Surgeons & Scripture
“The unauthorized practice of medicine occurs when someone gives medical advice or treatment without a professional license. The prohibition against the unauthorized practice of medicine is a precaution against people who would try to treat others without the proper training, or by using unproven methods which could harm or even kill their supposed patients. As a result, all states make the unauthorized practice of medicine a criminal offense with potentially serious penalties.” (emphasis added)1
Medical practitioners are held to a high standard of accountability for their actions due to the reality that they literally hold individual’s lives within their hands. How much more so should missionaries who are stewards of the souls of men. Yet, many are content with strategies and methodologies that will quickly launch missionaries into the world “theater” to bring healing and repair to cultures and societies deeply entrenched in systemic animism and folk religions.
Realistically, medical malpractice would place an individual behind bars. How have missionaries inadvertently dealt with the souls of image-bearers “without the proper training, or by using unproven methods which could harm or even kill…”
What if our methodologies and strategies, despite the best of intentions, cause harm or even worse, contribute to erroneous understandings of the character of God and the condition of mankind, therefore potentially damning them to hell?
Unlike medical practitioners who face severe consequences for operating or treating without the proper training, many missionaries are able to parachute in, present their gospel pitch, immerse hundreds in water, and fly away without ever seeing the ramifications of their actions. Meanwhile they publicly declare mass conversions as the people they came to “save” place a wooden cross on the doorpost of their home to ward off the evil spirits that roam their village at night.
At Embark we’ve committed to ministry partners who are thoroughly prepared, equipped, and invested for the often arduous task of genuine worldview change within a people group. Though potentially spanning decades to accomplish it’s a stewardship responsibility that cannot be overstated. And we would strongly encourage any other mission-centric companies or individuals to do the same.
1“Guide to the Laws Governing the Practice of Medicine.” 7th Edition. By Medical Board of California.