Where is ‘Biblical health care’ today?

There was a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,” Jesus said, as he taught his followers what eternal life means; that is, to “love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind and to love our neighbor as our self” (Luke 10:25-37). What a shock his clarification was — and is today — for anyone hoping that doctrinal statements checked off an “I believe” list will produce personal salvation.

The young man who asked the question actually got an A-plus from Jesus on his Old Testament theology, but he failed to apply it where he — and would-be followers today — encounter what has become political issues of health and illness. Do we not understand that personal salvation is seen, or not seen, in our responses to people in crises of health care (see also Matt. 25:31-46).

Jesus continued “... when robbers attacked him, stripped him, and beat him, leaving him half dead.” So here is the actual exam placed before us, an imaginative “hands on” opportunity to learn before it’s too late. Like a rescue squad going through a simulation disaster drill, we can put ourselves through this one to see if we do, in fact, “love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and our neighbor as our self.” If our response to the real thing demonstrates our “eternal life,” shouldn’t we study this training guide very carefully?

“A priest happened to be going down the same road ... .” Isn’t it interesting that these two are traveling the “same road.” How is it today that so many of Jesus’ followers travel nowhere near those who need health care so desperately?

The priest should have known the Old Testament passages already mentioned (Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18). But, no, his knowledge focuses on a technical loophole: ritual uncleanness (Lev. 21:1-4). Purification from touching blood or a dead body could take a week from his priestly visits in the community (Lev. 19:11-14). Feeling justified, he “walked on by, on the other side.” Is there any other interpretation than that he did not love God or his neighbor?

“In the same way a Levite also came there, went over and looked at the man, and then walked on by, on the other side.” A Levite was responsible for the care and preparation of the Temple for worship. He, at the least, “went over and looked at the man.” So, wouldn’t that make him even more responsible for the closer look that he did have of the dying man? Was he on the verge of helping when he remembered the loophole? What loopholes today prevent insurance and pharmaceutical companies, physicians and the rest of us from acting on the “closer look” that we do have of persons in health care crises? What would Jesus do ... or have us do? He continues ...

“But a certain Samaritan who was traveling that way came upon him and when he saw the man, his heart was filled with compassion.” Here begins Jesus’ picture of salvation; that is, what it looks like in real life to love God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love our neighbor as our self. Is that how we picture our own salvation? If not, then how do we picture it?

Jesus’ correction to the young man was that he should go and live as the Samaritan lived. So, who was that Samaritan, anyway, and why is his lifestyle a model for our salvation instead of that of the priest or Levite?

(Continued next week)

Rev. Russell G. Waldrop, D. Min., LPC, is a pastoral counselor and is chaplain of Western State Hospital. Contact him at 332-8004 or at .