Religious Foundations for Global Health Missions

Abstract

The injunction to visit and care for the sick can be found in the sacred texts and constant tradition of the major monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). Indeed, many missioners will cite faith as one reason for participating in such missions. When explored more in depth, we find that caring for the sick is only part of a greater commandment to “love one another” or “Do unto others as you would have them do to you” and includes things like feeding the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, and seeking justice for the oppressed. These, in turn, refer back to God and become one of the ways that people follow what they understand as God’s command. The successful mission brings all these things together when missioners feel a sense of solidarity or partnership with those they serve and combine the dual concepts of love and justice as guiding principles in their work.

Religion as a motivation for global health missions

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed

by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the

world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave

me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked

and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison

and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it

that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something

to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you,

or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or

in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as

you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to

me.’ – Matthew 25:34–40 (NRSV) [1]