Anyone who more than glances at Sanctuary Functional Medicine’s website will notice something peculiar: the blatant Christian nature of what we profess. This bluntness has provoked both explicit, to-my-face comments and rumors that I only hear second hand. Speaking in generalities, more than 9 in 10 have been glad or grateful to have a clinic where their Christian values are not only heard but honored. 1 in 10, though, have issues. This has included complaints about other “Christian Businesses” which disappointed them. Some just don’t want “Christian stuff’ pushed on them. Sincere friends have asked if I realize that my being so “out in the open” about Christian values might cause me to lose some business.
In response to these objections and grumbles, I want to clear up three aspects of care at Sanctuary. First, I feel a need to explain what this actually means for our patients. Second, I want to share what it doesn’t mean. Third, I want to be clear on why these values are so important to me.
For our patients at Sanctuary, it means that you have a higher power looking over your provider’s shoulder. While we do our duty to obey the law of the land in regards to the thousands of regulations in health care, our ultimate judge is our all-seeing Heavenly Father. We recognize that we answer to God for how we answer the phone, how we listen to patient’s stories… how we do everything. We start each day with prayer asking God to use us as His hands and feet to care for those who are suffering. It means that we treat everyone as a whole person, both physical and spiritual. At times this means we talk about how your faith and lifestyle affect your life. At times this means we have organized prayer groups for patients with similar challenges. At all times it means we are asking God to use us in caring for you.
On the other hand, it doesn’t mean we are faith healers nor perfect in all we do. While I start each new patient visit with a prayer for God’s guidance and power to work through me, I still use the best of medical wisdom I know in order to care for patients. This does not guarantee healing, but if there is to be benefit in any therapy, it has to originate with the Great Physician. We are simply human beings trying to apply God’s calling to care for our neighbors and to steward His gifts to us. It also does not mean that Bibles coming flying out at you from the ceiling bopping you on the head. I simply offer prayer; everyone is free to say no.
Let’s keep this simple. Why is putting God at the front center and center so important for Sanctuary? He has been my comforter and keeper through all of life. He called me to serve Him as a physician in high school. He guided me through my own family’s health crises over and over, teaching me how to care for others who suffer by leading me through my own dark valleys. He taught me that it is all about Him, not me, so any credit for good which Sanctuary accomplishes goes to Him.
The other team members at Sanctuary have similar stories and view their work similarly. We serve Him by doing our utmost to serve you.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
