It's not often that a news story makes me mad, but, boy this one did! In Bakersfield, California, Dr. Gary Merrill runs a medical practice he calls "Christian Medical Services." Apparently, he reserves the right to refuse treatment to anyone who doesn't meet his standards of appearance or behavior. It says so right on the wall of his practice.
The name "Christian Medical Services" would indicate, one would think, that this practice would welcome everyone in need and treat everyone with Christlike compassion and love. Wrong. In Dr. Merrill's Christian bubble world you are only worthy of his compassion, love and medical expertise if you look, act, smell and dress like what he thinks a Christian should. In other words, "Christian Medical Services" means "Medical Services For Christians." Or more precisely, "medical services only for those who display outward signs of godliness that meet my standards."
Tasha Childress' daughter was suffering from an earache and appeared to have an infection. Her insurance company gave her Dr. Merrill's name and contact information. When Ms. Childress arrived at Christian Medical Services, her daughter was refused treatment because Tasha, the mother, has tattoos and body piercings. Tasha didn't look like a Christian, so her daughter couldn't be treated for her ear infection. It was the next day before they were able to locate another doctor who was on their insurance plan and, more importantly, thought that daughters of people with tattoos and body piercings are deserving of their time and effort.
Excuse me a second while I scream. ARRRRGGGGHHHH!
Dr. Merrill, I'm sure that somewhere down deep inside you are a nice fellow who loves the Lord and whose original intention was to provide a wholesome atmosphere for your patients. But in all candor, sir, the evidence would tend to suggest that you are a misguided zealot. And a Pharisee in the worst possible sense of that title. And an idiot. And of course, since I am a Christian I say that in love. Bless your heart.
Dr. Merrill, your actions have confirmed the absolute worst possible stereotype that the world has of Christians— that we are judgmental, spiteful, exclusionary bigots who want to create some kind of world where everyone looks, acts, thinks, smells and behaves like we think they should (never mind that most of the time we don't live up to that standard ourselves). Many churches across our land have practiced this kind of exclusion in a subtle way, but you have done it blatantly, and posted it proudly on your wall.
(I just had a mental image of churches with a similar plaque in their foyer - "This is a Christian Church. Standards of Appearance and Behavior Apply. We reserve the right to refuse salvation to anyone.")
Your policies, Dr. Merrill, run counter to everything that Jesus ever taught! Tell me one time, just one time, where Jesus required someone to clean up their act before they came to Him. Tell me one instance where Jesus preferred those who met the standards of the day in terms of acceptable standards of appearance and behavior for those deemed to be "godly."
On the contrary, He sought out the lowest of the low, tax collectors, publicans, sinners, and lepers. Most of the time when He dealt with those deemed to be "godly" He was pointing a finger at them and saying "Woe to you," driving them out of the temple, or saying they were "painted coffins," pretty on the outside and rotten and decayed on the inside.
Quote me one verse, just one verse in the Bible that would back up your actions (you remember the Bible, don't you, Dr. Merrill? I'm sure there are several on the fashionable side tables in your Christian waiting room.)
On the contrary, the Bible says whoever ministers unto "the least of these" is in reality ministering to Jesus Himself.
Dr. Merrill, might I suggest that you ask yourself the ubiquitous Christian armband question— What would Jesus Do?— and sincerely seek the mind of Christ and the heart of God in the answer to that question.
(By the way, Dr. Merrill, do you realize that if Jesus walked into your practice, He would be denied treatment because of His dusty feet, worn sandals and long hair? Not to mention those body piercings in his hands and feet.)
Here's a study in contrasts for you: Which one of the following reflects the character and teachings of Jesus— Dr. Gary Merrill, in his clean, fashionable, well-appointed and undoubtedly holy-looking offices, treating other stylish, clean-cut Christians? Or Mother Teresa giving aid, comfort and medical attention to the hungry, homeless, crippled, blind lepers on the streets of Calcutta?
That is the ultimate no-brainer.
I would hope that the Christian community in Bakersfield would stand as one and denounce Dr. Merrill's policies. I pray that some other doctor who is a Christian (as opposed to a Christian Doctor, which Dr. Merrill apparently is) would step up and offer to treat the little girl for free. I would pray that Dr. Merrill would say publicly that, while he meant well when he set up his policies, after reflecting on this incident he now realizes that turning people away is not what Jesus would do. (For what it's worth, Dr. Merrill declined to be interviewed on the record or on camera, but was quoted as saying if they don't like his beliefs, they can find another doctor. Good move, Einstein.)
The mean side of me ("bad Alan" as my brother Voddie Baucham would say) hopes that every tattooed and pierced believer within driving distance of Bakersfield would come to Christian Medical Services in humility and love and present themselves to Dr. Merrill for treatment of a heartache.
It is horribly ironic that Dr. Merrill refused treatment to a child because of how her mother looked. Jesus never said, "Let the little children come to me as long as their parents look godly."
"Forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom" was I believe what He said.
The Christian community has struggled for two thousand years now with our natural human bent toward legalism. Sadly, most of the time it has been a losing battle. So much so that our legalism defines us in the eyes of our culture, the very culture we are attempting to reach with the Gospel. Legalism in any form ultimately flies in the face of everything that Jesus taught.
I think this is the first time I have ever used this space to hammer someone. For what it's worth, in a way I feel bad for Gary Merrill.
Dr. Merrill, I feel your pain. See, I am a recovering Pharisee. Each day is a battle for me as I strive to be more like Jesus, and less like the religious leaders He rebuked. Some days I come closer to succeeding than others. Some days I mess up and pull a Gary Merrill. I am thankful that when I do, it has never wound up on the evening news. Like it did for you, Dr. Merrill.
Read the news story here.
Throughout history, the love of a man for a woman (or vice-versa) has inspired us to reach for the heights of our creative abilities in search of a way to express that love. Look at all of the songs that have been written, the words that have been penned, even the monuments that have been erected. They say that the majestic Taj Mahal in India was built to express a man's love for a woman.