CHAPTER 8

Fullest Care *

A new phrase has become increasingly common in current medical literature. We are reminded that we must no longer think in the old departmental terms, but that we must more and more learn to treat ‘the whole man’. Yet this phrase may mean little or it may mean much. It depends upon its context and the occasion on which it is used. In the majority of instances, however, one fears that it is just one more expression of that loose and sentimental thinking, which has become so characteristic of the present time.

THE WHOLE MAN

Let us look, for example, at this phrase ‘the whole man’. How are we to define it? What do we mean by the word ‘whole’? The department of psychosomatic medicine has popularized the phrase, but it has not adequately described it. Originally, at least, the phrase appears to have been introduced from Christian sources and notably from the literature of medical missions. But here again there does not seem to have been adequate thought given to the implications of the phrase nor to the alteration of meaning which occurred as soon as it was removed from its original setting. As soon as we look into the matter, the first surprise which must come to all of us is the realization of the ease with which we accept such phrases and build upon them, imagining that both we and those to whom we speak know precisely what is meant. In what follows, I wish to call for closer scrutiny of this phrase. I would also seriously suggest that, of all available sources, we have the best definition of it in the Christian gospels. Our Lord is constantly described as making those who came to him ‘perfectly whole’ and the contexts in which such facts are recorded suggest that the statements were more than justified.

PSYCHOSOMATIC MEDICINE

I have not forgotten the fact that through articles in the medical journals, the profession as a whole has been made aware of much that it overlooked during the course of earlier developments of scientific research, and its application in various forms of modern treatment. Most doctors, however little they may adjust themselves practically to it, make theoretical allowances for the subjective, psychological and the spiritual in treating their patients. Yet it would be premature to be too optimistic. For occasional stories from the outpatients’ departments and, also, the wards of well known hospitals, make it clear how easy it is for all of us to use appropriate phrases and neglect their obvious implications. The busy practitioner has scarcely been more than mildly interested, though in his case there are compensating factors. Fortunately, long experience of contact with suffering, interest in persons as persons, and the frequent necessity to take into consideration the situation of the whole family – all unconsciously predispose to an adoption of the psychosomatic approach.

Yet when all is said and done, is psychosomatic medicine itself a fully adequate response to what is basically required? Is it not itself another of those partial views which have been made to do duty for the whole? Is its application greatly in advance of the other attitudes which have done duty during the development of anthropology? Again and again definitions of the nature of man have been given, which on further examination prove to be too narrowly based. The communist, for example, controlled by his philosophy of dialectical materialism, reduces man to a pawn of economics and politics. Other types of philosophy have isolated him as a piece of pure intellect, with the addition of a comforting doctrine that all he needs in order to emerge from his predicament is more and more education. Coming nearer home, the biologist concentrates on man’s structure, abilities, movements, ductless glands and the functional balance of forces which enables the living organism to carry out an ordered existence. Even Medicine itself is guilty of a very partial view. For over a hundred years morbid pathology has tended to dominate the picture, and whilst normal physiology has done something to redress the balance, yet in general the abnormal has come to distort the perspective. So now it is the turn of the advocates of the psychosomatic. ‘Yes,’ they say, ‘it is true that we have erred. We must cease to regard a patient as one who must be investigated like a biological specimen. We must take a bigger view. We must – in addition to our doctors and nurses – have cohorts of therapists trained in every form of assistance. We must treat the whole man.’

But, even here again, are they not already tending to slip into the same error of falling short in their concept of man? When they have taken account, and rightly so, of all the subjective factors which may influence the condition of the patient, his psychology and the environment in which he lives his life, is not their view still too limited? It cannot be emphasized too much that every view of man which omits from its consideration such a major factor as man’s relationship with God, is doomed to partial measures. It can never fully and finally solve the crucial problem which lies at the root of humanity’s unrest and ‘dis-ease’. There is a major element in the very nature of man, which can be catered for in one way, and only in one way. As Augustine said: ‘Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.’

THE BOUNDS OF MEDICAL PRACTICE

It therefore follows, if what we have so far said is true, that we must ask: can Medicine in itself deal with the whole man? Can it as such, and by itself, ever do so? In any case, is it within the province of Medicine to attempt such a thing? Is Medicine able to function so as to ensure that mankind will function harmoniously in society? Is it able to reduce to order all those things which interfere with, and vitiate man’s life? Surely, the practice of Medicine was never intended nor equipped for such a function. Nor was it designed to uncover and to treat the evils gnawing at the heart of mankind. It cannot satisfy deep aspirations of the individual which are due to his very make-up and are accentuated by his estrangement from his Maker. Psychotherapy is no final answer. It may do much to help in restoring normal function to the mechanisms of the mind, but it cannot impart that positive addition for which each person’s heart craves. Yet, without taking into consideration, and dealing with, such ultimate facts of human need, how can Medicine possibly talk of treating ‘the whole man’?

I must here enter a strong caveat. Much loose thinking has come in at this point. I would without apology venture to make the blunt assertion that Christianity, and Christianity alone, can deal with ‘the whole man’. By definition, it alone is capable of undertaking such a task. Medicine is in its right place when it sets out to deal with the body and the mind. But it is the task of religion – of the Christian religion – to deal with ‘the whole man’.

There are two processes at work today in the borderlands between Medicine and the Church. They are both clearly illustrated in St. Luke’s description of our Lord’s healing of ten patients suffering from leprosy. Let us notice carefully the difference between the nine who failed to return thanks and the one who did so return. There was a vital difference in their whole outlook and attitude to the body-mind relationship. The group of nine patients were only interested in getting rid of the disease and its manifestations. Because of its signs on their bodies they had been ostracized and segregated from their people. As the record says: ‘they stood afar off.’ If they had done anything else than this they would have been severely punished. They longed – naturally they would do so, as any of us would – to be cured and to be able to go back into society. But their interest stopped at that point. They were only interested in getting rid of the symptoms and signs, so that they could return to their ordinary life and routine. They revealed no sign of wanting to be ‘made whole’. On the other hand, the one who returned ‘praised God with a loud voice’ and the Master declared that this man’s faith had made him ‘whole’. In this particular case the man had not only lost the signs and symptoms of the serious disease that had been holding him in its grip, he had come into a new and right relationship with his Maker. Of him it could now be truly said that he was made ‘whole’.

Much of what one hears at the present time of certain ‘faith healing’ movements illustrates the same two processes. The doctors of today are praised for their very wonderful discoveries and procedures. These have made an incredible difference in modern life and to the outlook of many who in past centuries would have suffered increasing disabilities or a slow decline to a fatal termination of their condition. But there are still numerous things, which the doctors cannot manage. ‘Let us,’ many say, ‘go to the Church and let us get as many people to pray for us as possible in the hope that somehow we shall be healed.’ But both patients and Church continually forget the parable. These patients will go to God – they will go anywhere – in their anxiety as soon as possible to get rid of their diseases. But most of them, at least, do not seem to be in search of ‘wholeness’ – i.e. in our Lord’s meaning of the term. Their main anxiety is to get rid of their symptoms, signs of disease, and their immediate disabilities, so that they can speedily take their place again in society.

THE PLACE FOR CHRISTIANITY

This matter of getting rid of symptoms, however, must never be mistaken for Christianity’s essential function. Many members of the medical profession today, whatever lip service they may pay to it, simply regard Christianity as another specialty or another ‘therapy’. When confronted with a particularly serious case with a bad prognosis, they will try all the therapies, radiotherapy, physiotherapy and, when these have all failed, at last they will say: ‘Ah, yes, it is really serious and beyond any help we can give – let us send him to the Church and see what that department can do.’ But we must protest. Christianity is not just one extra, and final, link in a long chain of healing methods. It is not a branch of Medicine. It never can be!

There is today a great deal of confusion at this point. There is with many an understandable (and, when it is rightly understood, commendable) desire for the closest co-operation between the profession which is responsible for caring for the body and that which is responsible for caring for the soul. Co-operation, if it is on the right basis of understanding and relative functioning of the partners in the enterprise, is, of course, valuable. If, however, the problem of a man’s illness is to be undertaken in co-operation, then it will not do for the Church to be regarded simply as a department of Medicine. It is tempting to add at this point that it is certainly not for Medicine to take over the Church, but rather for the Church to take over Medicine! The Church certainly cannot function simply as a branch of Medicine. It must not come to be used simply as a means of getting rid of the more troublesome symptoms of mankind’s divided heart and only that. Its essential value may thus be missed.

The Church, also, is able to help Medicine by fostering in its doctors, nurses and all concerned in treating disease some of the most needed virtues, e.g. kindliness, patience, self-sacrificing service and much else. But when all such by-products have been supplied to Medicine, we shall still not have arrived at treating ‘the whole man’. In fact, if the Church were to be prepared to let it go at that, it might be very misleading to the patient. It is dangerous to eliminate symptoms before the diagnosis has been assured. It is these symptoms which call attention to the presence and nature of the disease. Diagnosis becomes increasingly difficult if the symptoms are palliated too soon. The Christian faith must not allow itself to be used as a mere palliative. It may otherwise hide from the patient his real condition and prevent his arriving at a deeper understanding of his ultimate need.

There can be no real wholeness, until each patient has come to a state comparable to that of the one man with leprosy who returned to our Lord. ‘He glorified God with a loud voice,’ i.e. he really meant all he said. He fell at Christ’s feet in adoration. He was both physically cured and spiritually restored. He was at last a whole man. He had been reconciled to God through our Lord Jesus Christ and had at last found peace. No man, by his very nature, can be finally satisfied, until God fills his heart.

A FINAL QUESTION

There is one further consideration; and we must not overlook or evade it. A man cannot with real composure face death and eternity apart from consciousness of reconciliation with his Maker. We all need peace with God. We are getting older. Some of the colleagues whom I see here today are those whom in earlier years I taught in our medical school. Speaking for myself, I can only face God in Jesus Christ, by spiritually dying and rising again in him, by being reconciled through him, and by living day by day in him. It is from him that I hear the liberating words: ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole.’ It is this spiritual element which ultimately matters to us. This goes on into eternity and, in Christ, I am ready for eternity.

Christian doctors, there is only one way in which we can really make men whole! Modern medicine has gained much for mankind and it may yet gain much more. But, when it has done its utmost, it can only prolong man’s life for a few more years. It cannot do more than repair a man’s mind and body. It has to leave him there. It has nothing to say to the most vital element in man’s nature. At this point Christianity alone can step in. When it does so, however, it can impart to the man something of incomparable worth. But before any of us can share it with others, we must become Christians ourselves. Every doctor needs himself first to go to Christ. Then, with confidence, he can become a servant of the Lord of the New Testament who went about making men whole.

* From an address to a meeting of Christian doctors in 1957.