CMDA Today Fall 2025

A Healing Touch CMDA

Faith in Healthcare

During my first Board of Trustees meeting as CEO, then-CMDA President Dr. Gloria Halverson, with the support of the entire Board of Trustees, tasked me with the responsibility of becoming “the official voice of CMDA.” They didn’t tell me how to do it; only that I must do it! As I look back on that meeting and that mandate, I marvel at what God has done over the last six years to enable us, with tremendous support from CMDA’s Digital Media and Communications staff, to host the CMDA Matters weekly podcast. With more than 500,000 listens to date from all over the globe (more than 25 countries) and over 250 interviews conducted, CMDA Matters has become an effective and fulfilling platform from which to build the CASE for CMDA with 40+ Community, Advocacy, Service and Equipping ministries for and by our members. In this edition of CMDA Today, you will read an article about the reboot of our weekly podcast this fall with a new name: Faith in Healthcare: The CMDA Matters Podcast. Our desire is to grow our listening audience and attract more Christians in healthcare who want to please God with their careers but feel alone and/or at odds with an increasingly antagonistic, secular healthcare culture. We will be in a new studio in our Bristol office and adding a video option through YouTube. Ms. Cat Denton took over as producer this spring with years of experience in marketing and promotive writing in Nashville, Tennessee. We have a wonderful line-up of guests on the program this fall. If you haven’t been listening, now is a good time to subscribe on iTunes, Spotify or any of the major podcast platforms. It is also a great time to follow Faith in Healthcare: The CMDA Matters Podcast on your favorite social media platform.

I was in my second year of surgical practice in Michigan in 1995 with Southwestern Medical Clinic when Dr. Bob Schindler, my surgery Chief and a Past President of CMDA, shared with our team a brand-new training program from CMDA called Saline Solution. I became incredibly excited as Dr. Schindler described this training. Finally, an organization would equip us to integrate our faith into a U.S.-based practice. I didn’t have to wait until I moved to Kenya and serve as a missionary at Tenwek Hospital! Now, 30 years later, it is even more exciting to me that a globally tested and advanced training program called Saline Process Witness Training is available for our CMDA members and other constituents. CMDA Senior Vice

President Dr. Bill Griffin has been preparing a group of highly qualified faculty and will be directing our efforts to host this training in several cities across the country starting this fall. We are grateful for the support and partnership with IHS Global and its International Director Dr. Gabor Gyori. IHS Global, together with the International CMDA (ICMDA), has been developing and promoting this curriculum in more than 120 countries for the last 20 years. If you would like to learn more and find a site where you can attend this training, visit cmda. org/saline.

As I conclude this editorial, I want to update CMDA members on leadership changes in the arena of missions, member care and medical education. Vice President of Missions and Member Care Pastor Bert Jones accepted a position at his alma mater, Asbury University, as the Director of Alumni and Church Relations, a position that should open several doors for him to travel, teach and preach across the U.S. and the world. Bert agreed to carry on as a CMDA Ambassador and Leadership Coach from Wilmore, Kentucky. I’m pleased to announce Dr. John Pierce from Liberty University, who is double boarded in obstetrics and gynecology and internal medicine, accepted the position of Vice President of Missions and Medical Education. Dr. Pierce served as our Continuing Education Committee Chair for several years and just finished eight years of service on our Board of Trustees. In conjunction with this appointment, Dr. Julie Rosá, family medicine physician in Kansas, accepted the position of Director of Medical Education International. Please pray for these two physicians who have assumed these critical responsibilities at CMDA in our missions ministries. We also covet your prayers for Dr. Doug Lindberg, who has led our Center for Advancing Healthcare Missions for several years, as he undergoes systemic chemotherapy for advanced appendiceal cancer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Mike Chupp, MD, FACS, is the CEO of CMDA. He graduated with his medical degree from Indiana University in 1988 and completed a general surgery residency at Methodist Hospital in 1993. From 1993 to 2016, he was a missionary member of Southwestern Medical Clinic in St. Joseph, Michigan, while also serving as a career missionary at Tenwek Mission Hospital in Kenya.

Mike Chupp, MD, FACS

EDITOR

Rebeka Honeycutt

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Gregg Albers, MD

John Crouch, MD

Autumn Dawn Galbreath, MD

Curtis E. Harris, MD, JD

Van Haywood, DMD

Rebecca Klint-Townsend, MD

Debby Read, RN AD SALES 423-844-1000 DESIGN

Ahaa! Design + Production PRINTING Pulp

CMDA is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

CMDA Today™, registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Fall 2025, Volume LVI, No. 3. Printed in the United States of America. Published four times each year by the Christian Medical & Dental Associations® at 2604 Highway 421, Bristol, TN 37620. Copyright© 2025, Christian Medical & Dental Associations®. All Rights Reserved. Distributed free to CMDA members. Non-doctors (US) are welcome to subscribe at a rate of $35 per year ($40 per year, international). Standard presort postage paid at Bristol, Tennessee.

Undesignated Scripture references are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Other versions are noted in the text.

CHRISTIAN MEDICAL & DENTAL ASSOCIATIONS

P.O. Box 7500, Bristol, TN 37621 888-230-2637

main@cmda.org•www.cmda.org

If you are interested in submitting articles to be considered for publication, visit www.cmda.org/publications for submission guidelines and details. Articles and letters published represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations. Acceptance of paid advertising from any source does not necessarily imply the endorsement of a particular program, product or service by CMDA. Any technical information, advice or instruction provided in this publication is for the benefit of our readers, without any guarantee with respect to results they may experience with regard to the same. Implementation of the same is the decision of the reader and at his or her own risk. CMDA cannot be responsible for any untoward results experienced as a result of following or attempting to follow said information, advice or instruction.

TrishBurgess,MD

The transformative power of physical touch in physical and spiritual healing

MikeChupp,MD,FACS A look ahead at exciting changes for CMDA’s premier podcast

J.C.BicekandNicoleHayes

CMDA’s latest ethics statement concerning the use of in vitro fertilization

Dr. John Patrick Bioethics Column Does Reading Matter?

JohnPatrick,MD

Exploring the importance of reading as a way to gain knowledge and wisdom

Connecting you with other Christ-followers to help

motivate, equip, disciple and serve within your community

Western Region: Wes Ehrhart, MA • 6204 Green Top Way • Orangevale, CA 95662 • 916-716-7826 • wes.ehrhart@cmda.org

Midwest Region: Connor Ham, MA • 2435 Lincoln Avenue • Cincinnati, OH 45231 • 419-789-3933 • connor.ham@cmda.org

Northeast Region: Tom Grosh, DMin • 1844 Cloverleaf Road • Mount Joy, PA 17552 • 609-502-2078 • northeast@cmda.org

Southern Region: Grant Hewitt, MDiv • P.O. Box 7500 • Bristol, TN 37621 • 402-677-3252 • south@cmda.org

COMMUNITY

VIE Poster Session

CMDA International Tours

Please encourage students, residents and fellows to submit an abstract for CMDA’s ninth annual VIE Poster Session which will take place during the 2026 CMDA National Convention. Presentations in areas of spirituality, ethics, education, computational biology, mathematical modeling, biophysics, biotechnology, biomedical science, medicine, surgery, dentistry, nursing and medical humanities are all welcome! Visit cmda. org/vie to submit an abstract by January 31, 2026. Cash prizes are awarded!

SPECIALTY SECTIONS

Find Connection in Your Specialty

Among all of our various ministries, CMDA’s Specialty Sections give you the unique opportunity to equip, network and fellowship with colleagues in your specific healthcare specialty. Organized by CMDA members, the sections listed below provide a wealth of resources for those who wish to connect with their colleagues.

1. Addiction Medicine Section (AMS)

2. Christian Academic Physicians and Scientists (CAPS)

3. Christian Healthcare Executive Collaborative (CHEC)

4. Christian Physical Rehab Professionals (CPRP)

5. Christian Surgeons Fellowship

6. Coalition of Christian Nurse Practitioners (CCNP)

7. Dental Hygienists Section

8. Dermatology Section

9. Emergency Medicine Section

10. Family Medicine Section (FMS)

11. Fellowship of Christian Optometrists (FCO)

12. Fellowship of Christian Physician Assistants (FCPA)

13. Fellowship of Christian Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons (FCPRS)

14. Neurology Section

15. Obstetrics and Gynecology Section

16. Psychiatry Section

17. Ultrasound Education Section (UES)

Contact ccm@cmda.org for more information about getting involved or starting a section.

You are invited to join us for a CMDA International Tour. These tours are unlike any other because each tour includes incredible Bible teaching and cultural experiences. Plus, you will meet other Christian healthcare professionals and create friendships that will last a lifetime. Tours each year are headed to New Zealand, Turkey, Israel and more. Each tour is limited to around 50 participants, and they fill up quickly. Make your reservations today by visiting cmda.org/tours.

Year-End Giving

Thank you for giving to CMDA! Because of your incredible generosity, we didn’t just meet our $640,000 matching gift challenge, we surpassed it. Together, we raised a remarkable $651,881! Every single gift, large or small, played a vital role in moving the mission of CMDA forward. Thank you for believing in this work and for standing with us. We are deeply grateful for your partnership, and we can’t wait to see what God will accomplish through this community in the year ahead.

MEMBER NEWS

In Memoriam

Our hearts are with the family members of the following CMDA members who have passed in recent months. We thank them for their support of CMDA and their service to Christ.

• Robert Caulkins, MD – Delaware, Ohio Member since 2021

• Philip C. Lewis, MD, BTh, ThM – Whittier, California Member since 1987

• Jill R. Utley, MD – Sedalia, Missouri Member since 1996

• Matthew D. Viel, MD – Holland, Michigan Member since 2013

Ministry News

Memoriam and Honorarium Gifts

Gifts received January through June 2025

• Marla Donohue in memory of Arthur and Hazel Wylie

• Michael McCoy in memory of Joyce Elaine Brautigam

• Cheryl Haswell in memory of George “Nick” Nicolas, Jr.

• Nelson Airewele in memory of Andrew Lowr

• Alex Yip in memory of Dr. Gary Kimsey

• Karen Paul Holmes in memory of George “Nick” Nicolas, Jr.

• Jerry Wizda in memory of George “Nick” Nicolas, Jr.

• Bob and Sandy Hill in memory of George “Nick” Nicolas, Jr.

• Duane and Susan Dippon in memory of George “Nick” Nicolas, Jr.

• Jennifer Allen in memory of Carl Kruse

• Richard Leggett in memory of D. Ross Campbell, MD

• Randy Laine in memory of Dr. Robert Kingsbury

• Richard and Carol Bishop in honor of Joyce Elaine Brautigam

• Jayne Yi in honor of Tae-Young Uhm

• Samantha Kim in honor of Tae-Young Uhm

• Catherine Scarbrough in honor of Dr. Cathie Scarbrough

• Barbara Bittner in honor of Barbara Bittner

• Peter Bittner in honor of Peter Bittner

• Deborah Penzak in honor of Deborah Penzak

• Michael Cotton in honor of Joshua Michael Cotton

• Chris Risma in honor of Chris Risma

• Amanda Castro Diaz in honor of Amanda Maria Castro Diaz

• Lori Geddes in honor of Lori Geddes

• Michelle Abraham in honor of Michelle Neas

• Ella Kuchmiy in honor of Ella Kuchmiy

• Paul Kane in honor of Peter Bittner

• Nadine Reinhardt in honor of Peter Bittner

• Claire Rubio in honor of Peter Bittner

• Thomas Brophy in honor of Peter Bittner

• Mary Hinckley in honor of Mary D. “Ramie” Hinckley

• Nicholas Rabinowitz in honor of Lauren Odle

• Southwestern Medical Clinic Foundation in honor of Thomas Althaus, SWMC Foundation Scholarship Recipient

• Christina Hancock in honor of Christina Hancock

• Ruth DeFoster in honor of CMDA Rochester Minnesota

• Beatriz Teachout in honor of Beatriz Teachout

• Rebecca Bidinotto in honor of Rebecca Bidinotto

• Israel Mendez in honor of Thomas Althaus

• Jacalyn Behrends in honor of Lauren Odle

• Elaine Stricklin in honor of Lauren Odle

• Jerome Wind in honor of Peter Bittner

• Christopher Olsen in honor of Peter Bittner

• Jim Bulger in honor of Peter Bittner

• Erin Hernick in honor of Lauren Odle

• Lelane Alvarico in honor of Lelane Alvarico

• George Kane in honor of Peter Bittner

• Joseph Gleason in honor of Peter Bittner

• David Sullivan in honor of Peter Bittner

• John Gattie in honor of Peter Bittner

• Patrick Murphy in honor of Peter Bittner

• Erik Iverson in honor of Peter Bittner

• Bradford Eliott in honor of Peter Bittner

• Beck Ellingson in honor of Lauren Odle

• Sandra Oslund in honor of Lauren Odle

• Rachel Kroll in honor of Lauren Odle

• Heidi Keil in honor of Lauren Odle

• James Kiraly in honor of Lem Howard

• Rick Holden in honor of Dr. Suzanne and Amanda

• Al and Chris Scarbrough in honor of Dr. Cathie Scarbrough

• Patricia Francis in honor of Dr. Patti Francis

• Joanna Stacey in honor of Joanna Stacey

• Joanna Stacey in honor of Kendall Stacey

• Casandra Champion in honor of Lauren Odle

• Jill Holcomb in honor of Jill Holcomb

• Laurel Williston in honor of Ella Kuchmiy

• Karis Boldt in honor of Lauren Odle

• Christina Hancock in honor of Christina Hancock

• Febin Johnson in honor of Ella Guatemala WPDC

• Michelle Neas in honor of Michelle Neas

• David Carlson in honor of Susanne McIntosh

• Janice Norton in honor of Susanne McIntosh

• Suzanne Risma in honor Chris Risma

• Linda Hanson in honor of Lori A. Geddes

• Karen Goularte in honor of Dr. Suzanne McIntosh

• Eunice Young in honor of Eunice Young

• Eunice Young in honor Lelane Alvarico

• Lauren Odle in honor of Lauren H. Odle

• Berenis Ruiz in honor of Berenis Ruiz

• Bruce Osvold in honor of Lori Geddes, OD

For more information about honorarium and memoriam gifts, please contact stewardship@cmda.org.

RESOURCES

Faith in Healthcare:

The CMDA Matters

Podcast

Are you listening to CMDA’s podcast with CEO Dr. Mike Chupp? Faith in Healthcare: The CMDA Matters Podcast, formerly known as CMDA Matters, is the premier audio resource for Christian healthcare professionals. This popular weekly podcast shares powerful stories and explores the issues that matter most to you, along with the latest news from CMDA and healthcare. A new episode is released each Thursday, and interview topics include bioethics, healthcare missions, financial stewardship, marriage, family, public policy updates and much more. Plus, you’ll get recommendations for new books, conferences and other resources designed to help you as a Christian in healthcare. Listen to Faith in Healthcare: The CMDA Matters on your smartphone, your computer, your tablet…wherever you are and whenever you want. For more information, visit cmda.org/cmdamatters.

Standing Strong in Training

As the latest addition to CMDA’s long list of resources for our members, Standing Strong in Training is an on-demand video series that helps healthcare students and residents stand up against the cultural pressures facing Christians within healthcare today. The curriculum’s seven modules are designed for group settings, allowing attendees to solidify their foundational worldview beliefs regarding important issues, such as the beginning of life, end of life and biblical sexuality. Each module also offers ideas of how to winsomely defend biblical values and positively interact with others in developing their worldview beliefs. For more information and to access this study, visit cmda.org/standingstrong.

Opioid Learning Center Course

CMDA is excited to announce an opioid and substance use disorder and treatment course available in the CMDA Learning Center. The 2023 MATE Act requires prescribers to complete at least eight hours of continuing education on substance use disorder assessment and treatment before their new DEA renewal. This course in the Learning Center includes four modules that satisfy this requirement for most U.S.-based prescribers. Plus, it is a one-of-a-kind, whole-person addiction course, which integrates faith and science in approaching and treating addiction. And even better, it is FREE for CMDA members! For more information, visit cmda.org/learning

The Voice of Advocacy

Included in CMDA’s network of podcasts is The Voice of Advocacy with Vice President of Bioethics and Public Policy Brick Lantz, MD. This monthly podcast features special guests and members of the Advocacy team. Listen to learn more about Advocacy’s grassroots efforts at the state and federal level, legal and legislative victories and how CMDA members can be involved in achieving justice for the vulnerable. To listen to the latest episode, visit cmda.org/ advocacy

Legal Assistance for CMDA Members

As a result of a partnership between CMDA and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), we offer free legal consultations for CMDA members who may be experiencing conscience freedom issues in the workplace. Exclusively available to CMDA members, this program is designed to serve members who feel they are being discriminated against in the workplace due to their firmly held moral and religious beliefs. We believe conscience freedoms have profound ethical and religious importance within the healthcare profession, and we encourage colleagues, institutions and governments to respect these freedoms. If you feel your conscience freedoms are at risk, please visit cmda.org/legal.

CMDA Learning Center

The CMDA Learning Center offers complimentary continuing education courses for CMDA members. This online resource is continuing to grow with new courses to help you in your practice as a Christian healthcare professional. All continuing education courses are available at NO COST to CMDA members. For more information and to access the CMDA Learning Center, visit cmda.org/learning

CMDA Go App

Have you downloaded CMDA Go yet? Our mobile app, CMDA Go, is available to download, so visit your device’s app store to download it today. In the CMDA Go app, you can set up your personal CMDA profile, check out the latest news from CMDA, listen to CMDA podcasts, renew your membership, make your dues payments, access a variety of downloadable resources, interact with other members through the discussion forms and join group chats. For more information, visit cmda.org/app.

Ministry News

Upcoming Events

Dates and locations are subject to change. For a full list of upcoming CMDA events, visit cmda.org/events.

2025 Midwest Fall Conference

September 26-28, 2025 • Muskegon, Michigan

501 Foundations for Coaching

September 30-November 4, 2025 • Virtual

Mentoring With A Coach Approach – A Framework That Fosters Well-Being

October 2-30, 2025 • Virtual

2025 Perkins Justice Pilgrimage

October 8-12, 2025 • Jackson, Mississippi

Reformation & Luther Tour 2025

October 11-23, 2025 • Germany, Prague, Switzerland and France

Remedy25 West: Healthcare on Mission

October 17, 2025 • Riverside, California

Fellowship of Christian Optometrists (FCO) Fall Retreat

October 17-19, 2025 • Nashville, Indiana

Northeast Regional Retreat

October 24-26, 2025 • North East, Maryland

Pre-field Orientation for New Healthcare Missionaries

November 3-6, 2025 • Louisville, Kentucky

Global Missions Health Conference

November 6-8, 2025 • Louisville, Kentucky

Remedy Chicago

January 10, 2026 • Oak Park, Illinois

2026 West Coast Winter Conference

January 15-18, 2026 • Cannon Beach, Oregon

Biblical Egypt Tour

January 13-20, 2026 • Egypt

2026 CMDA National Convention

April 23-26, 2026 • Loveland, Colorado

18th ICMDA World Congress

June 30-July 5, 2026 • South Korea

A Healing Touch

Recently, I traveled to India on a new Global Health Outreach (GHO) medical and dental mission trip. On this trip, as with most, we served incredibly poor communities—those in the lower hierarchy of the caste system. We offered free healthcare, gave our patients medicine when needed and prayed with them. Very few declined prayers, even though 90 percent of India is Hindu. It was a joy to serve those in need. It was a blessing to follow Jesus to this area of the world. It gives you the sense you are fellowshipping with Jesus when caring for who He cares for.

As we closed out our week of clinic, the president of the ministry admired the work we had done. They have hosted small teams of one or two physicians before, but never a whole team, and never a team that would simply give them medicine. He also noticed the most remarkable thing about our team: we touched our patients. When we examined, cared for and prayed with them, we touched them. He had never seen this type of care before. Even the local physicians will not touch the patients, “because they are in a lower caste,” he said. I was surprised at this discovery, as it comes so natural to us as we reach out to serve in the mighty name of Jesus. The simple act of touch can begin to transform a life.

Physical touch was used to heal, love and show compassion for people. It all started “in the beginning.” In Genesis, God spoke heaven and earth into existence, and He saw that it was good. He did not simply speak humankind into existence, though, did He? No, He said, “Let Us make man in Our image…” (Genesis 1:26, NASB 1995). He made us. He further described this when He made Adam: “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7, NASB 1995). It makes one picture Him scooping dust up with His hands and molding it like we would a piece of clay, doesn’t it? It’s not just speaking, but it’s a more intimate touch.

lowed touch to help Thomas believe: “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing’” (John 20:27, NASB 1995). Our God used touch to communicate love in powerful ways and to symbolize an intimacy of the divine creator with His creation, to let us know we belonged to Him. We are loved by Him.

The simple act of touch can begin to transform a life.

In the Scriptures, we see numerous examples of Jesus using touch to demonstrate His message to humankind and to love us. He gathered children into His arms, restored health by a touch and healed lepers, the blind and the lame. He even al-

There are numerous examples of people in the Bible who feel lost, forgotten and lonely. Can you relate? I would venture to say we all have at one time or another. One prominent example was the hemorrhaging woman. How lonely she must have felt being unclean for 12 years. Jesus did not even reach out and touch her. She touched Him—but not even Him, but the fringe of His cloak. She perceived that she was instantly healed. Jesus felt the power leave Him and turned to inquire as to who had touched His garment. Can you imagine how terrified she must have been to be called out so publicly? How ashamed she must have felt knowing she was not even supposed to be near anyone in her uncleanness. Yet, how did Jesus respond to her? He responded with intimacy. He called her “daughter” to imply a loving care for

her, and told her, “…your faith has made you well…” (Mark 5:34, NASB 1995) and instructed her to go in peace and be healed from her affliction. A simple touch transformed her life.

Traveling on mission fields around the world, even today, we see several women concerned with “female issues.” This is a humbling complaint to present to a stranger, even if that stranger is a physician. It is embarrassing! Often, women speak with me about concerns of infertility and their longing to have a child. Frequently, it includes the concern that their husbands will leave them for another woman who can give them a child. I think of a woman named Sarah who suffered similar distress thousands of years ago and got herself in trouble trying to “help God out” with her predicament. This is much too complex a problem to address on a short-term mission trip, yet I have discovered I can help. I give medical advice and discuss the need for further testing, knowing they most likely cannot afford it. I can also listen with compassion, and I can lay my hands on them and present their concerns to the very throne of His grace. His daughter is hurting and in need. Much like the hemorrhaging woman’s faith made her well, Jesus can reach down and touch through His Holy Spirit as well. I believe this is true. I also have opportunity to address her faith or beliefs. This was very much at the center of healing the hemorrhaging woman, and it can be for our patients today. He may choose not to heal, but He will walk with us through our suffering.

We also read of the account of Jesus encountering a man blind from birth. It was commonly believed a physical flaw such

as this would be the result of sin. Jesus explained to His disciples that sin was not the reason, but it was so the works of God might be displayed in Him. Jesus looked upon this man’s suffering and chose to heal him. He chose to use touch to heal him: “…He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing” (John 9:6-7, NASB 1995). Jesus chose to use touch to perform miracles. He didn’t have to, of course. He simply commanded Lazarus to “come forth” (John 11). I believe His touch was His love offering. He healed, yes of course, but He did so in a way that told the man He loved and cared for him. One on one, a blind man and Jesus. In doing so, He forged a relationship with this man and transformed his life.

A simple touch transformed her life.

Let’s look at a leper. This was another person rejected by society because he was unclean. He had to live outside of town and away from his friends and family. Jesus was not afraid of his uncleanness: “And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ And immediately his leprosy was

cleansed” (Matthew 8:2-3, NASB 1995). What joy! He wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, but who could hold this in? I would think of David leaping and dancing before the Lord. A time and purpose to celebrate!

I admit it. There have been times on the mission field I wish I could heal that way, with just the will for someone to be well and a simple touch. It would be amazing, wouldn’t it? Although I also acknowledge it would likely not be long before I am telling others, “Look what I have done.” All while keeping my head bowed trying to appear humble, of course. Yes, I admit there is a bit of a Pharisee in me, much as I would like to think this isn’t true. It is hard to not want to take credit for good works. Since I am being honest, there have been times when I wanted to pray bold prayers of miraculous healing. Call on Jesus to heal my patient before our very eyes. But I hesitate. Because what if God chooses not to heal on my emotional whim? How will this patient ever come to know Jesus as our one true God? Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief! I find myself able to identify with the daddy who has a demon possessed son and asked Jesus “… But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” (Mark 9:22b, NASB 1995).

Jesus did leave His disciples with some final instructions before He ascended to heaven. The last words Jesus spoke as man on earth were, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NASB 1995). This was His goodbye, telling them to remember what He taught. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they were able to continue His work and His healing. We can also read where Peter and John were going up to the temple while a man lame from birth was begging at the temple gait: “But Peter said, ‘I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!’ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God” (Acts 3:6-8, NASB 1995). Now that’s what I would expect. What a joy!

Yes, Jesus healed the multitudes! We read in Scripture, “While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them” (Luke 4:40, NASB 1995). He used His power to heal by touch to capture His audience with an even greater message. “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23, NASB 1995). His touch healed people, but that was not His main goal. He wasn’t sent here to heal. He was sent to proclaim the kingdom of God. It just looked different than what people had imagined when ancient Scriptures foretold of someone to

come who would rescue His people: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on his shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, NASB 1995).

I could go on and share numerous examples of Jesus’ miraculous healing touch. There are even examples of Him raising the dead—not just healing a disease or sickness, but bringing the dead back to life. Do you remember where Jesus was heading when He had His divine encounter with the hemorrhaging woman? A synagogue official had come and bowed down before Him, telling Him his daughter had died. But he had faith! He asked Jesus to heal his daughter. “…but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live” (Matthew 9:18, NASB 1995). Jesus followed him. His disciples did too. On His arrival, the professional mourners were already hard at work: “But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up” (Matthew 9:25, NASB 1995). News spread throughout the land. I bet so! That momma and daddy couldn’t hold that in. His healing ministry was quite effective in

getting his message out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2, NASB 1995).

His message transformed the world. He set a whole new paradigm, one that cared for the poor and destitute, the brokenhearted and those normally neglected by society. It wasn’t just healing that impacted people by His touch, as it also was the love expressed through His touch. I can imagine the care and compassion as one looked in His eyes too. With my experiences on the mission field, I have witnessed this myself. As I look upon the poor, not with pity but with compassion, especially the poor and lost, my heart clenches and I want so badly for them to believe the message we bring. Sure, I want to relieve the pain and suffering of a fellow man, but I want to bring them to a healing faith even more. Eternal healing.

An entire book has been written about love languages.1 Touch is one of those love languages. That was the love language of our Jesus. He looked upon suffering people with compassion and touched them when no one else would. He healed them; He blessed them even. Jesus was often criticized for spending time with the “wrong people.” As He walked throughout Galilee, “And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them” (Mark 10:13, NASB 1995). How did Jesus respond? He was indignant! He

told them, “...Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them…And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them” (Mark 10:14,16, NASB 1995). Oh, yes! Our Jesus loves the little children, and out of love He did not just lay His hands on them but took them in His arms and blessed them. Will you permit me to extrapolate on this? We are the children of God. He loves us and does not just lay His hands upon us. When we are hurting, sick, frightened or crying out to our Jesus, He will fold us in His arms and bless us with His presence in a way no other can. Even today, through the power of His Holy Spirit, Jesus heals our broken hearts and, when He chooses, our bodies.

God has opened the door into the Middle East for GHO. I have served in various countries in the 10:40 Window numerous times. The Lord has given me a heart to reach the Muslim population. Working with them is such a joy. Once, as I served Syrian refugees, a woman came to our clinic every day we were there. She did not ask to see the doctor. She sat in our waiting area and observed. Finally, on the last day of our clinic, she went up to one of our interpreters and asked, “Why are they doing this?” This interpreter has worked with GHO numerous times and is now also a dear friend of mine. Her answer was simple, “Jesus.” She went on to explain how we are followers of Jesus and He calls us to love our brother and sisters. “We do this by trying to help you,” she told her. This woman pointed out our differences. She said, “You people are so kind. You smile at us. You touch us and are friendly to us. You even serve us tea. My people don’t do that!” We had her speak with another of our interpreters, a young man just out of university who shared his conversion testimony. We couldn’t understand what he was saying, but it was complete with tears and hands raised praising God. After he finished, this woman turned to our interpreter and said she would like to receive Jesus as her Savior too. Praise God!

I was serving in a different area in the Middle East, also with refugees from Syria as well as multiple other countries including Iran, Iraq and Pakistan. Early in the day I was managing clinic flow, since here we could not allow long lines of patients waiting outside to attract attention. I had to make sure patient flow was limiting those waiting to come inside our clinic site. I walked among the small waiting area watching for our healthcare professionals who were ready for the next patient. I could not speak to them, but I was softly singing our praise and worship song from that morning, “Spirit of the Living God,” all the while smiling at them, interacting with the children, playing a bit with them and bringing water to the elderly who had been waiting for a while. I had established a relationship with the mommas in that time. Love on a child and their momma will love you too! I began to play follow the leader with the children, getting sillier with the gestures they were having to mimic. We were all laughing! It was so fun! As the clinic day went on, they wanted to get pictures of their children with me. The mommas even wanted their picture with me. This is not

something Muslim refugees would normally do. As the day progressed and flow was going well, I began seeing patients also. I love babies and always hold them in my arms as I examine them. These mommas would allow me to pray over them and their children. Other mommas would see this and, even if I didn’t take care of them, come over and ask me to hold their babies and pray for them. The Spirit of our Living God had indeed fallen fresh on them! What a blessing to bring the love of Christ to His children who do not know Him. There was no miraculous healing from my touch. Yet, my touch was seen as a love offering to them and, as is always in my prayers, my love offering to my Jesus. I pray it be so!

Physical touch was and is used to heal, love and show compassion for people. This will never change. Our calling as healthcare professionals is to make our Jesus known through our service to Him as we administer healthcare to all He puts in our path, both at home and internationally. Where our feet are is where our mission is. May you be blessed as you bless others in the name of Jesus Christ. Remember, Jesus loves you!

Endnotes

1 Chapman, G. (2015). The Five Love Languages. Northfield Publishing.

Trish Burgess, MD, is the Director of Global Health Outreach (GHO), a short-term missions ministry of Christian Medical & Dental Associations. Dr. Burgess attended the University of Georgia, achieving a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Trish then worked as a firefighter in Athens, Georgia for two years prior to starting medical school at the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her residency in emergency medicine at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri. As an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Burgess primarily practiced in Athens, Georgia for 23 years and traveled on short-term mission trips with GHO for 10 years before leaving her clinical practice to become the Director of GHO. She has written and published several articles and two books called God Sightings and Healthcare Mission: Devotions for Your Journey, and she speaks about her experiences in missions and human trafficking. In addition, Dr. Burgess has served on CMDA’s Commission on Human Trafficking. Trish has traveled the world on short-term mission trips with GHO. Her heart and passion are to serve Jesus through healthcare missions and to help mentor the next generation of healthcare professionals.

GET INVOLVED

GHO is dedicated to providing healthcare while spreading the gospel by sending medical, dental and surgical teams around the world. GHO welcomes all varieties of healthcare professionals, undergraduate students, graduate school students and non-healthcare servants. To learn more about how you can participate, visit cmda.org/gho.

LEARN MORE

FaithinHealthcare:TheCMDAMattersPodcast, formerly known as CMDA Matters, is the premier audio resource for Christian healthcare professionals. This popular weekly podcast shares powerful stories and explores the issues that matter most to you, along with the latest news from CMDA and healthcare. To learn more about this weekly podcast, visit cmda.org/cmdamattersor listen on your preferred platform.

Adrienne Abrenica, DNP

Those words from a listener stayed with me. Adrienne is not new to the faith or her profession; in fact, she’s a seasoned nurse practitioner. What followed was more than encouragement, it was a series of God-led connections. After reaching out, she spoke with Jennifer, received guidance and began involving her church’s outreach ministry while connecting with other healthcare professionals. That step of faith ultimately led to a new role: serving as a Christian healthcare professional at homeless shelters and on a mobile health van, sharing the love and compassion of Christ in tangible ways.

For me, it was a powerful reminder: this podcast isn’t just a project, and it’s becoming a lifeline of encouragement, calling and renewal.

The CMDA Matters podcast is continually building on its foundation and reaching even more hearts, all over the globe. It’s a space where Christian healthcare professionals can be recharged and strengthened through stories and topics that educate, inspire, challenge and draw us back to Christ, equipping us both professionally and spiritually.

As we step into this next season, I’m excited to share the motivation behind some recent changes, what you can look forward to in future episodes and how you can journey with us.

A New Name for a Deeper Calling

We’ve renamed the weekly program to Faith in Healthcare: The CMDA Matters Podcast, because that’s what it is at its core: conversations at the intersection of faith and healthcare.

This change reflects a growing vision—one that builds on the strong foundation of our CMDA members and listeners, while extending an invitation to our fellow Christian healthcare professionals everywhere, along with their friends and families, to join us in this meaningful journey.

Our goal is simple: to keep reminding Christian healthcare professionals their faith doesn’t just belong in their hearts and heads, but it belongs in every patient, staff and colleague interaction, as well as every ethical decision and how they educate and equip themselves.

As this community grows, our prayer is that more believers will be strengthened, encouraged and inspired to live out their faith with boldness wherever God has placed them, and that several will choose to walk alongside us by becoming part of the CMDA family because we are stronger together.

New Format, New Tools

To serve more people and engage more deeply, we’ve expanded the format of the podcast. Video episodes are now available on YouTube and cmda.org. New, dedicated social media channels feature short-form clips, quotes and conversations from podcast episodes. There are more amazing guests and themes to speak to the real tensions our members face, covering topics like conscious freedom, burnout, marriage, missions, public faith and more. Additionally, improved production makes listening and sharing even easier!

These tools aren’t just for convenience, they’re for connection. Whether you’re listening on your commute or sharing an episode with a colleague, our prayer is that you feel supported and encouraged every single week! “I was intrigued by the episode on street medicine with Jennifer Zamora. I had an interest in street medicine myself but was struggling to figure out how to start. Listening to the episode gave me hope that I could begin my own ministry. I am forever grateful for the connections made in the beginning, by way of the podcast and CMDA, that started the cascade of events that led me to where I am today.”

It’s a space where Christian healthcare professionals can be recharged and strengthened through stories and topics that educate, inspire, challenge and draw us back to Christ, equipping us both professionally and spiritually.

Top Five Episodes from the Last Year

To share the essence of Faith in Healthcare: The CMDA Matters Podcast, here are five episodes that especially resonate with our audience and reflect the heart of the show.

Episode: “The Abortion Pill Harms Women: EPPC Experts Analyze Serious Adverse Events”

Guests: Ryan T. Anderson, PhD, and Jamie Bryan Hall

Theme: A data-driven look at the real risks of mifepristone and the urgent need for transparency in women’s healthcare.

Key Quote: “The FDA claims that less than half a percent of women who take mifepristone experience a serious adverse event...what we actually found was that 10.93 percent of women experienced a serious adverse event... things like infection, sepsis, hemorrhaging, the requirement for blood transfusions, hospitalizations, ER visits and so on down the list.”

Why It Matters: This conversation equips healthcare professionals to defend both women and preborn life by using critical data and exposing that real-world adverse events from mifepristone occur 22 times more often than FDA-reported rates, revealing the urgent need for truth and informed care.

1 2 3 4

Episode: “Responding to the Call: Emergency Medicine and Global Missions among the Most Unreached”

Guest: Dr. K

Theme: Exploring emergency medicine as a gateway to global missions and spiritual impact among the unreached.

Key Quote: “But more than all this trauma, these pressures, these anxieties and these stresses, is how do we encourage each other to fall more in love with Jesus? That’s the premise of this group...to display the heart of Christ for them, with them.”

Why It Matters: This episode calls Christians to see their training as a divine opportunity to bring healing, hope and the love of Christ to those in the greatest need, both physically and spiritually.

Episode: “Wrongly Terminated for Speaking Truth: Dr. Allan Josephson on the Science of Gender Dysphoria”

Guest: Dr. Allan Josephson

Theme: A courageous stand for evidence-based care, academic freedom and the protection of vulnerable children amid growing cultural pressures.

Key Quote: “Basically people were saying on the other side that how you felt determined your gender, your sex. So, it was not a fact of nature, it was how you felt. And I couldn’t believe that they were saying this, but they were. And the business about neglecting developmental needs, that ties into the issue of anxiety. Children that are prepared to meet developmental needs aren’t anxious. And as parents, we prepare them to learn how to grow up, if you will. But this wasn’t happening with transgender ideology.”

Why It Matters: Dr. Josephson’s story reminds us defending children with both scientific integrity and Christ-like truth and compassion may come at a cost, but it’s a calling worth answering.

Episode: “USAID in Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities for Global Healthcare”

Guests: Echo VanderWal and Dr. Monique Chireau Wubbenhorst

Theme: A real-time look at how sudden shifts in U.S. foreign aid are affecting healthcare for the most vulnerable and how Christians in healthcare can respond.

Key Quote: “We don’t need some of the things maybe that were being provided for, but we do need to continue to put antiretrovirals and TB medications into the hands of people whose lives depend on it…I do believe it’s one of the reasons that God has blessed our nation. But obviously, compassion comes with accountability.”

Why It Matters: This episode is a call to discernment and action, urging healthcare professionals to advocate for the vulnerable with both wisdom and compassion.

Episode: “Called to Save Lives: Dr. Greg Sund on Faith, Anesthesia and Surgical Safety in Africa”

Guest: Dr. Greg Sund

A Final Word from My Heart

This podcast exists because you matter as a Christian who has decided to please God as a healthcare professional, and the people you serve—your patients—matter deeply to God. Through Faith in Healthcare, we’re here to support CMDA’s mission: bringing the hope and healing of Christ to the world through faithful believers in healthcare.

Theme: Advancing anesthesia care and equipping the next generation of Christian anesthesia professionals through global missions, discipleship and surgical training in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Key Quote: “Over time, I really became convicted that if we were going to invest somewhere long-term, that I shouldn’t just be going somewhere and doing anesthesia, but I should be teaching and training and equipping others— and really working to replace myself.”

5

Why It Matters: Dr. Sund’s story reveals how God can use healthcare professionals to transform healthcare systems, disciple future leaders and bring compassionate, Christ-centered care to underserved communities—one surgery, one student and one step of obedience at a time.

What’s Coming Next

We’re excited about the conversations ahead, including episodes on:

• Fighting for Life and Equipping Believers to Defend the Preborn

• Living Boldly for Christ in Science and Healthcare

• Global Missions and Stories from Healthcare Professionals Serving Around the World

• Mentorship and Discipleship: Investing in the Next Generation

• Faith in Healthcare: Christian Ethics in a Secular Age

How to Listen, Follow and Share

We’d love for you to be part of this journey with us. Here’s how:

• Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.

• Watch video episodes on YouTube or cmda.org.

• Follow us on social media: Instagram, Facebook and X.

• Use the podcast in your CMDA chapter, small group or mentoring relationships.

• Recommend an episode to a colleague, student or pastor.

Whether you’re just beginning medical, dental or other graduate healthcare training program or nearing retirement, whether you serve in a bustling hospital or a remote village clinic, your calling is sacred. In these challenging times, we all need reminders we’re not alone. God is still at work, and He is still with us.

That’s why Faith in Healthcare exists: to strengthen your heart, equip your mind and remind you that your work matters—not just professionally, but eternally.

Let’s keep pressing on, together.

Mike Chupp, MD, FACS, grew up in the suburbs of Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a pre-medical degree in chemistry from Taylor University in 1984 and then graduated as an AOA scholar with his medical degree from Indiana University in 1988. He completed a five-year general surgery residency at Methodist Hospital in 1993. From 1993 to 2016, Mike enjoyed nearly seven years of private general surgery practice as a missionary member of the Surgical Department of Southwestern Medical Clinic (a large Christian multi-specialty group) and Lakeland Regional Health System in St. Joseph, Michigan. Mike has been married to Pam for 34 years and they have four adult children and two grandchildren. In 2016, Mike completed 20 years of service as a career missionary with World Gospel Mission (WGM), serving at Tenwek Mission Hospital in Kenya. Dr. Chupp was appointed CEO by the CMDA Board of Trustees in September 2019, as Dr. David Stevens’ successor. With God’s help, CMDA has continued to advance and thrive under Dr. Chupp’s leadership, pursuing the vision of “Bringing the hope and healing of Christ to the world through healthcare professionals.”

w w w . l u k e s o c i e t y . o r g

Introduction to U.S. v. Skrmetti and CMDA’s Involvement

In February 2023, the state of Tennessee passed Senate Bill 1, prohibiting the use of “medical procedures for the purpose of enabling a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor’s sex or treating purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minor’s sex and asserted identities.”1 As this is an affront to transgender ideology, the law was immediately challenged, initially by three families with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and then later by the Biden Administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ). The U.S. Department of Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene, and in December 2024, the case was heard before the Court. The question before the Court was ultimately whether the Tennessee law was sex-based and therefore required heightened scrutiny under the U.S. Constitution’s 14th amendment equal protection clause.2

On June 18, 2025, in a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, the Court ruled in U.S. v. Skrmetti3 that the Tennessee law did not violate the equal protection clause. Therefore, it upheld Senate Bill 1, allowing the state to protect minors from harmful and life-altering drugs and surgeries. This will go down as a landmark decision in the United States.

The outcome of this case was of unique interest for CMDA as we are naturally aligned with the Tennessee law—we are

committed to protecting vulnerable children from transgenderism—and so submitted an amicus brief in support of Tennessee, arguing that sound medical ethics demand an end to the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender reassignment surgeries in children and adolescents suffering with gender dysphoria.

What is Praiseworthy About This Decision

The fact that Tennessee was vindicated and can take action to protect children from this radical ideology in law is great news. A glimmer of common sense seems to have shown through, which is something several of us had feared may never come as the culture seemed to be giving way to the ideology and decisions like Bostock v. Clayton County4 made concessions for in law. This decision does not do everything to change the tide of culture, but it may be a catalyst, with revelations like the leaks exposing World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s (WPATH) fraud,5 the current Administration’s Executive Orders protecting girls’ sports6 and reports like the Cass Review as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Review of Evidence and Best Practices for Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria.7 All these examples indicate these ideological treatments are both flawed and dangerous.

The decision is no doubt an important win against those bent on shutting down debate on the issue and imposing a revolu-

tionary will. This decision allows for states like Tennessee to pass common sense laws that push back against a dangerous ideology that harms children and society.

What is Left to Be Desired by the Decision

Regrettably, the decision was down ideological lines, so a sound consensus on the issue remains. In evaluating the sex discrimination argument, the majority took what could be described as the traditional view, in which an understanding of the human person is rooted in science, common experience and reason. We also understand this to be the theological anthropological view, which aligns with God’s good design for our bodies.

Alternatively, the dissent took the transgender view, where the body is subordinate to the mind and the idea of the human person is rooted in feelings and stereotypes. This dissenting view not only misunderstands, if not dismisses, our embodied nature, but it also turns the practice of medicine into something in service of the patient’s fallen will and the healthcare professional into a mere technician satisfying subjective desires. It’s what Dr. Farr Curlin calls the “Provider of Services Model.”8

The decision allows for Tennessee to pass laws to protect vulnerable children, but it does not acknowledge medicine is for protecting a patient’s health and returning their mind and body

to well-working form. It is lamentable the majority decision says almost nothing about creation order or biology and that boys cannot be girls and vice versa, and it’s worse that the dissenting opinion believes medicine is there to satisfy our fallen desires.

The majority decision speaks to the case, that Tennessee’s law does not violate the 14th Amendment, but there is no clear denunciation that the sex-rejecting procedures the plaintiffs seek to defend are in the end mutilating and sterilizing emotionally troubled youth. This lack of moral clarity is consistent with the likes of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in that the justices determined Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided, but they said nothing about the significance of life in the womb. Whether or not it is their duty, they said nothing in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization or U.S. v. Skrmetti of the moral substance. The U.S. Constitution may not define man and woman and so have nothing to say about transgenderism, but it said nothing of marriage in Loving v. Virginia. 9 The point being, we can, and must, make sound moral judgments.

Because the justices chose not to address the more fundamental questions about the human person, the transgender issue will likely resurface in the Court again before long. It also means we must continue to advocate for sound legislation and policy at the state and federal levels, as well as in the influential medical associations.

What It Means for CMDA’s Advocacy Work

At the time this article is written, 27 states have passed some sort of protection for vulnerable children struggling with gender dysphoria—this is an encouragement given the state of our politics today. Unfortunately, there are then 23 states that either say nothing about such practices or have elected to become some sort of sanctuary for transgenderism. Of course, organizations like the ACLU have and will continue to challenge some of these state bans, so we hope this ruling validates those bans and means they are not likely to be removed. Since we are dedicated to protecting vulnerable children from transgenderism, we will continue to work with our partners across the country and with state legislators to push for protections in law.

We also have reason to be encouraged by activity at the federal level. During his March 4, 2025 speech to the Joint Session of Congress, President Donald Trump expressed his and his Administration’s desire to see Congress pass a bill to permanently ban and criminalize those who perform sex-rejecting procedures on minors, and to also protect women’s and girls’ sports from men who identify as female. While House Resolution 1/ Senate Bill 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, originally included language that prohibited Medicaid funds covering cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers that was lamentably stripped for procedural reasons, there does indeed seem to be some good news coming from Washington, D.C.

ticipate in these morally illicit procedures, and their freedom to abstain from participating in and speak out against these procedures will be a testament to truly good medicine and the goodness of the human body.

In Conclusion

The U.S. v. Skrmetti Supreme Court decision is a significant victory in protecting God’s image bearers from an evil and flawed ideology that gets biology and healthcare wrong. However, as there is yet consensus among the states nor a bill awaiting the President’s signature, there remains the necessity to push for robust conscience protections either at the state level with bills like Alliance Defending Freedom’s Medical Ethics Defense (MED) Act10 or by asking Congress to pass the Conscience Protection Act.

Such protections in law remain crucial because, while sound medical ethics demand an end to the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and so-called gender reassignment surgeries in youth suffering with gender dysphoria (which themselves cause severe physical, mental, emotional and medical harm), organizations are still fighting for the proliferation of these procedures. Healthcare professionals must not be forced to par-

Again, we are grateful the U.S. Supreme Court saw the legitimacy of Tennessee’s actions and upheld SB 1. Children across this country will be protected as a result of their decision. However, given the ruling does not take up the issue of a flawed anthropology and much confusion still exists in our culture, there remains much for CMDA and our members to do.

Some new laws will pass, and we pray others will change to protect vulnerable children and impact the culture, but several will remain permissive and even celebratory of transgenderism until the broader culture changes. This is where Christian healthcare professionals have the unique and powerful gift of a proper anthropology and ethical medicine on their side. They can show with evidence, where the mere “consensus” of certain major medical organizations like American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) cannot, that biology cannot and should not be changed, and then can point to the Creator for why this is. In this sense, healthcare professionals have an enviable societal position in their ability to impact the world and protect the vulnerable in how they care and guide. They are professionals in the true and original sense.

What Christian healthcare professionals can articulate is that the science is abundantly clear; these sex-rejecting procedures are detrimental to the developing human body—but even so, they can underscore how we should not go against God’s design, for this only stands to cause us harm and does not help anyone. The culture may say we should “transition,” but what we do will be a testament to our faith and must be that which brings the most glory and honor to God.

Endnotes

1 https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/113/Bill/SB0001.pdf

2 https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-14/

³ https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-477_2cp3.pdf

⁴ https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/17-1618_hfci.pdf

⁵ https://oversight.house.gov/release/mcclain-probes-bidenadministrations-influence-on-removal-of-age-minimums-forgender-transition-procedures/

⁶ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/ keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/

⁷ https://opa.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/gender-dysphoriareport.pdf

⁸ The Way of Medicine. Curlin. (2021) University of Notre Dame Press.

⁹ https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/388/1/

10 https://adflegal.org/article/med-act-why-we-must-preserve-rightsconscience-medical-professionals/

J.C. Bicek serves as Director of State Public Policy for CMDA.

Nicole Hayes serves as Director of Federal Public Policy for CMDA to help advance the life-affirming, biblical principles of CMDA ethical positions through federal-level legislative advocacy. Nicole is the founder of Voices Against the Grain, a bold counter-culture media and teaching ministry established in 2013 to help audiences successfully navigate societal issues through the Word of God. Nicole has more than 15 years’ experience as a public relations professional who has provided strategic communications and media relations to elevate educational, health, racial and social justice issues for small business, government and non-profit clients, such as the NAACP, the Office of the Chief of Army Public Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Nicole has been a Voices contributor for The Christian Post and a contributing author to the book The Right to Believe: The New Struggle for Religious Liberty in America. Nicole received her bachelor of arts in broadcast journalism from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas and her master of public administration from Regent University in Virginia Beach.

GET INVOLVED

If you would like to get involved in our advocacy work on this and other issues, please contact us at advocacy@cmda.org. To keep up with the latest updates from CMDA’s Advocacy team, by listening to TheVoiceofAdvocacy podcast or reading TheAdvocacyReport enewsletter, visit cmda.org/advocacy.

CMDA Ethics Statement

IN VITRO FERTILIZATION

A. INTRODUCTION

In vitro fertilization (IVF) came into medical practice in 1978 with Louise Brown hailed as the world’s first “test tube baby.” Since then, it has become only one type of a growing array of artificial and assistive reproductive technologies (ART) to treat infertility.

Globally, infertility affects as many as 1 in 6 people in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).1 Typically defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after one year of unprotected intercourse, infertility often results in psychological, emotional, relational, and spiritual anguish.

Christian theological ethics provide a helpful framework for assessing the morality of assisted reproductive technologies, including IVF.

The Christian Medical & Dental Associations is on record as approving the following affirmations:

1. Since human life begins at fertilization, the full moral worth afforded to every human being is equally afforded from fertilization onward throughout development. Vague notions of “personhood” or social utility have no place in decisions regarding the worth, dignity, or rights of any human being.

2. Because all human beings derive their inherent worth and the right to life from being made in the image of God, standing in relation to God as their personal Creator, a human being’s value and worth is constant, whether the person is strong or weak, conscious or unconscious, healthy or handicapped, socially “useful” or “useless,” wanted or unwanted.

3. Because human procreation is a mystery only partly explained by biological science, CMDA believes that caution and great humility are needed in regard to proposals to intervene in this special natural order. Human beings, not the novel biotechnologies used to assist with their conception, are sacred.

4. CMDA affirms human procreation as the fruit of marriage between one male and one female. CMDA opposes the use of technologies that would create children having more (or less) than two biological parents.

5. CMDA believes that the stewardship mandate to subdue the earth (Genesis 1:28) entails moral responsibility that does not extend to absolute control over human procreation.

6. CMDA opposes the creation of human embryos des-

tined for destruction as raw material for reproductive or research programs. Even if we are not answerable directly to those lives who are not allowed to develop the capacity to protest their destruction, we are still answerable to God, who created us all and knew us all as persons when we were but embryos (Psalm 139).

7. CMDA affirms that children are not products to be manufactured or commodified but blessings to be cared for and cherished.

B. BIBLICAL/THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE GIFT OF PROCREATION

1. God’s gracious design for human procreation is within a covenantal and conjugal relationship between a heterosexual married couple, a relationship so intimate and binding it renders a man and woman “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:22-33).

2. Within this exclusive covenantal bond of marriage God has ordained an inseparable relationship between human love and procreation. The telos of this relationship is the intimate life-giving love that results in the begetting of children (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31).

3. Procreation is morally licit only within the covenantal and conjugal union of one woman and one man. Marriage and procreation are unitive goods given by a gracious Creator (1 Corinthians 7:1-7, Hebrews 13:4).

4. Procreation outside of the nuptial covenant between one man and one woman is described in Scripture either as fornication or adultery and is forbidden by God (Matthew 15:10-20, 1 Corinthians 6, Galatians 5:16-26).

5. Children are a gift from God, made in His image and likeness, and are worthy of dignity and love. Their value as human beings does not depend on the manner of their conception, but on their very existence as image bearers (Psalm 127:3-5, Matthew 19:13-15, Luke 18:15-7).

6. Because human nature, including human biology, suffers from the disastrous effects of the Adamic fall, disease, illness, and eventually death plague the human species.

7. Infertility is one of the deleterious effects of the fallen human condition (Genesis 30:22; Luke 1:5-7 are examples).

8. Medicine is a gift from God when appropriately used for treatment, healing, and cure.

9. Treatments for infertility that support both the covenantal and conjugal union between a heterosexual married couple may be appropriate where medically indicated.

10. The introduction of third-party donor gametes or women who are gestational surrogates (commercial or otherwise) into the procreative, unitive relationship violates the covenantal bond between a married man and woman and divides covenantal love from conjugal love.

11. As described above, there are both procreative and unitive aspects of the conjugal union in marriage. Some Christians believe that any act that disrupts, circumvents, or dis-integrates the unitive and procreative aspect of the conjugal act is not morally licit. Other Christians believe that while the procreative and unitive aspects of the conjugal union should be highly valued, specific actions may be undertaken that will separate those aspects while still respecting the dignity of the human embryo from the point of fertilization.

12. Because children are a gift from God and worthy of dignity and love, married heterosexual couples who experience infertility and cannot bear children through the licit means of procreation may find adoption desirable, joyful, and fulfilling.

C. BIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Human fertilization occurs with the union of an ovum and a sperm, forming a zygote. A zygote is a genetically unique individual human being, unless twinning takes place.

2. In natural human procreation, the embryo implants and matures in the mother’s uterus, from which the developing child will be born.

3. Many embryos may not mature beyond the early stage and are tragically lost, possibly before a mother is aware of her pregnancy. Nevertheless, these lost embryos are lost human lives.

4. Infertility is a disorder of the male or female reproductive system and is classically defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. For women aged 35 years or older, the required waiting period is six months. This is the definition used throughout this statement.

5. According to recent estimates, although infertility affects millions of couples, the infertility rate in the U. S. seems to have plateaued over twenty-five years, as reported in 2022.2

6. The etiology of infertility is being better understood, but treatment is not always successful in vivo.

7. Causes of infertility seem equally distributed between male factors, female factors, and a combina-

tion of the two.

8. IVF is one among an array of artificial reproductive technologies used to treat infertility. The 2022 data in the U.S. listed 457 clinics reporting a total of 435,426 IVF cycles to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, averaging ~953 cycles per clinic.3

9. Through the IVF process, ova production is generated through ovarian stimulation.

10. Human ova are surgically retrieved. The number of oocytes obtained can vary widely.4 These are fertilized with sperm, and the resulting embryos are then matured 3-5 days in the IVF lab. They are assessed for their “quality” morphologically and the likelihood of successful implantation.

11. Among those embryos who are deemed of sufficient quality and survive the assessment process, a discrete number may be transferred to a woman’s uterus for potential implantation. Current medical society recommendations for number of embryos transferred are based upon the age of the gestating woman and the “quality” of the embryos. For women less than 35 years, one or two embryos may be transferred; whereas, for women aged 41-2, as many as 5 may be transferred, with the realization that most of the embryos will not survive and implant. These recommendations are, however, non-binding.5

12. Gestation of multiples (twins or higher order) poses increased risks to mothers and their infants.

13. The unused embryos who survive one round of IVF are typically cryopreserved for future attempts to achieve implantation.

14. Some embryos do not survive the thawing process for the next cycle, with mortality rates varying between 3-30% reported in the medical literature.6, 7

15. Additional cycles of embryo thawing, genetic diagnosis, and transfer result in additional potential embryo loss.

16. Each year, a significant number of embryos are discarded, used for experimentation, or die. One estimate of embryos with this fate in the U.S. (for the year 2019) was 446,607.8 In 2012 in the UK, it was estimated that of the 3.5 million embryos created through IVF in the previous 20 years, 1.7 million had been discarded.9

D. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Infertility is an emotionally painful experience for married couples who desire to have children, and the costs of treatment can impose a significant financial burden. IVF is a technology that attempts to mimic human procreation outside of the mother’s body. Fertilization may occur, but subsequent implantation may or may not.

1. Medicine, including the use of medical technology, should serve the patient’s good and not cause unnecessary harm.

2. The existence of a technology is not a moral justification for its use. Just because we can do something does not mean we should.

3. Natural human procreation is a “begetting,” while IVF, as a technological intervention that separates the covenantal from the conjugal unitive aspects of procreation, is a “making.”

4. Both human agency and intention are important factors in determining moral culpability for all involved.10

5. Natural embryo loss is a distressing reality of our fallen human condition. There is not moral culpability for those losses however, because there is no intention directed toward losing the embryos and no agent causing those losses.

6. In contrast, the agency in IVF rests with the healthcare professionals involved as well as the originating couples. Therefore, healthcare professionals bear responsibility to provide couples full disclosure of procedures, costs, risks, and potential outcomes of IVF.

7. As couples consider IVF, they must recognize that they bear responsibility for the generation of their embryos and placing them at risk.

8. Cryopreservation is morally problematic because it is placing a nascent human being in unnecessary peril that does not benefit him or her.

9. A current estimate of frozen embryos in the U.S. alone is up to 1.5 million.11

10. Because in vitro fertilization is a technique that disintegrates and sunders the unitive and procreative relationship between a man and a woman, those who view any disruption of the unitive and procreative aspects of the conjugal relationship in marriage will view IVF as morally illicit.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN COUPLES

Those who recognize the importance of maintaining the unitive and procreative aspects of the conjugal relationship in marriage whenever possible but who do not hold an absolute view that any disruption is morally illicit may accept IVF under the following conditions:

a. Gametes used in IVF must come only from the husband and wife.

b. Generating only the number of embryos that will be transferred in that cycle, usually up to two or at most three.

c. All embryos created through IVF must be transferred to the uterus of the wife for possible implantation.

d. Preimplantation genetic testing should only be undertaken when there is no risk to the embryo and the intent is to guide the child’s future care. e.g., polar body testing for Down syndrome to allow for future prenatal testing of cardiac and other associated anomalies to provide for better preparation at delivery.

e. Where “embryo adoption” of one or more previously cryopreserved embryos is available as a form of rescue.

CONCLUSION

In vitro fertilization has been controversial from its beginning. The technology continues to raise ethical concerns. The considerations offered here attempt to provide a framework for thinking about IVF. Not all professing Christian healthcare professionals will agree on every point of this statement. The ethical issues that arise in the use of IVF must be prayerfully considered. This statement offers a biblical, theological, medical, and ethical framework for such consideration.

SELECTED REFERENCES

“1 in 6 People Globally Affected by Infertility: Who.” World Health Organization. Accessed January 7, 2025. https://www.who.int/news/ item/04-04-2023-1-in-6-people-globally-affected-by-infertility Ahuja, Anjana. “‘God Is Not in Charge, We Are.’” The Times. July 24, 2003.

“The Alabama Supreme Court’s Ruling on Frozen Embryos.” Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, February 27, 2024. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/the-alabama-supreme-courtsruling-on-frozen-embryos

“ART Success Rates.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 2, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/art/artdata/index.html

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) dataassisted reproductive health data: Clinic | DRH | CDC. Accessed January 9, 2025. https:// nccd.cdc.gov/drh_art/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=DRH_ART.ClinicInfo& rdRequestForward=True&ClinicId=9999&ShowNational=1 Cameron, Nigel M. de S. Embryos and ethics: the Warnock report in debate. Edinburgh, Scotland: Rutherford House Books, 1987.  Condic, Maureen L. “When Does Human Life Begin? A Scientific Perspective,” October 2008. https://bdfund.org/wp-content/ uploads/2016/05/wi_whitepaper_life_print.pdf

“Definition of Infertility: A Committee Opinion (2023).” American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Accessed December 3, 2024. https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committeedocuments/denitions-of-infertility/#:~:text=’’Infertility’’%20is%20 a,any%20combination%20of%20those%20factors

DeSanctis, Alexandra. “Reclaiming Personhood in the Public Debate over IVF.” Public Discourse, November 4, 2024. https://www. thepublicdiscourse.com/2024/11/96317/

Fanton, Michael, Justina Hyunjii Cho, Valerie L. Baker, and Kevin Loewke. “A Higher Number of Oocytes Retrieved Is Associated with an Increase in Fertilized Oocytes, Blastocysts, and Cumulative Live Birth Rates.” Fertility and Sterility 119, no. 5 (May 2023): 762–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.01.001

Haksar, Vinit. “Moral Agents.” Moral agents - Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Accessed January 7, 2025. https://www.rep.routledge. com/articles/thematic/moral-agents/v-1

Holcombe, Madeline. “About 2% of Babies Born in the US Are from IVF. Here’s What You Need to Know about It.” CNN, February 21, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/21/health/ivf-egg-freezingexplainer-wellness/index.html

Hough, Andrew. “1.7 Million Human Embryos Created for IVF Thrown Away.” The Telegraph, December 31, 2012. https://www.telegraph. co.uk/news/health/news/9772233/1.7-million-human-embryoscreated-for-IVF-thrown-away.html

Ikemoto, Y, K Kuroda, A Ochiai, S Yamashita, S Ikuma, S Nojiri, A Itakura, and S Takeda. “Prevalence and Risk Factors of Zygotic Splitting after 937 848 Single Embryo Transfer Cycles.” Human Reproduction 33, no. 11 (2018): 1984–91. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dey294

Kamath, Mohan S, Mariano Mascarenhas, Richard Kirubakaran, and Siladitya Bhattacharya. “Number of Embryos for Transfer Following in Vitro Fertilisation or Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection.” The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, August 21, 2020. https:// pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8094586/#abstract1.

Mansfield, Amanda Stirone. “The Treatment of Human Embryos Created through IVF: The U.S. and 15 Selected Countries’ Regulations.” Lozier Institute, November 22, 2024. https://lozierinstitute.org/thetreatment-of-human-embryos-created-through-ivf-the-u-s-and15-selected-countries-regulations/.

Oliva, Margeaux, Christine Briton-Jones, Dmitry Gounko, Joseph A. Lee, Alan B. Copperman, and Lucky Sekhon. “Factors Associated with Vitrification-Warming Survival in 6167 Euploid Blastocysts.”  Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 38, no. 10 (July 26, 2021): 2671–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-021-02284-0

O’Donovan, Oliver.  Begotten or Made? Human Procreation and Medical Technique . Oxford Univ Press, 1984.

Pavone, MaryEllen, Joy Innes, Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron, Ralph Kazer, and John Zhang. “Comparing Thaw Survival, Implantation and Live Birth Rates from Cryopreserved Zygotes, Embryos and Blastocysts.” Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences 4, no. 1 (2011): 23. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-1208.82356

Penzias, Alan, Kristin Bendikson, Samantha Butts, Margareta Pisarska, Samantha Pfeifer, Richard Paulson, Randall Odem, et al. “Guidance on the Limits to the Number of Embryos to Transfer: A Committee Opinion.” Fertility and Sterility, March 11, 2017. https:// www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028217302273

Polyniak, Kim. “U.S. Infertility Rate Plateaus.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, June 16, 2022. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/ news-releases/2022/06/us-infertility-rate-plateaus

Snell, R. J., and Public Discourse. “An IVF Primer.” Public Discourse, September 19, 2024. https://www.thepublicdiscourse. com/2024/09/95945/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_ campaign=an-ivf-primer

Spar, Debora L. The Baby Business: How Money, Science, and politics drive the commerce of Conception. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2006.

Turczynski, Craig. “In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A Comprehensive Primer.” Lozier Institute, February 21, 2025. https://lozierinstitute. org/in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-a-comprehensive-primer/.  Walters, Leroy. “Human in Vitro Fertilization: A Review of the Ethical Literature.”  The Hastings Center Report 9, no. 4 (August 1979): 23. https://doi.org/10.2307/3560906

Warnock, Mary.  A question of life: the Warnock report on human fertilisation and embryology. Oxford, UK: B. Blackwell, 1985.  Zegers-Hochschild, Fernando, Bernard M Dickens, and Sandra Dughman-Manzur. “Human Rights to in Vitro Fertilization.” JBRA assisted reproduction, March 27, 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC9237911/

Approved by the House of Representatives

Passed with 65 approvals, 0 opposed, 0 abstention  May 1, 2025, St. Charles, Missouri

REFERENCES

¹ “1 in 6 People Globally Affected by Infertility: WHO,” World Health Organization, accessed January 7, 2025, https://www.who.int/ news/item/04-04-2023-1-in-6-people-globally-affected-byinfertility

² Kim Polyniak, “U.S. Infertility Rate Plateaus,” Johns Hopkins Medicine, June 16, 2022, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/ newsroom/news-releases/2022/06/us-infertility-rate-plateaus

³ Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) dataassisted reproductive health data: Clinic |DRH| CDC, accessed January 9, 2025, https:// nccd.cdc.gov/drh_art/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=DRH_ART.ClinicInfo &rdRequestForward=True&ClinicId=9999&ShowNational=1.

⁴ Michael Fanton et al., “A Higher Number of Oocytes Retrieved Is Associated with an Increase in Fertilized Oocytes, Blastocysts, and Cumulative Live Birth Rates,”  Fertility and Sterility 119, no. 5 (May 2023): 762–69, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.01.001

⁵ Alan Penzias et al., “Guidance on the Limits to the Number of Embryos to Transfer: A Committee Opinion,” Fertility and Sterility, March 11, 2017, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S0015028217302273

⁶ Margeaux Oliva et al., “Factors Associated with VitrificationWarming Survival in 6167 Euploid Blastocysts,”  Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 38, no. 10 (July 26, 2021): 2671–78, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10815-021-02284-0

⁷ MaryEllen Pavone et al., “Comparing Thaw Survival, Implantation and Live Birth Rates from Cryopreserved Zygotes, Embryos and Blastocysts,”  Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences 4, no. 1 (2011): 23, https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-1208.82356

⁸ Craig Turczynski, “In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A Comprehensive Primer,” Lozier Institute, December 19, 2024, https://lozierinstitute. org/in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-a-comprehensive-primer/

⁹ Andrew Hough, “1.7 Million Human Embryos Created for IVF Thrown Away,”  The Telegraph, December 31, 2012, https://www. telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/9772233/1.7-million-humanembryos-created-for-IVF-thrown-away.html/

10 Vinit Haksar, “Moral Agents,” Moral agents - Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, accessed January 7, 2025, https:// www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/moral-agents/v-1

11 “The Alabama Supreme Court’s Ruling on Frozen Embryos,” Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, February 27, 2024, https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/the-alabama-supreme-courtsruling-on-frozen-embryos.

CMDA Ethics Statements like this are designed to provide you with biblical, ethical, social and scientific understanding of today’s issues through concise statements articulated in a compassionate and caring manner. They are drafted by the Ethics Committee of the Board of Trustees, and the final version has to be approved first by the Board of Trustees and then by the House of Representatives representing the CMDA membership. Visit cmda.org/ethics for more information about CMDA’s Ethics Statements and to review all of the statements.

Bioethics

The Dr. John Patrick Bioethics Column

DOES READING matter?

John Patrick, MD

We are not reading as we used to. Does it matter? Before the arrival of television and modern media, reading books from beginning to end was a major activity both for learning and relaxation. Nowadays most people reading on the internet have an attention span of five to seven minutes. There was never a television in my parents’ home, only BBC Radio. I read one book a week, unrelated to school, until university, plus the Bible was read daily. I didn’t recognize the importance of reading Scripture to children from day one until Bruce Waltke drew my attention to it in my 40s. Hopefully most Christians know the central insight of Judaism: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5, ESV). Leviticus 19:18 commands, “…love your neighbor as yourself…” but Deuteronomy 6:6-7 continues with, “And these words that I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children…” (ESV). The centrality of God’s Word as the ultimate guide to the good life must be imprinted on your children by your example of passionate commitment.

“Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”

—T.S. Eliot

Several years ago in Texas, I was being entertained right royally, and I commented to my hosts it was far beyond the call of duty. The response was beautiful. “Watch this,” said Dad, and then he said to his preschool daughter, “What’s the name of Moses’ sister? Is it, Marjory?” The response, “Daddy, you know it’s Miriam.” She knew the story of what Miriam did too. Before she started school she knew about moral consequence—before those words were part of her vocabulary! Her parents credited me with guiding them into serious Christian parenting in a lecture on Deuteronomy 4-6, and they had put it into practice for her before she could read and write.

We rightly put reading and writing into a prominent place in our ideas about education, but we are usually thinking in purely utilitarian terms. The faculty of education wants to make reading a means of propagandizing, such that society puts minor virtues of diversity, inclusion and equity above the ancient truth, justice and freedom of speech and religion. How should we respond? Only in the last few centuries has proficiency in reading and writing come to be considered as a minimum foundation for success

in the modern world. Before that the skill in fixing things was much more important. For most of human history only a very small percentage of the population could read and write, but they were way better than us at remembering (“Remember to remember” is one of the most repeated commands in the Old Testament). It is difficult to know exactly when writing began, but the Kish tablet thought to be from around 3500 BC is a clay tablet recording financial data that appeared to be used as a promissory note. It is largely pictographic. Early Hebrew emerged by the time of the Exodus around 1500 BC, but a truly alphabetic language with vowels did not happen until the time of the Greeks in 900-1000 BC. What is certain is human culture, with drawings, songs, poetry and oral memories of the past, had been passed on by recitation long before writing began. This is still the case in the so-called primitive places like the Itumbi Mountains, which we love. The teller of the received version of village history is usually young, because of the superior memory of the young. It does not go a long way back, but the teller must be perfect when he is called upon to recite. Everyone knows the story is important to their village. Community is not produced by sociologists but by living with the same story of meaning into which everyone is introduced as a child.

The Bible filled this function in the West for at least 1,500 years. This is why removing the Bible from school but allowing in drag queens does not increase acceptance for everyone; instead,

it merely legitimizes the narrative of a small subgroup of society whilst destroying the rich tapestry of meaning everyone previously had from the Bible.

In the older story of our culture, diversity was allowed, the culture flourished and the court jester was even allowed to make fun of the ruling elite. It’s a contrast to today when the ruling elite takes umbrage at the smallest failure to bend the knee to cultural commandments. In the past, Christmas pantomimes usually had a “dame” who was a man obviously dressed as an old woman to the amusement of all, especially children. Traditional humor always had an element of offense built into it but was not vicious, although it pilloried what would now be attacked as giving offense and utterly unacceptable by the politically-correct elite. Interestingly, many jokes do not work in print but can be hilarious when spoken by a talented actor. More seriously, the point of this paragraph is to underline how spoken truth goes deeper than written truth in its immediacy. Christ tells us all to go and tell the world what He did for us. Peter said we should be ready to give reasons for our faith, but he also warns against wanting to win without gentleness. Jesus wrote nothing, but His parables and miracles are treasured by all in whom the Spirit has produced what the Gospels call a new birth, thereby emphasizing this is an experience rather than merely a rational decision. It is not irrational so much as suprarational. French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal knew this when he wrote in Pensées, “The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know.”

It is by no means clear if literacy is the essential foundation of great cultures. The first culture of the world was based on the book of nature that has no written language, yet Psalm 19 can say its voice is heard throughout the world. Societies based on the book of nature seem invariably to be dominated by fear of evil spirits and fatalism. There were probably numerous pagan geniuses, but nothing is known of them. The Zimbabwean stone culture is a good example of extraordinary builders of which we know nothing.

God allowed His creatures several centuries of doing what was right in their own eyes, but our extraordinary tendency to be full of pride led to disasters. Humans seem to be compulsive narcissists, as with the Tower of Babel episode. Eventually God gave the Israelites a literary foundation for living, which He said they must teach to their children by narrative (see Deuteronomy 6-12 and particularly Deuteronomy 12:8).

Nevertheless, extraordinary intellectual feats of insight happened. Creative ideas are often not acceptable to the literate elite if they challenge their pet nostrums. Nevertheless, inventions and discoveries eventually force change in scientific understanding. What is even more upsetting to several “educated” people is that science does not always grow step by step. Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev had an encyclopedic memory for the properties of elements as well as an addiction to solitaire and was working obsessively on combining the two. He knew he was close, then fell asleep at his desk and dreamed the periodic table. He woke up and wrote it out on the nearest coffee-stained piece of paper, even predicting missing elements!

Just this week I came across a wonderful example of an arrogant dismissal of Pascal’s faith and its role in his wager. British author and journalist Christopher Hitchens rightly dismissed it as a way to faith because it portrays God as a cheap bargainer. In doing so, he entirely missed the point, but his followers on YouTube thought he was brilliant. The wager described by Pascal shows if we believe in God and He doesn’t exist, we lose very little except that we live a lie, but if we believe He doesn’t exist and He does, we go to hell. What Hitchens missed was that Pascal knew God comes to us subjectively often with deep emotion on our part (Pascal describes a night of fire in his own case). His wager is not to persuade us into the kingdom but to show the rationalist atheist he is not rational because the wager is rational and rationalists should accept it, but the problem with Hitchens is that he doesn’t want to believe! They all want to do everything their way.

In conclusion, reading matters. At least three levels of reading are to be considered: the first level is reading for information that directly affects us and we can evaluate personally. However, when we cannot integrate statements into what we already know for sure, what do we do? How do we measure the reliability of so-called scientists? Ends justify means for numerous identity groups, so it is important to be suspicious of information that may be disinformation. The only truly safe way is to have a network of people who do not think ends justify means and are also competent in the field of information at issue. This is not easy.

For example, I have only recently discovered Alex Haley, in his book Roots, totally failed to be truthful about Benin, a country that trafficked slaves for profit on a large scale. (See Thomas Sowell’s work on slavery, conflict and culture for an extensive documented discussion.) Haley has now acknowledged his misrepresentation, saying he wanted to build the black self-image and, with that purpose, judged it was better to ignore these facts. This level of reading requires a solid base of necessarily specific knowledge (e.g. case law for lawyers or long experience with specific diseases or operations for doctors), but it must be combined with high moral integrity, so how do you find that essential knowledge?

This brings me to wisdom, but that must be deferred to the next column.

John Patrick, MD, studied medicine at Kings College, London and St. George’s Hospital, London in the United Kingdom. He has held appointments in Britain, the West Indies and Canada. At the University of Ottawa, Dr. Patrick was Associate Professor in Clinical Nutrition in the Department of Biochemistry and Pediatrics for 20 years. Today he is President and Professor at Augustine College and speaks to Christian and secular groups around the world, communicating effectively on medical ethics, culture, public policy and the integration of faith and science. Connect with Dr. Patrick at johnpatrick.ca. You can also learn more about his work with Augustine College at augustinecollege.org. To hear more from Dr. Patrick, visit johnpatrick.ca to listen to the Dr. John Patrick Podcast.

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