The sirens on the ambulance wailed down the busy street like howling wolves as we navigated the thick traffic in a small community just outside of Baton Rouge. My partner, Pinky was driving and was less than pleased with the locals reaction to our presence.
“NO ONE knows how to drive in this state. I mean, really? How complicated can it be? You see an ambulance, you pull to the right. You would think that someone with half a brain cell could figure that out.” We were responding to a cardiac problem on the far side of town. We had been slammed that day with back to back emergencies and were both a little on edge. The humid air of the South Louisiana Summer was also intensifying our ill disposition. The sweltering heat was relentless. Our sweaty uniforms clung twisted and uncomfortably to our bodies. It took a concerted effort to stay hydrated in the oppressive weather just to keep ourselves from falling victim to the overwhelming temperatures.
”You know you’re giving them too much credit, right? First, you’re assuming they actually have half a brain cell to think with. Second, getting a license in this Parish is easy. They only make you drive around the block.”
“To the right! To the Right!” She yelled while bumping the air-horn. “Well, it definitely shows.”
“You know, Pinky. Some statistics show that road rage is the major contributing factor in about 50% of all automobile crashes.”
“Oh, yeah?” She snickered. “That’s probably also the major contributing factor keeping paramedics from carrying handguns. How far out are we?”
“Take a left at the next stop sign and we should be right on top of it.” I silenced the pager on my hip. It was alarming for the third time since we had been assigned the call. Dispatch was getting several requests from the First Responders on scene to verify our ETA. Apparently our patient was in pretty bad shape. We had no idea it would be at the hands of the rescuers on scene.
As we made the turn, we could see an elderly man on his knees in what looked like the praying position. Strangely, though, he was clutching his chest with one hand and fighting the First Responders off with the other. There were two of them ”rendering aid” to the patient. One was frantically tugging at the patient’s sleeve trying to remove his shirt while the other was forcibly holding an oxygen mask on his face. It looked like he was getting mugged. Pinky and I exchanged puzzled looks as we grabbed the gear from the unit and began approaching the trio. The paient’s face was flush and his skin was diaphoretic. He was also panting heavily and speaking in-between breaths as he argued with the rescuers. “Leave…..me……. alone!” He yelled. “I don’t….. want ……your help!” He was having a heart attack.
”Stop resisting, Sir!” One of the First Responders replied. ”We’re only trying to help you! We’re just doing our job!”
“You know, guys.” Pinky interrupted in her calm country-girl vernacular. ”If you treated melike that, I don’t think I would want your help either.” We were both in total agreement and tactfully encouraged the two overzealous rescuers to step aside as we began our own assessment of the patient. Its obvious that the First Responders, even while acting with the best of intentions, were doing more harm than good for their patient. Usually, help from our Friends from the local fire department was exceptional. However, this pair’s actions were far below the standard of care. It wasn’t that they weren’t telling the patient the truth. He did need oxygen. However, it was how they were conveying the truth that was the problem. Here is a quote from a non-Christian that is incredibly relevant to the subject.
“Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected” ~Mahatma Gandhi
When discussing medical ethics, it is very common to hear someone state the phrase “Primum non nocere”. Sometimes written “Primum nil nocere”, the expression roughly translates to “first do no harm”. This is an important medical precept because it helps to clarify the overall goal of medicine. It reminds health care providers that they must consider the possible harm that any intervention might do and that given an existing problem, it may be better not to do something, or even to do nothing, than to risk causing more harm than good. In this case, the First Responders were exacerbating the patent’s chest pain and shortness of breath by fighting with him. In the long run, this was only placing more demand on his already oxygen starved cardiovascular system.
When speaking to non-believers about salvation and when speaking to believers who have fallen into a backslidden condition, I find it important to remember primum non nocere. It reminds me of my main goal which is to lead people to salvation in Christ through his loving kindness and not to forcibly will them into submitting to his authority.
In the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul speaks quite frankly with the Corinthian church about their willful disobedience to God. There was division in the church, open sexual immorality, and confusion about the use of spiritual gifts. But, even while rebuking them, he also retained the message of grace and mercy that should be expressed amongst all believers in Christ. Grace is defined as the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God. Mercy, on the other hand is compassion or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one’s power. Inherently, grace is showing a great kindness to someone while mercy is forgiving someone even when they don’t deserve it. Lets take a look at what Paul had to say to the Corinthians.
9“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God”. ~1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV
Here, Paul lists a lot of people that won’t “inherit the kingdom of God”. However, it is very important not to overlook the relevance of verse 11. Lets take another look at it.
11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” ~1Corinthians 6:11 NIV
The term “were” is a reference to the past tense. The term “but” is a reference to an exception. So Paul is saying that they used to be all of these sinful things. However, they are now “washed” and “sanctified” and “justified”. What allows a Christian to struggle with sin and still be loved by God? The answer is simple. It is grace.
Jesus Christ was confronted with a similar situation in the book of John.
3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11“No one, sir,” she said.
”Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” ~John 8:3-11 NIV
”Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” ~John 8:3-11 NIV
Jesus responded with two things that are vitally important to remember when dealing with the lost and with backslidden believers. His first response was to the Pharisees. “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” The Bible teaches us that we have all fallen short of God’s will (Romans 3:23,24). His second response was for the adulteress woman. He said, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” It wasn’t that he was condoning her sin by forgiving her. After all, what she had done was wrong. But he chose to forgive her anyway. This act of kindness in spite of the law is Christ showing her mercy. Martin Luther, a 15th century priest and theologian had this to say about the subject.
”The law works fear and wrath; grace works hope and mercy.” ~Martin Luther
Does this mean that because of Christ, we have the right to willfully disobey God? No. Paul actually instructs the Corinthian church to expel a man that had been practicing immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-5). However he also instructs us to remain self disciplined (1Corinthians 9:24-27), encourages us with stories of his own shortcomings and explains that God’s grace is sufficient to overcome any burden (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
Our presence in the lives of unbelievers may be to encourage them by sharing our own personal hardships. Or, maybe we are here to teach right thinking to a group of people who lack discipline. In either case, Jesus is love. Love cannot be forced on anyone. It must be freely accepted by whom it is being shared with. Beating your Bible over an unbelievers head will only serve to give them a headache. It will exacerbate their already critical situation and eventually, turn them from the church’s help altogether. Here is one last quote from Gandhi.
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
Remember to show unbelievers Christ’s love, grace and mercy by living a Christ like lifestyle yourself. Remember primum non nocere. Be Blessed, My Friends! Be an Overcomer!
~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt
Memory Verse: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God”. ~1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV
Memory Word 1: “Grace”: the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
Memory Word 2: “Mercy”: compassion or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one’s power.
Inspiring Music: “Still My Child” by Mary Mary
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