"One would think that religion would be a highly
supportive aspect in the minds of every practicing
physician, either consciously or unconsciously,
while in the process of treating a patient or at least
when thinking about the quality of treatment you
provided or even after you know the good
results of your efforts."
This article in not provided to you for any other purpose than to provide you
with a leap towards awesome, a behavior rental agreement, and some
financial adventurism.
At Christmas time we all in one way or another become involved with the thoughts and feelings about God and how He works in our lives and careers. The Bible has been the core of Christian beliefs for over 2000 years.
This one book's content has changed and improved the lives of billions of people over time in a world continually laced in conflict. There is no other legitimate source of prophesy, beliefs, and truth that comes close to what the 66 books of the Bible teach us about the ways of life that are expected to result in actual love and happiness.
In essence, the 10 commandments of Christ enables each of us to follow as closely as we can with the promise of life beyond death. In medical practice we witness medical miracles and cures that could never happen without the intervention of God.
Christ's intervention, which is allowed only because of our free-will to believe in Christ's human life, crucifixion, and resurrection, begins before our own conception and continues through life and our careers, to the degree that we believe in a living Christ and follow his advice as best we can.
As physicians we have been endowed with the talents, skills, and intelligence to treat and cure medical problems of our patients. We could not practice medicine safely and effectively without believing in God to begin with, a fact that is often overlooked by physicians themselves. And it is also something that is commonly never celebrated and that we forget to thank God for. This includes myself as well.
I've discovered and believe that when we look back through our lives, especially in our medical careers, all of the changes we've made and circumstances that caused us to make the decisions we've made have resulted in divine intervention to keep us on the right track for our individual purpose in life.
In all cases in my life those inconvenient and often regrettable circumstances that forced those changes and decisions were to avoid catastrophes and problems we got ourselves into and never recognized it until much later.
Even though I was church oriented by my family very early in life, I never truly understood my life and career choices until I decided one day in my 70s to sit down and actually read the Bible cover
to cover, word for word. Since reading those 2,500 pages of my Bible, my life, health, mind, and purpose have become clear and nearly understandable.
Have you ever read the Bible cover to cover? It took me 70 years before I decided
to accomplished that.
The interesting thing about reading the Bible that has surprised and overwhelmed me is the fact that I have read the Bible about 5 times since, cover to cover, and each time I read the same things again, my whole understanding and interpretation of those paragraphs and pages are often different, more informative, and more believable.
Another thing; I read a chapter or so every day (about 20 minutes) since then, in the early morning, and find myself anxious to get to it each day. That's not the way it usually works for me when reading books.
My wife felt the same as I about religion and the Bible. That's God's grace at work with some coaching by the indwelling Holy Spirit. My lifelong depression, suicidal thoughts, and PTSD from combat in Vietnam are 90% or more erased. In spite of the increasing world warfare, societal moral decay, increasing violence, and disintegration of our government, I feel much better than I have for years. Go figure!
Other religions also have similar teachings. But rarely do physicians have time to discuss their religious thoughts and beliefs with patients. We mistakenly often believe that our patients consciously "know" that we are believers because of the way they are treated in your office or hospital. Loyal patients love to know about what their physician thinks, both about their medical doctor's personal lives and about their own medical care. In 2022 that is not happening
much anymore.
I believe that physicians should let their patients know what their religious beliefs are, either directly or indirectly. I'm not talking about persuading patients, discussing details of the Bible with patients, convincing patients of anything about Christ and the Bible, but only to let them know that I'm a believer and follower.
Most physicians likely disagree about this comment. I believe that one of the greatest roads patients have for trusting you and your expertise is letting them know your are a believer. What I discovered surprised me in a way. Many patients knew far more than I did about God and the Bible.
It would be of great value to you to read my article about how to make patients trust you...
Article #38 Titled- "Trust--How to Build It, Use It, and Prosper From It"
When patients trust you, they will follow your instructions completely. If you advise a treatment, when you explain to them why you recommend something, they usually agree. When they don't agree, it requires you to tell them all about what will happen to their health if the treatment is not agreed to. Often they disagree because the need more info about it or misinterpreted what you said to them, and they were afraid to ask you to explain it again.
All these things come to you naturally, without thinking, when you are familiar with the
Bible information.
The biggest problem physicians have with this topic is that they may have to lie to patients about their faith. True believers have no trouble at all talking about that topic.
----Professional Probe----
"This is what a physician looks like
when they don't want to reveal their
religious beliefs."
Articles©2013-2022/CGG INVESTMENTS LLC. All rights reserved. #115, 3-16-22
