Titus 2 for Life

Helping ourselves and others transform the culture.

 LIFEDATE
Spring 20007
by Linda D. Bartlett

A DAY AT LUTHER CLINIC

It is nearly 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.  Hours at Luther Clinic are 8:00 – 5:00 on Saturdays, but chairs in the waiting room were filled all day.  It is the clinic policy that no patient will be turned away.  Most of the patients at Luther Clinic are women.  Today was no exception.  Some of them called ahead for appointments, but many came unexpectedly and out of fear. 

The clinic is the partnership of two doctors, Luther and Brunkamp.  Their skills complement one another to help meet the needs of their patients.  It is customary for Dr. Brunkamp to see the patients first.  She asks the reason for the visit and listens to any concerns before performing a physical exam.  Then, because Luther Clinic is free of federal funds and political correctness, she sends the patient on to the office of her colleague, Dr. Luther.

Dr. Luther has studied under the Great Physician.  The Word of that Physician taught Dr. Luther to understand how sin can result in life-altering or even life-threatening consequences.   For this reason, Dr. Luther is careful to connect the physical, emotional, and spiritual entities of men and women in a way that honors their created design.  He has a reputation for sharing information many people have never heard.

The first patient on this Saturday was a college freshman exhibiting signs of severe depression.  “Are you in a relationship?” asked Dr. Brunkamp.  “No, I’m not,” the girl responded.  “but, I have a ‘friend with benefits.’”  There was a pause before the girl continued.  “I’m a little confused.  I really like this guy and he seems to like me, but when I suggest we go to a movie together or meet some other friends for a day at the mall, he says that would be a relationship and he’s not ready for that.  This is why I’m so confused.   I don’t really have a friend, but he’s sure enjoying the ‘benefits’.”

The day stretched long for Dr. Brunkamp.   Three of her patients were girls in high school.  One, 13, tested positive for herpes and one, 17, for the human papilloma virus (HPV).  Neither considered themselves to be sexually active.  The third girl, 16, was pregnant.   Several of the patients were older women.  Kate, at 30, had just suffered her third miscarriage.  Ann, at 43, was having trouble conceiving.  Kate and Ann spoke of multiple partners before marriage and their private battles with Chlamydia.  Did they know that this sexually transmitted disease scars tissue which can result in ectopic pregnancies and fertility problems?     Laura, at 50, spoke of her successful career but expressed a deep sense of emptiness in her unmarried and childless state.  She confessed to having had two abortions.  “I now believe, doctor, that they may be my only children.  How do I deal with this?”

By the end of the day, Dr. Luther found his colleague more weary than usual.  “I’m so frustrated!” Dr. Brunkamp told him.  “These women all had such promising futures.  By the time I see them, they’re physically scarred and emotionally wounded.”

She paused with a heavy sigh.  “I would give anything to be able to get to these women earlier, to tell them what Planned Parenthood and politically correct sex education refuses to tell them.  The truth is, a woman’s anatomy makes her more vulnerable to infection!  Men and women are not the same!  A woman is not crazy to long for a faithful marriage, home, and family!  I want to run through every high school and college campus screaming: Wait!  Just wait -- for any kind of sexual intimacy – until marriage!  Wait for someone who has waited for you!  You don’t have to worry about HIV or HPV!  You will survive!”  Please, Dr. Luther, tell me there’s some hope!  Tell me that what we do here is making a difference!

“My dear colleague,” smiled Dr. Luther, “Jesus Christ makes all the difference.  That’s why we use His Word at this clinic.  Listen up!  Here’s what I tell our patients.  We are all in the midst of a battle between God who loves us and the devil who despises us.  God’s very design of male and female preserves the human species.  But, Satan, who can only distort God’s perfect design, would have us all dead.”

“Well,” interrupted Dr. Brunkamp, “Satan must be very pleased with himself.  He may not be killing these women, but he’s leaving them physically scarred and emotionally dysfunctional.”

“Ah,” continued Dr. Luther, “the devil targets men and women where they are most vulnerable.  Remember your patients Kate, Ann, and Laura from this afternoon?  They all confessed to pro-creational acts outside of marriage; Laura confessed two abortions, but all mourned children they did not have.  The world may view children as burdensome, but perhaps these women understood the truth:  children are of great value!  That makes motherhood a noble and high calling.  We can help women see motherhood as the vocation it is.  Personally, I am both delighted and awed by motherhood!  You know as well as I, Dr. Brunkamp, how a woman’s body is adapted and formed for the care of infants.  It amazes me to watch mothers comfort their little ones.  Ha!  Let a man try to do the same and he may act like a dancing camel, awkward and silly.”

Dr. Brunkamp looked puzzled.  “You surprise me, Dr. Luther.  You always speak highly of men and their role.”

“Oh!” exclaimed Dr. Luther, “Yes I do!  Everyone does best when he – or she – does those things for which he – or she – was created.  The female gender is merciful by nature because it is born to show mercy and to cherish -- just as a man is born to protect!  Consider the patient you saw this morning, the girl who told you she had a ‘friend with benefits.’  Did she come to our door, troubled and confused… only after she believed the world’s lies?  Did a man fail to protect her – indeed, love her with the unselfish love of Christ?  You should have seen her expression when I told her she didn’t have to have a ‘friend with benefits.’  She can decide to wait for the man who respects, appreciates, and guards her soul!  He who marries a wife has her as a nest and home where he stays at a certain place, just as birds do with their young in their nest.

“My dear, dear colleague!  Men can’t do without women!  Even if it were possible for men to beget and bear children, they still couldn’t do without women.  My wife, my dearest Katie, is my rib!  With Christ as my model, I must be willing to forsake personal pleasure for the good of my wife and children.  No man should be content to have those he loves exist in chaos; instead, all men should follow the design for order, reason, and logic.  That design comes from God.  This is most certainly true!

Dr. Brunkamp’s chin lifted; her shoulders straightened.  “We do have our work cut out for us, don’t we?  You might say we’re on the front line of a battle for marriage, home, and family.  The culture needs us!  We may be weary here among the wounded, but you’re right.  There is hope – for us, and for the hurting who are led to our door.”  She paused to watch Dr. Luther, almost tenderly packing God’s Word for Life (© 2005) into his briefcase.  “Strange, isn’t it?”

Curious, he peered at his colleague over tiny rimmed glasses.  “What’s so strange?”

“How Truth changes one’s perspective,” she said, pointing to his Bible, “and even seems to energize!  See you Monday!”