Healthcare and the Kingdom

Well, Liam’s posters have begun to go up on bus shelters around Hamilton and Halton. As the telethon for MacKids (McMaster Children’s Hospital) quickly approaches we have been doing newspaper interviews and getting ready for our big day on television! I have been thinking about healthcare lately, and maybe because I went to university at McMaster, I have been thinking about education as well. Healthcare and public education (which are state funded in Canada) are very important to Canadians, and in some sense have actually become a part of the national self understanding, a part of the Canadian identity. It is interesting to note, however, how many hospitals and how many schools and universities have Christian roots. Many were started by those who were followers of Jesus, responding to the needs of their community, trying to represent God’s heart and trying to fight against the darkness. They were trying to battle sickness and disease, poverty and ignorance while serving those around them. Things are different now in that the state has taken over responsibilities for these things, but I have been challenged by the historical example. I want to be inspired by the example of those who have sought to make a difference in the name of Jesus. I want to be inspired by the church who sought to be agents of community transformation as they represent the Kingdom of God. I also want to avoid complacency, which can be easy when I live in a place in which the state takes care of many of the things that the church had once been highly involved in. Ironically, many of the school and hospitals that were once started in the name of Jesus are some of the hardest places to hear about him. So, where might God be calling to church in Canada today? Into the existing institutions? or maybe to find new areas of need? It is probably both. Where might God be calling you to make a difference in the name of Jesus? Let us keep our hearts and eyes open to see the needs of individuals and communities and to allow God to work through us to make a difference in the name of Jesus. In word and deed let us represent Him well.

Don’t forget to tune into Hamilton’s CHCH television on May 31st. they will play Liam’s documentary at 1:00pm, 4:00pm and 6:30pm (approximately).