Religion's Place in Nursing

[CHIRN]

I often read Billy Graham's column and thought today's was particulary pertinent to our profession. I'm just curious as to your own personal thoughts and feelings on the matter. (Please, no screaming at one another...this is not a debate.)

Dear Dr. Graham,

I'd like to be a Christian, but I have a hard time believing that Jesus rose from the dead. You see, I'm an intensive care nurse, and I know that once a person dies, that's the end. Maybe you can help me get past these doubts. -- Mrs. K.W.

Dear Mrs. K.W.:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the most important event in all history -- and yes, incredible as it may seem, it really did happen.

In fact, it might interest you to know that one of the Gospels was written by a medical doctor (Luke). Like you, he knew that death is final and irreversible -- and yet he also gave us one of the most extensive accounts of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Why? Because he had thoroughly investigated the evidence for Jesus' resurrection for himself and he knew only one conclusion was possible: Jesus had come back from the dead.

Why is the resurrection important? Why did God raise Jesus from the dead? One reason was to prove that Jesus was who He said He was: the divine Son of God, sent from heaven to save us from our sins. The Bible says that He "was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:4). The resurrection sets Jesus apart from every other person who has ever lived.

But the resurrection points to an even greater truth: Death has now been conquered! The grave is not the end, but heaven's doors are now open! Jesus is alive, and He wants to come into your life today. Why not discover this great truth for yourself by turning to Christ today?

Edited to remove the dead link that stretched things past the edge of the screen - hope it makes it easier to read :)! - Ratched

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

It does matter who is right or wrong. The Bible says, "I (Jesus) am the way, the truth, and the life, NO MAN comes to the Father but BY ME. That means sinners or saints, good or bad, and there will be a judgement where the Book of Life will be opened and whoevers name isn't in it will be cast into the Lake of Fire. No excuses will be taken then, then it will be too late.

I wouldn't want to take a chance of not believing in Jesus, and finding out I was wrong for all eternity, how about you????? God says in the Bible, "I have put eternity into the minds of men." That is the hope that Christians have, to spend eternity loving, adoring, and worshipping God.

But utimately it is your choice, I pray you make the right one.

A great movie about this very thing to watch is "The Bema", it talks about the judgment seat of Christ - "The Bema" seat.

You see my friend, this is exactly what chases non-Christians away from us. The preaching of hell and condemnation. That's not love; that a fear tactic. Do you see the difference? I'm sure the non-believer would. I not only believe in God and in Jesus Christ, I also believe Him, because I have learned over the years that He definitely will and does fulfill His promise that if we place our problems in His hands, and let Him work them out, He will deliver in an awesomely wonderful way. A way that is beyond your wildest imagination. The last miracle He performed for me was on Easter Sunday.

I know exactly where I'm going to go when I die too, and each new day that comes, I know I'm closer to it, and am so very eager to love be at the best wedding of all time. That of being the bride of Christ.

[Energizer Bunny]

You are right about that. But, in defense of those hippocritical christians, I can see where they struggle. I don't like the dogma and ridgidity of organized religions and I think that is where people get all twisted up in it, as they are trying so hard to folow what they are told, but being human, cannot. Another reason I don't follow any particular religion is that each is convinced that theirs is the way. That of course can't be. I understand some people find solice or strength in their chosen faith, but I can't subscribe to one in particular myself.

You sound remarkably like myself. I do, however, consider myself a Christian but I sorta have my own religion and "church and worship" at home because I refuse to follow the rigidity of some of the churches in my area.

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

You sound remarkably like myself. I do, however, consider myself a Christian but I sorta have my own religion and "church and worship" at home because I refuse to follow the rigidity of some of the churches in my area.

As I said before, there is so much that is good about christianity. It was based on the teachings of a really great man. I doubt he would have liked what some do with it. I am not sure what I can believe. I have been exposed to mostly chrstianity having been a westerner, but I can make more sense of many of the eastern philosphies.; much more spiritual, less man-made to me.

[GreenWitch]

As I said before, there is so much that is good about christianity. It was based on the teachings of a really great man. I doubt he would have liked what some do with it. I am not sure what I can believe. I have been exposed to mostly chrstianity having been a westerner, but I can make more sense of many of the eastern philosphies.; much more spiritual, less man-made to me.

I agree with you 100%. The bible contains some great ideas...but I really like how they do it in the east too...

)0(

[dlscott]

I do not believe in Christ as I do not believe in original sin, thus a G-d that would require a sacrifice of his son has no meaning for me. It also would be wrong for me to worship a G-d that would behave in such a manner. Mine is a G-d of loving, caring and concern, not of ill doing.

Therefore Mr.Graham's arguments are moot.

Therefore I must pass on your "know Christ" offer as I have done so many times before...when offered so many "proof discussions" before.

So Luke was a doctor, where was he licensed and what was his specialty? Many MDs of his time bled people to death trying to cure illness. Evidence has shown that people were buried alive by accident, up into the last 100 years, due to being in comas and diagnosed as "dead". Doctors marked people as witches and listed them as possessed by demons, when they had seizures. Doctors in the middle ages as well as theologians debated as to whether women even had human souls. They identified birth marks as marks of evil. Such "respected" doctors as Freud had Cocaine habits, just as some MDs do today. MDs in the early 20th century listed seizures in women as being caused by nymphomania and had their genitals mutilated to "cure" them.

So saying Luke was a Physician means very little when one reviews physicians in the great scheme of history.

Faith is a thing of belief first and foremost. Not requiring proof, whatsoever.

Would that those that preach great Faith actually respected those of other Faiths, enough not to play "prove it to me" games with the Faith that they value and espouse because there is little that can be "proven" undoubtably in this world.

I don't understand how a person can be a nurse, see life and death as much as we do and NOT believe in God. Our bodies are miracles....they could never "just happen". I am a hospice nurse and I see death on a daily basis. I will tell you who dies the easiest and most peaceful...the Christians. They have a hope of life beyond and know that though they do not want to leave behind their loved ones, they have a Lord that is waiting to give them wondrous things that their minds could not even imagine. The non-Christians usually die with more pain, angry and have a hard time reconciling the fact that they are dying. I have sat by the bedside of so many people as life as slipped from them. It in itself is a mysterious but wondrous thing to see life from beginning to end. I have sat at the bedside of my father and my mother, who were christians, and knew the love they had for each other. My mother told my father "i will be waiting for you" and my father told her "I will mourn for you but envy that you are there before me". Eternity is a long time....think before you can no longer make a decision about it.

[nursemjb]

I don't understand how a person can be a nurse, see life and death as much as we do and NOT believe in God. Our bodies are miracles....they could never "just happen". I am a hospice nurse and I see death on a daily basis. I will tell you who dies the easiest and most peaceful...the Christians. They have a hope of life beyond and know that though they do not want to leave behind their loved ones, they have a Lord that is waiting to give them wondrous things that their minds could not even imagine. The non-Christians usually die with more pain, angry and have a hard time reconciling the fact that they are dying. I have sat by the bedside of so many people as life as slipped from them. It in itself is a mysterious but wondrous thing to see life from beginning to end. I have sat at the bedside of my father and my mother, who were christians, and knew the love they had for each other. My mother told my father "i will be waiting for you" and my father told her "I will mourn for you but envy that you are there before me". Eternity is a long time....think before you can no longer make a decision about it.

Discott,

You said it very well......I do not have the skills with words that you do....yesterday someone said that believing because of fear is a trivial reason.....but my opinion is whatever reason gets you to believe in Jesus is the right one. I just keep thinking of Bible verses...."be prepared to give a reason for the hope you have".....I look forward to meeting you in heaven someday......your hospice patients are very fortunate to have a nurse like you....God bless you. P. S. I know someone who lives in Canton, OH - she's the president of a fan club I belong to.

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

dlscott

It may be your perception that "christians die easiest", but do not try to state it as fact. I sat with my dear mother as she breathed her last breath and she made the most peaceful and conmfortable exit that I can imagine. Same with Gramma. And Dad. All of them were wonderful, compassionate people who adored life and all it had to offer. They gave of themselves to those they loved and have left fond memories to us all. In their end, they gracefully and courageously accepted death. And they were not chrisitians. My brother, the christian, said mom was going to hell and stayed away. What a guy. My sister and I sat by her and felt honored to be by her side and feel her spirit as it left her body. The warmth and love we felt convinced us that she was more than flesh and blood that ended on that day. To hear some say she went to hell as she left us is irritating to say the least, but we know better.

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

Discott,

You said it very well......I do not have the skills with words that you do....yesterday someone said that believing because of fear is a trivial reason.....but my opinion is whatever reason gets you to believe in Jesus is the right one. I just keep thinking of Bible verses...."be prepared to give a reason for the hope you have".....I look forward to meeting you in heaven someday......your hospice patients are very fortunate to have a nurse like you....God bless you. P. S. I know someone who lives in Canton, OH - she's the president of a fan club I belong to.

I second your message to Discott.

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

dlscott

It may be your perception that "christians die easiest", but do not try to state it as fact. I sat with my dear mother as she breathed her last breath and she made the most peaceful and conmfortable exit that I can imagine. Same with Gramma. And Dad. All of them were wonderful, compassionate people who adored life and all it had to offer. They gave of themselves to those they loved and have left fond memories to us all. In their end, they gracefully and courageously accepted death. And they were not chrisitians. My brother, the christian, said mom was going to hell and stayed away. What a guy. My sister and I sat by her and felt honored to be by her side and feel her spirit as it left her body. The warmth and love we felt convinced us that she was more than flesh and blood that ended on that day. To hear some say she went to hell as she left us is irritating to say the least, but we know better.

I have an idea you're going to seem again one day.

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

I have an idea you're going to seem again one day.

Typo there I think, Fran. What were you saying?

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

Typo there I think, Fran. What were you saying?

No, it wasn't a type o at all. I meant what I said. There's a place in the old testament that mentions the valley of dry bones. Hence the old song, " head bone connected to the neck bone etc. those are the words of the Lord" It states there that those people will be resurrected again after Christ returns, and will live once again for a period of time, still giving them a chance to accept Jesus as their Savior. You know, there are literally billions of people who never even heard of the name, "Jesus" who have died. What about them. This is when they will be brought back to life, and re-educated in a completely benevolent environment where children will even be able to play at the den of a deadly asp, and the lamb will then be with the lion.

That time is called, "The Millenium." It is during that period that it is my hope to be able to teach all who have hurt me how to love instead. And is also the time when even my own grandmother who wasn't a Christian, but was one of the most wonderful persons I ever had the privilege to not only be related to, but also to care for before she died. She drew her last breath in my arms, and is the person who named me when I was born, because my parents couldn't think of a name to give me. My chances weren't very good for surviving then because I was the smallest of a set of twins, weighing only 3 pounds, 11 ounces, born in 1943.

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

OK...I hadn't heard of this extra life to get another chance. So what you are saying is that people get lots of "chances" to accept Jesus? Not just this life? That contradicts what many say...

Oh..and it was your wording of, "you're going to seem again one day" that confused me. That doesn't really make sense, so I thought it was a typo.