Questions re:Bible passage and nursing

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Specializes in Oncology, Neuro, Cardiac.

A friend just called me, and said she had a question in her class (she's going rn to bsn at a christian college).

The questions was to read James 2:14-25 with emphasis on v 14, and write how it would apply to the nursing profession.

She called me, because I've been studying lots of passages in the bible about faith. I did a bible study by Beth Moore called Believing God, and I thought it was awesome. Anyway, I'm having trouble applying it to the nursing profession though. We are taught so much to keep our beliefs separate, but she is going to a christian college.

Anyway, James 2:14-16 (KJV) says: 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitue of daily food, 16 and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

I have my own thoughts, but wanted some feedback. Thanks

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I would read that as meaning that "works" ie compassionate skilled nursing care, is doing God's work.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Not too learned on the Bible, but this is what it is telling me...

What is the benifit of just treating someone if we don't also teach faith! Will treatment alone really heal a person (works), will faith alone heal someone? Or is it both you need? This is a very good question!

It really boils down to the foundational faith issue! Basically what is a body without faith?

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If you believe the teachings of Christ (one of which is He came to serve and not be served) then you must act on your belief (by faith) knowing that Christ loved us and died for us while we were yet sinners. He took care of spiritual needs by demonstrating to us His love by taking care of physical needs in those who did not yet (and may never have) accepted His spiritual gift of salvation. By taking care of the physical body, He demonstrated His love and gave them reason to believe His spiritual teachings.

Hope this helps.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
hopecandles[/url]]Anyway, James 2:14-16 (KJV) says: 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitue of daily food, 16 and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

I hate to admit it, but I really have a hard time with the King James version. It's beautiful language, but if I want a clear understanding, I use the NIV. Here's what it says:

Faith and Deeds

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

So to me, faith without works is like standing in the doorway of a patient's room and saying, "Gee, I'll pray for you to get better," while the patient Codes.

Nurses are doers of the Word.

Like when Jesus washed His disciples' feet.

Nurses perform the Code maneuvers--and they pray too.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.

What that passage says to me is to put your money where your mouth is. Easy to say "I believe!" If you really have faith you'll do something about it.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Wow, I have no idea, that is so difficult to read.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I think this means - put your money where your mouth is.

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Jesus first connected with people by meeting their needs. He fed them. He answered their questions. He healed them. He forgave their sins. He reached out to them in ways they could relate to. Some of them then reached back.

Jesus also said, "Whatever you do for the least of these (meaning the lowest in status), you do also for me." I try to remember this when taking care of someone who irritaties or even disgusts me. This person was made in his image. The divine spark is in there somewhere. It is not for me to withhold my best care out of judgment. Hard, sometimes. Really hard.

Ministry isn't only preaching and teaching and performing and going on missions. It can be washing someone's nasty feet or helping a tired new mom get her baby to latch or persevering to get the right pain meds or even making toast at 3 AM for parents who haven't eaten in 12 hours.

Be love.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

Faith and Deeds

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

So to me, faith without works is like standing in the doorway of a patient's room and saying, "Gee, I'll pray for you to get better," while the patient Codes.

Nurses are doers of the Word.

Like when Jesus washed His disciples' feet.

Nurses perform the Code maneuvers--and they pray too.

:yeahthat:

I agree. While praying for someone is never wrong, it would be wrong to not also do what needs to be done to take care of their needs. It means you don't say "Bless you" as you pass by someone with an umet need.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
jesus first connected with people by meeting their needs. he fed them. he answered their questions. he healed them. he forgave their sins. he reached out to them in ways they could relate to. some of them then reached back.

jesus also said, "whatever you do for the least of these (meaning the lowest in status), you do also for me." i try to remember this when taking care of someone who irritaties or even disgusts me. this person was made in his image. the divine spark is in there somewhere. it is not for me to withhold my best care out of judgment. hard, sometimes. really hard.

ministry isn't only preaching and teaching and performing and going on missions. it can be washing someone's nasty feet or helping a tired new mom get her baby to latch or persevering to get the right pain meds or even making toast at 3 am for parents who haven't eaten in 12 hours.

be love.

i could have written that second paragraph! i've reminded myself of that same verse more times than i can count.

ministry can also sometimes be speaking the truth to someone even when they don't want to hear it. it can be refusing to enable destructive behavior. sometimes, though, it's doing just what you don't want to do but you know you have to anyway, and never letting the patient know that.

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Be love.

there you go folks.

it doesn't get any simpler than that.

one needn't even believe in Jesus as our Savior, to embrace this universal concept.

be love.

that says it all.

leslie

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