Spiritual Care In Medicine

Confusion In Chaplaincy

The role of health care chaplains in changing rapidly in institutional health care. In the past, patients could count on the chaplain to read scripture, provide biblical counseling and pray for their individual needs. This is no longer true. When a chaplain visits you today, they will not mention the Bible, counsel you from its pages or offer to pray unless they know that you are a Christian and that you attend church regularly.

Within the rank and file of theological beliefs prevalent withing health care today is the idea that all religious beliefs including including non-religious beliefs  are equally valid and that their are many pathways to God. It is your chaplain's job to ask you enough questions to figure out what your spiritual position or lack of it is and then provide whatever generic care they can. The chaplain's role today, is to talk about your feelings, listen to your story, help you overcome your sense of denial and work towards resolve in your illness or terminal condition.His main job is to make you feel  better.

Chaplains have been emasculated and to a large extent spiritually neutralized. In essence, chaplains have been demoted from providing spiritual care to fulfilling the role of a social worker. Don't misinterpret this. Social work is a valuable and much needed profession, but it is not equivalent to serving as a chaplain.

These facts have left chaplains in conflict with their own faith in Christ. They are required to deny their own spiritual convictions and become all things to all people. They have to virtually lie to people stating that everything is going to be alright for them, when what their patients believe or don't believe contradicts their own core beliefs. In order to provide "spiritual care" chaplains must squash their own personal spiritual integrity.

Today, chaplains are confused about their roles, they are in deep conflict about the care they are expected to provide, and their own personal beliefs. Not only this, their patients are confused about the chaplain's role as well, and bewildered at the lack of biblical support they receive.