Want to Work in Healthcare? Here’s What to Expect

Todd & Ruth Kilburn

As followers of Christ and those dedicated to the gospel, we are called to live in the world while having a character and way of life that are distinct from those of the world. Matthew 5:13–16 reminds us that God’s people are salt and light, and Jesus exhorts His disciples to “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Nevertheless, Christians live with a tension that is often difficult to navigate. Simply trying to convince the world intellectually of what is right rarely works. Scripture teaches that the “natural man” does not receive the things of the Spirit of God and cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14). Understanding the role of salt and light as influence becomes even more significant for believers whose workplace might require activities that are opposed to the principles of God’s Word.

Nowhere in Scripture are Christians told to withdraw from contact with the unsaved. Instead, they are exhorted that, while living within the world, they must not adopt the values, ethical standards, or moral direction that the world system imposes. How then would a Christian entering the workforce seek to reconcile the call to influence the workplace with the caution against adopting the standards that it holds? Should Christians simply avoid some jobs because they will become difficult to do with integrity? Specifically, how should medical professionals engage in the workplace to live out their faith without compromise?