Skip to main content

THE XENOBIOTIC WAY OF LIVING: PERSPECTIVE OF A CHRISTIAN PHYSICIAN


The Christian physician who birthed this lovely post is named Ifeoluwa Oloruntoba. Enjoy!
A xenobiotic is a foreign chemical substance found within an organism that is not normally naturally produced, or expected to be present within that organism.
Normally, xenobiotic drugs have one of 3 fates. They can:
-          Be Metabolized
-          Be Excreted Unchanged
-          Undergo spontaneous reactions on their own
From the perspective of a Christian physician, the prescription of drugs isn’t just based on the normal clinical diagnosis- i.e following a management plan as usual, but more importantly, he administers the correct therapeutic dosage of the living word of God to his patient- albeit, wisely.
This is because to the flesh i.e. selfish man, the word of God is like a xenobiotic-foreign body.
In effect, there is administration of 2 foreign bodies to the patient: DRUGS and the WORD.
Funny enough, the word of God has 3 fates in man’s system; just like the chemical xenobiotic.
It could:
-          Be Metabolized:
Metabolism comprises both processes of anabolism (building up) and catabolism (breaking down).
The processes of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16-17) all break and build a man to the fullness of the stature of Christ.
Enzymes are required in the metabolic process. They help speed up the rate of reaction in biologic systems. As enzymes are in the biologic systems, there are also spiritual enzymes. They include: prayer, fasting, studying and faithful service.
      -Undergo spontaneous reaction:
        Spontaneous reactions in the school of the spirit means the spontaneous action of the word of God without the hastening of the process by aforementioned enzymes. Truthfully, this process occurs mostly in individuals who have undergone anabolism i.e. word-building for some time.
It could also be a situation requiring instant faith and action.
-          Be Excreted Unchanged:
Applicable to anyone who listens to the word but doesn’t do what it says. 
Mathematically, the ratio of the fate of God’s word in a man’s spiritual system should be something of this nature:
Metabolism= 50-70%
Spontaneous reaction= 30-50%
Excretion= 0%
However, the average case scenario is of this nature:
            Metabolism= 15-20%
            Spontaneous reaction= 5%
            Excretion= 70-80%
Words of wisdom: The eternal value of man is inherent in his spirit. Caring for man goes beyond the body.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

LOVE-CLERKING

A few days ago, we discussed clerking. We’d use that basic knowledge in clerking an individual presenting with certain complaints. History Taking Biodata: Patient X is a 22 year old male Afghanistan student. Presenting complaints: Tachycardia, Sleeplessness, lack of focus History of presenting complaints: first symptom- insomnia (sleeplessness), followed by tachycardia (increase in heart beat), and then, loss of focus. First noticed about 3 weeks ago. Past medical history: Relatively healthy individual, treated for malaria 2 months ago. Has no history of insomnia or tachycardia. Physical Examination Examine cardiovascular system with stethoscope. Examine the lungs as well as the neurological system. Provisional diagnosis Patient is undergoing mental stress, and this is taking a toll on his heart and brain Investigations Laboratory tests are carried out on patient’s blood Due to the neurological and psychological nature of this problem, other areas are also in...

#POETRY# MOMENTS

So, it’s another Monday. Today’s poem is on moments, appreciating them and taking second looks at the seemingly mundane. Enjoy! MOMENTS You never know, you just never know There he was last night, holding your hands, Looking into your eyes with passion beyond expression, And then; here he was this morning, telling a sad tale of never! Who knew love could become so tasteless overnight? It had seemed over in less than a flash; So much for the deep love you shared. Where it all ends, you just never know! Memories of baby’s not so far away childhood, Flickered before her eyes like a dimly lit flame Was it not just last summer she had started crawling? And in what appeared to be less than 24hours, She had walked, jumped and taken sandwiches to school And now, she fit smugly into a graduation gown, cape and all, Her baby was now a grown woman And those memories were all she had left! He stroked her tapered fingers lovingly as he wept by her beds...

LIKE FAITH AND LOVE

Gal 5:6 - For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. The heart and the lungs are like faith and love, their functions intertwined, their locations proximate, the feelings that they generate just as conclusive. They produce hope for the survival of the physical body, just like faith and love produce hope for the spiritual body’s survival. Experiences of today made me realize something: we need faith intertwined with love to breathe as spirit beings, as much as we need the functional capacity of our cardio-respiratory apparatuses to breathe the breath of life. It’s that important…faith and love I mean.