Christian Witness in Health Care
Daniel Sulmasy, M.D., Ph.D. Kilbride Clinton Professor of Medicine and Ethics, The University of Chicago
As interest in medicine and religion has grown, some have called for a more fervent and explicit "witnessing" by Christian physicians in their practices. Surprisingly little has been written explicitly about the theology of witness. This paper presents a new theological understanding of witness and how this theology might be applied to the case of Christian witness in healthcare. Witness first must be understood linguistically as encompassing two nouns and two verbs, all of which have theological meaning. As a noun, ‘witness’ refers either to: (1) someone who provides testimony, or (2) the substantive content of someone’s testimony. As a verb, ‘witness’ refers either to: (1) the experiencing of an event, or (2) someone’s reporting on his or her experience of an event. Based on this linguistic analysis, scriptural use of the various forms of the Greek word μάρτυς (martys), and substantive theological reflection (based mostly on Barth and Ricoeur), an understanding of witness is presented, arguing that Christian witness is transformative, necessary, and must be understood as a call to holiness in thought, word, and deed. Suggestions are then made regarding how physicians and the Church can both witness Christ in their experience of the sick and give witness to Christ in the care of the sick. Witnessing is further distinguished from evangelizing, and the ethical implications of this distinction in health care are discussed. This theological exploration offers new insight into what it means to witness and to heal as a Christian.
As interest in medicine and religion has grown, some have called for a more fervent and explicit "witnessing" by Christian physicians in their practices. Surprisingly little has been written explicitly about the theology of witness. This paper presents a new theological understanding of witness and how this theology might be applied to the case of Christian witness in healthcare. Witness first must be understood linguistically as encompassing two nouns and two verbs, all of which have theological meaning. As a noun, ‘witness’ refers either to: (1) someone who provides testimony, or (2) the substantive content of someone’s testimony. As a verb, ‘witness’ refers either to: (1) the experiencing of an event, or (2) someone’s reporting on his or her experience of an event. Based on this linguistic analysis, scriptural use of the various forms of the Greek word μάρτυς (martys), and substantive theological reflection (based mostly on Barth and Ricoeur), an understanding of witness is presented, arguing that Christian witness is transformative, necessary, and must be understood as a call to holiness in thought, word, and deed. Suggestions are then made regarding how physicians and the Church can both witness Christ in their experience of the sick and give witness to Christ in the care of the sick. Witnessing is further distinguished from evangelizing, and the ethical implications of this distinction in health care are discussed. This theological exploration offers new insight into what it means to witness and to heal as a Christian.