DAILY BREAD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2007
Fistfight In The Operating Room
Neal Pollard
Neal Pollard
Paul Harvey hears the most interesting news story. This one originates in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, where an appendix operation is not going well for a patient. Apparently, the two doctors performing the appendectomy begin to argue. It escalates until they come to blows, with one doctor getting the worst of it with a split lip and some nasty bruises. An assistant had to step in and fortunately was able to successfully finish the procedure.
Doctors are usually renowned for their professionalism and discipline. The years of medical school and rigorous hours, the intelligence and the high level of skill all combine to paint the picture of control and maturity. That is what makes this story out of eastern Europe so incongruous. Doctors are supposed to be preservers of life. These doctors apparently had the right tools in their hands and were in the appropriate place doing the appropriate things.
Someone has rightly referred to the church as a spiritual hospital. We serve the perfect, Great Physician, but He does His work on earth today through our hands. He has given us the tools, the knowledge, and the rationale for saving spiritual lives. Tragically, we can have the right tools in our hands, be in the right place and be doing some of the right things. Yet, when we cannot master the fundamental and necessary task of working together we are risking success in saving those who are dying without Jesus. When a congregation has cliques or factions that war with one another (cf. Gal. 5:13), they are doing potentially more damage than those reckless doctors in Yugoslavia. When brothers in Christ within our great brotherhood wrangle with each other by splitting hairs and exhibiting extreme pettiness (and do so in forums that can easily involve the world), such harm is done. When we have conflicts between even two individuals in a congregation (see Euodia and Syntyche, Phil. 4:2), it can endanger the peace and unity of the entire body.
Let us remember that there are others watching how we treat one another. Most of all, God is watching. How we treat one another is the litmus test Christ presents for His disciples for how others would know we belong to Him in John 13:34-35. God has given us ways to deal with our inevitable confict and strife, and none of them involves blood-letting, biting and devouring, or character assassination. Let us remember we are in the life-saving business, and that includes the lives of one another.
Doctors are usually renowned for their professionalism and discipline. The years of medical school and rigorous hours, the intelligence and the high level of skill all combine to paint the picture of control and maturity. That is what makes this story out of eastern Europe so incongruous. Doctors are supposed to be preservers of life. These doctors apparently had the right tools in their hands and were in the appropriate place doing the appropriate things.
Someone has rightly referred to the church as a spiritual hospital. We serve the perfect, Great Physician, but He does His work on earth today through our hands. He has given us the tools, the knowledge, and the rationale for saving spiritual lives. Tragically, we can have the right tools in our hands, be in the right place and be doing some of the right things. Yet, when we cannot master the fundamental and necessary task of working together we are risking success in saving those who are dying without Jesus. When a congregation has cliques or factions that war with one another (cf. Gal. 5:13), they are doing potentially more damage than those reckless doctors in Yugoslavia. When brothers in Christ within our great brotherhood wrangle with each other by splitting hairs and exhibiting extreme pettiness (and do so in forums that can easily involve the world), such harm is done. When we have conflicts between even two individuals in a congregation (see Euodia and Syntyche, Phil. 4:2), it can endanger the peace and unity of the entire body.
Let us remember that there are others watching how we treat one another. Most of all, God is watching. How we treat one another is the litmus test Christ presents for His disciples for how others would know we belong to Him in John 13:34-35. God has given us ways to deal with our inevitable confict and strife, and none of them involves blood-letting, biting and devouring, or character assassination. Let us remember we are in the life-saving business, and that includes the lives of one another.
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