Faith and Values: Bible contains lesson about health care

July 05, 2013|By the Rev. Christine Nelson, Special to The Morning Call

I love the stories of the Bible because they so often portray humans with all our flaws, hopes and realities. Their insight into our foibles are timeless as are the faith-filled directions they give. 2 Kings 5 tells of Naaman, a powerful man of his culture, who struck by a devastating skin disease, almost missed his opportunity for restored health because of his misconceptions about how healing should happen and his failure to recognize the presence of God in his midst.

Naaman was chief of the armed forces of the King of Aram, what we would know as Syria, a neighbor of Israel. Though quite powerful, he suffered from leprosy with apparently no cure available or effective. It is instructive that all three of the opportunities for healing that come to Naaman come from what we would term the "margin" sectors of that time period.

The first from near the bottom rung of that society: a foreign-born young girl captive of war whose fate was to be Naaman's wife's domestic. It's quite remarkable that Naaman's wife listened to the young foreign girl, that Naaman listened to his wife, and the King of Aram likewise thought there was something to this idea of a cure from outside their country, their local medical expertise and their gods.

So with hope of a spirit of international hospitality in medicine, Naaman takes his king's letter and gifts of gold, silver and beautiful clothing and presents them to the King of Israel along with his request for a cure. But this only struck fear in the heart of that king for he knew he did not possess the power of life and death. He saw it as a conniving way to "pick a quarrel" and potentially start a war.

The second opportunity for healing comes from the Israelite prophet Elisha who asks Naaman to simply wash in the local river seven times. Naaman took this as an insult to his status as a great man, to his nation's status as equal to or greater than Syria's, and even to the standard protocol for the healing arts. Naaman would have none of this, it was beneath him so angry was he, and he walked away from potential health.

The third opportunity was in the form of a plea from Naaman's own employees. Common sense, they said, is that if you were asked to do something difficult, you would do it. So why not do this simple thing? Naaman relented, went to the river, washed seven times and found in the course of this faithful action the wholeness and healing he desired. It is Naaman's ah-ha moment. He makes his confession of faith in God as Lord not just of Israel, but of the whole world.

This story is full of learning we can apply to living of life today. On a personal level it calls us to put aside our pride if it is standing in the way of our health and wholeness, both physical and mental.

On a societal level it joins the point of many faith stories, which is to listen to people on the "margins" as well as the "kings." The word of the Lord comes through all kinds of voices, and on a universal level it makes the clear statement that God cares for all people no matter their country or god.

This story is in the vein of Isaiah 40-55 and Jonah where the hospitality of God is available to all comers, and the people of God are called to likewise offer that grace to foreigner, stranger and unbeliever without expectation of reward. Naaman again offers gold and silver but Elisha refuses. It is enough that Naaman has given his heart which results in changes to how he chooses to live his life.

In our particular time and culture I cannot help but apply my learning to health care in our country. Why are the powers that be so afraid of healing for all people? Why will we not listen to those on the margins who point to ways to open wholeness to everyone? Why as a nation are we unwilling to explore the hospitality of the international medical community and learn from their ways?

Why do our "Naamans" want to make obtaining health care so difficult when the action needed is easy? Where are the voices of people of faith who say they believe God loves everyone but will not stand up for those who struggle each day in pain and suffering? How many times has the reign of God come near and we missed the opportunity for health, both spiritual and material?

Naaman's story has an interesting post note. Gehazi, the servant of the prophet, thought Elisha had let Naaman off to easy. He ran after Naaman "to get something out of him." When confronted by Elisha, Gehazi denies seeking and accepting gifts for the healing. His greed is "rewarded" by receiving the leprosy of Naaman.

The Rev. Dr. Christine Nelson,, is the retired executive director of the Lehigh County Conference of Churches.

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