The Pastors' Hippocratic Oath

From the Mecca of Mormonism, this is Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology. Show

Show 51: The Pastors' Hippocratic Oath

Taped 9/19/21
Aired October 4th, 2021

Most of us are aware that in ancient Greece an oath was created for those who practiced medicine back then. We call it the Hippocratic Oath. I’m not going to read to you the Ancient version where new physicians swore oaths to a number of gods as a promise to do well but are going to speak of the modern version.

It was created in 1964 when one Louis Lasagna, Academic Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University rewrote the oath that is used in many medical schools today. I want to use the modern Hypocratic Oath as something I think all Pastors ought to recite and sign before they are allowed by society to pastor a church. Let’s give this a go:

Comparing Oaths

New doctors say the following:

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

And the first thing they swear to is:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

Why not have pastor say something like:

I will respect the biblically supported views of scripture and present them as possibilities to my congregation instead of limiting the information I give them to what I personally believe is absolute.

The second thing new Doctors says is:

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

Wouldn’t it be great if Pastors, in like fashion, said:

I will apply, for the benefit of all struggling souls, all measures of compassion necessary, avoiding the twin traps of condemnation and indifference to their plight.

The third things new doctors recite is:

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

Wouldn’t it be great if all pastors said:

I will remember that there is leeway in doctrine and practice and that warm liberty and understanding of different views outweigh the traditions of Man and the dogmas of denominationalism.

Pastoral Responsibilities

The fourth thing new Doctors recite is:

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

How about New Pastors say:

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail admit that the lay person’s views on things may be as viable as mine on any given matter.

Then New Doctors say:

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God.. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I think every new pastor ought to repeat that almost exactly, saying:

I will respect the privacy of my congregants, for their problems and issues are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of spiritual life and spiritual death. If it is given me to save a life spiritually, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to warn of spiritual death; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

New Doctors also say:

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

Pastors would also do well to say:

I will remember that I am not relating to a homosexual, an adulterer or a pedophile, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for them as sheep seeking the Shepherd.

Doctors recite four more parts of the oath including:

“I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.”

And I would hope that by sound teaching Pastors could say:
“I will prevent faithlessness and non love whenever I can,"

The Importance of Oaths in Professional Life

"For prevention is preferable to cure." Doctors also recite: I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

Shared Obligations Among Society's Servants

And as a means to avoid participating in an us verses them mentality a Pastor would also say: I too will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm, those who believe and those who do not.

Upholding Traditions and Values

And finally, new doctors say: If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

And may Pastors also, in conclusion, say: If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life in the hereafter, respected by the King for having represented Him and His Kingdom well. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of a follower of Christ and may I long experience the joy of helping to heal and guide those who seek my help.

If medical doctors take an oath in their work of healing the body, I think it's even more important that all people of clergy do the same—and are held to the oath made.