nation’s largest faith-based organization of Christian doctors, today announced a new initiative to encourage doctors to give of their time and resources to help the poor.

“We are pleased to be introducing the Four-Percent Solution program to doctors around the country,” said Dr. Al Weir, Director of Campus and Community Ministries and Director of Medical Education International for the 17,000-member CMDA. “The Four-Percent Solution offers very practical, tangible ways for doctors to put their faith and compassion into action.

“What we’re asking doctors to do,” explained Dr. Weir, “is to consider and commit to specific strategies to use God’s blessings to them in a way that blesses someone far less fortunate.”

“For example,” Dr. Weir said, “a doctor may choose to spend two weeks a year–about four percent of the year–in overseas mission work that directly impacts the healthcare, housing, job skills or nutrition of the poor.”

Doctors can accomplish their goal through the CMDA’s Global Health Outreach or Medical Education International, or through other mission organizations. Global Health Outreach offers over 40 trips a year to minister directly to poor patients, and Medical Education International sends doctors to teach doctors in other countries about the latest patient care techniques. Both outreach programs emphasize not only physical care and training but also spiritual ministry.

Dr. Weir explained, “Other options that doctors may consider for service and giving include accepting one uninsured patient out of every 25 patients–four percent of all the patients they see in their practices. Some doctors may choose to volunteer about eight hours a month in a healthcare clinic for the poor. Others may want to supplement their local church giving by contributing an additional four percent of their net profits to the poor–through the church or another Christian ministry serving the poor.”

What I really like about this is that their initiative doesn’t only mean going to far off nations and doing some well baby care, and then picking up business as usual upon returning to the U.S. These options also include helping people right at home, including giving care to the uninsured, or volunteering on a regular basis.

I don’t expect Christian nurses and doctors to work for free, but I do expect that if a healthcare worker declares themselves to be a follower of Jesus, that they bring some of that to their work. But getting back to the original comments by Moore, I think he really has a point. If we claim to be a Christian nation, then why aren’t we acting like it, especially in terms of healthcare?