Scripture and Scrubs: A Christian Calling to Healthcare

SCRIPTURE AND SCRUBS: A Christian Calling to Healthcare by Michael E. Sherr, Jason K. Lee, and Angelia M. Mickle. B&H Academic, 2025. 240 pages. Paperback; $27.99. ISBN: 9781087789224. *Frontline healthcare workers see medical dramas unfold before them each day--stories of heartbreak, heroism, compassion and diagnostic dilemma no less vivid than plotlines from The Pitt or Grey's Anatomy. Daily realities may be either more incredible or somewhat mundane, but for Christian health professionals (CHPs), there is always a deeper story. Each interaction provides opportunities to reveal God's loving grace, to be a divine ambassador in a broken world. *Sherr, Lee, and Mickle have collaborated to write a book for frontline healthcare workers, challenging us to see and understand the spiritual significance hidden in every day's work. Their passion is that CHPs would develop spiritual competencies that strengthen their clinical skills and knowledge, modeling both professional excellence and deep spiritual sensitivities, and being willing to be used by God in each patient encounter. *The three co-authors come from different disciplines, having had diverse professional experiences before filling academic appointments at Cedarville University. Sherr directs the social work program as associate dean and professor. Lee is a professor of theological studies and leads Cedarville's Center for Biblical Integration. After taking a variety of roles in nursing, Mickle is now a professor and dean of the School of Nursing. Together they encourage Christians in medical fields to integrate Christian faith into daily work, understanding how God works through healthcare workers as a means of common grace in the usual course of their professional duties. *The book is divided into two parts. The first, entitled What Are You?, begins by relating stories of Christian healthcare workers in a variety of fields who care for physically and emotionally vulnerable patients. The narrative then paints a portrait of the "God of the Bible," retelling the overarching narratives of God's interactions with humans from Creation to Christ. The divine covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the New Covenant each illustrate the story of divine grace. *The authors are explicit that God's grace, though expressed both as saving grace and as common grace, is one grace with two expressions. They define healthcare workers as "servants of common grace," caring for people with broken bodies and spirits, conduits for God's love and healing power, even when not speaking. *Part II, entitled What Do You Do?, defines five spiritual competencies that CHPs should cultivate: giving comfort, giving and receiving forgiveness, pointing patients toward permanent glory, becoming a jar of clay, and working as an ambassador of Christ. *This book is rich in biblical references and quotations, with a scripture index listing hundreds of passages. Stories of Augustine of Hippo, Tertullian, Basil of Caesarea, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, and many other faithful historical figures enliven the text. Biographical sketches of CHPs fill each section, illustrating the wide variety of professional roles within healthcare and describing encounters, both mundane and memorable. We meet nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, certified nursing assistants, and medical school professors in various chapters. *One of the CHPs profiled is an Air Force Reserve nurse who managed a skilled nursing facility for COVID-19 patients. She had a small team--one licensed practical nurse and three medics working twelve-hour shifts without interruption--to provide total nursing care for 57 sick patients. She spent Christmas separated from her husband and three children. Another, a physical therapist, worked with an enraged teenager awakening after three weeks in a medically induced coma. The patient had sustained 62 fractures in a motor vehicle accident, limiting his every movement. The therapist persevered despite angry insults, and his patient learned to stand on his own and walk with assistance. When discharged, he was full of joy and gratitude, saying he wants to train as a physical therapist. *The structure of Scripture and Scrubs challenges Christ followers in healthcare to identify first as CHPs, a high calling that transforms each job description. The book traces physical frailties to the fall in Genesis and finds spiritual meaning in the basic work of healthcare, reminding patients of their mortality and relieving the suffering that originated as a consequence of disobedience. *Once that dual identity is established--blending professional excellence with Christian mission--the authors outline work specific to this spiritual calling. The section on giving and receiving forgiveness illustrates how essential it is that CHPs practice giving grace in relationships with coworkers and with patients angry at their infirmities. Giving comfort for physical, emotional, and spiritual pain requires us to identify with others and devise methods of relief. This is sacred work. *This book does a good job of casting the vision for Christians in healthcare to understand their holy calling, extending care and mercy to vulnerable patients and families. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions adaptable to students or working professionals in various fields. The topics raised should spur good discussion and application to everyday situations for a wide audience. *Healthcare is a demanding field, requiring physical endurance, emotional strength, integrity and intellectual creativity to meet daily challenges. The book's recommendations for CHPs fall mostly in the realm of practicing spiritual disciplines: the study of scripture, prayer, meditation, and involvement with a local church and with other believers--all strong remedies. *I would have liked more detail on exactly how the authors and the profiled CHPs incorporated spiritual practices into their busy lives. What prompts do they use to pray for patients or coworkers? How do they fit in Bible study or Christian fellowship when they have to pull a double shift? What guardrails do they put in place to assure they give their family members the time and attention needed? How was their faith sustained in troubled times? The profiles at times seemed to focus on professional duties rather than exploring more personal spiritual histories. *Recent stories of the COVID-19 pandemic illustrate the overwhelming requirements of healthcare under stressful conditions. The book discusses how we can be "jars of clay," conduits of God's grace despite our personal imperfections, but stops short of recommending more holistic care for health workers. Burnout was frequently cited as a consequence of neglecting prayer or Christian fellowship, but this could have been more comprehensively addressed. *Despite being written by academics with teaching credentials, the book is not written with research citations for an academic audience. Scripture and Scrubs is intentionally anecdotal with strong scriptural and theological support. Literature might have been cited highlighting the positive association between spiritual practices and resilience or the tangible benefits to organizations when their frontline healthcare workers are well cared for. Pairing scriptural truths with the conclusions of research studying the effectiveness of spiritual practices would have strengthened the book's recommendations, particularly for students. *The theological discussions in the book are rich, but they go beyond entry-level doctrine. Challenging texts such as "Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated" might be off-putting even to experienced Christians, especially if they read the book individually rather than discussing it with other CHPs. There is good material here, but it is best suited for mature Christians. *I would recommend this book for group discussion. As an encouragement to Christian believers, either studying or working in healthcare, it can be an inspiration to deeper understanding of our calling. Jesus practiced a healing ministry as he spread news of the kingdom of God. We have the mandate and the privilege of continuing what he began. *Reviewed by Ingrid Mason, MD, internal medicine physician, affiliated with Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN 46260.