SPIRITUAL TRIAGE
Don Hawley
While serving as Director of Public Relations for a Midwestern hospital, I witnessed a large-scale exercise in handling possible disaster. The institution's medical team practiced a system called "triage." This is a plan whereby quick decisions are made in regards to the status of victims. Those who are not too bad off have to wait for assistance. Those who can be saved with immediate care receive such attention. But those who appear unlikely to survive must be passed by until some later time--if they are still alive.
At first such an assessment seemed cruel and inhuman. How could one pass by any fellow human in desperate need? Later I came to understand that the hospital's resources were not limitless; they needed to be portioned out to bring the greatest amount of help to the greatest number of people. Those critical decisions were never easy, but in the long run proved to be the kindest approach.
In the spiritual realm we also need to practice a certain type of triage. As individuals our own resources are limited as to time and energy, and we need to use them in the most effective manner possible to advance the kingdom. To do otherwise, no matter how sincere the concern, would be to practice poor stewardship.
At one time God said, "Ephriam is joined to idols; leave him alone!" Hosea 4:17. There are those who are willfully against, or indifferent to, spiritual matters. To expend great amounts of effort trying to win them over, before there is a degree of interest, is effort wasted. Effort that could be put to better use.
Then there are those actively involved in religious matters, but who are described in 2 Corinthians.
Not only Moses face was veiled, but his people's minds and understanding were veiled and blinded too. Even now when the Scripture is read it seems as though Jewish hearts and minds are covered by a thick veil, because they cannot see and understand the real meaning of the Scriptures . . . Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings their hearts are blind and they think that obeying the Ten Commandments is the way to be saved. 2 Corin. 3:14-15.
Here the Lord is telling us that people deeply trapped in legalism, salvation by their own works, are not approachable. They are spiritually blind, and will reject anything presented to them no matter how scriptural. Effort expended would be largely wasted.
Is there any hope for such?
For this veil of misunderstanding can be removed only by believing in Christ . . . Whenever anyone turns to the Lord from his sins, then the veil is taken away. The Lord is the Spirit who gives them life, and where he is there is freedom (from trying to be saved by keeping the laws of God). 2 Corin. 3:14, 16, 17.
The instruction is clear. If you are going to attempt to help a legalist, deal only with the Gospel itself--nothing else will prove effective. If you can make a breakthrough by a rending of the veil, then other truths can be shared as well.
Most of our efforts should be expended on those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, those who are open and ready to receive. There are more of them out there than we suspect. The harvest is plentiful; our need is for dedicated and Spirit-filled reapers.
In a real disaster, do any of those passed by as hopeless ever survive? Yes, of course, a few do. And God will still reclaim some who appear hopeless from a spiritual sense. But not because we wear them down with our incessant witnessing. We do best leaving them to God.
In the case of physical disaster, suppose a member of a triage team comes upon a victim he would ordinarily pass by as without hope. However, the victim turns out to be a close relative or a lifelong friend! Would the team leader forgive the member for trying to help? Probably. And you may have loved ones or dear friends who seem to fit into the "hopeless" category, but your feelings for them will not allow you to pass on by. Certainly the Lord will understand.
Our world, locked in cosmic warfare, is a true disaster zone. Everywhere we look we see individuals whose soul has been badly wounded. In spiritual triage, fortunately, we are not left to our own wisdom in deciding who to approach first with the balm of truth. The Holy Spirit will be our unerring guide day by day. Our part is to be ready always for such divine appointments.