While we have a little break from the Mercy Medical Team trips, I would like to take some time to talk about the motivation behind this program. Short term missions of all sorts have increased drastically over the years, and like anything they take on different forms and achieve different purposes.
The basis and foundation for our Mercy Medical Teams is completely outlined in a short publication written by LCMS World Relief and Human Care executive director, Matthew Harrison, entitled Theology of Mercy.
You can download this document and others for free at:
http://www.lcms.org/ca/worldrelief/onlinestore/
For those who have difficulty understanding how a normally secular vocation can be utilized to serve in Christ’s name, this piece not only tells you how, but also why it is necessary. It clearly demonstrates the need for a “corporate life of mercy” which can be applied to any vocation.
In terms of the Mercy Medical Team Program, Theology of Mercy outlines the justification for the programs existence and the motivation behind our actions, which is of course, Christ’s unconditional love and mercy and his mandate to care for both body and soul of our neighbors.
This may seem clear and easy to understand; however, as I have had more experiences with short term medical missions and have become more aware of the growing number of organizations hosting short term missions, it has become clear to me that the motivation behind this kind of service is not always so cut and dry.
For example many other organizations and groups will, like us, use the word “Mercy” in association with their medical mission. As I read through their literature and their websites it often becomes evident that they are indeed speaking of their own mercy, rather than Christ’s. They view it as THEIR mercy, and the services becomes as much about making themselves feel good as it is about helping the sick and the vulnerable in society.
Most Christian organizations offering short term medical missions also make treatment conditional by having patients attend a bible class or receive evangelism literature at the end of the clinic.
I will not go so far as to say that these approaches are wrong, however, I believe these groups are missing the point that is made so evident in the Theology of Mercy. We know that Christ is the only one who saves; we know His love and His mercy are unconditional, so our approach to demonstrating His love and mercy should be unconditional as well.
So why do we do what we do? Because those who have received Christ’s grace and mercy are mandated to serve in his example and demonstrate His love and mercy through our God given skills and talents. It is as simple as that. Once this becomes clear, you can reach people anywhere. Regardless of nationality or faith, people will see Christ’s love in our unconditional acts of mercy…we will let Him take it from there.
