Christian Witness in Health Care

Abstract

As interest in medicine and religion has grown, some have called for a more fervent and explicit “witnessing” by Christian physicians in their practices. This essay presents a theological understanding of witness and how this theology might be applied to the case of Christian witness in health care. Witness must be understood first linguistically as encompassing two nouns and two verbs, all of which have theological meaning. Based on linguistic, scriptural, and theological reflection, suggestions are made regarding how physicians and the Church can both witness Christ and give witness to Christ in the care of the sick. This theological exploration offers new insight into what it means to witness and to heal as a Christian.