“How does your faith inform and influence your practice of medicine? “
That was a question posed to me recently by my pastor, Shane Bishop. My response touched on praying with my patients and a few other overt examples of Christian activity within the clinic. And this was all true and accurate, but I wish I would’ve answered differently. The “overt” of Christian living and witness in the business/workplace environment is important, but it is usually not the most important thing we can do to effectively represent Christ in the workplace.
Allow me to explain:
Answer the following multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank question:
“My child is gravely ill. I want the most _______ physician/surgeon I can find to care for her.”
A: Christ-like
B: Competent
You may only choose one attribute. “All of the above” is not permitted.
Which do you choose?
If you are like most, you will choose B. Am I correct?
Competence.
Your transmission breaks in your car. Do you hire the agnostic, profane 45 year-old mechanic with 25 years’ experience fixing transmissions or do you hire the 19-year-old kid who plays bass guitar for the praise band at church and works at Jiffy Lube? You’ll hire the agnostic every time.
Competence.
Competence trumps overt Christian activity just about every time. And nothing damages and limits a Christian witness in the workplace quicker and more thoroughly than incompetence, sloppiness, and not putting forth one’s best effort, regardless of occupation. I’ve known a few (thankfully very few) Christian physicians over the years who talked a great Christian talk but did not walk it out very well in terms of endeavoring to provide the very best, patient-centered, up-to-date, evidence-based care available. They were vigorous in their Christian witness but lazy in their practice of medicine. And it certainly compromised their witness among their colleagues and patients.
Several years ago, shortly after moving into our house, I hired a local remodeling contractor, Don Padgett, based on his Christian reputation. But I hired him back the second and third times because his company delivered great service/product at a fair price. His overt Christian witness got my attention. His company’s great job/work ethic and a fair price brought me back for a second and third time.
So, if I were asked again how my faith informed and influenced my practice of medicine, I’d respond differently. My answer would be less about praying with patients and much more about representing Christ by being the very best doctor I can be; by staying up-to-date and relevant in my practice; by endeavoring to be 100% attentive and present when that patient sits in front of me; by being the type of physician I would want my own family to have. A tall order, for sure.
And with those prerequisites satisfied, the other, more overt types of Christian witness, when they do occur, might have more impact.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Col 3:23.
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