OUR MINISTRY
the meaning behind the name
The name Scalpel At The Cross provides powerful imagery. These four words capture the essence of a medical ministry which began as an expression of one surgeon’s call to service.
The tool of a surgeon
The scalpel is the main tool of a surgeon, distinguishing the surgeon with certain capabilities specific to his training and interest. The scalpel, therefore, symbolizes one’s career and talent, as well as one’s most vital tools and resources.
A surgeon’s livelihood has demanded inordinate preparation, and a consuming commitment to the care of patients; so much so that surgery is not simply what a surgeon does, but rather what he lives and what he is. Surgeons are passionate.
All of this: our tools, resources, talents, experiences, livelihood, commitments, passion, in fact who we are and what we live, should rest right at the foot of the cross to represent not simply a donation, but a sacrifice of our entire life to God.
AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS
The word at, signifies “at”…as in, not close by, not a phone call away, or just give me a holler, but rather right there– immediately present. The scalpel here is visible at the foot of the cross, not lying against it, on it, next to it, on top of it, or anywhere else in the picture. The scalpel is at the foot of the towering cross. The location at the foot of the cross represents humility, availability, adoration, and sacrifice.
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THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD
Notice the word “the” in the name Scalpel At The Cross. The is a huge word in this context. The name of the ministry is not scalpel at a cross since this is not just any cross. As there is only one true God, “the” signifies the greatest cross, the only cross, indeed the way, the truth and the life.
FATHER GOD, JESUS CHRIST, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
The cross is strong, sturdy, skyward, and towers above the scalpel. The Cross symbolizes Father God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. These receive the scalpel sacrifice, look over it, use it, protect it, give it expression and great purpose. The cross is in fact the reason the owner of the scalpel exists in the first place, and the reason the scalpel lies where it does.
A scalpel is indeed a great tool of the physician, but only when it is razor sharp. The Scalpel At The Cross is far sharper and infinitely more effective in the hands of The Great Physician Himself.
What more humble location than at our Lord’s feet, acknowledging insufficiency and meekness in the shadow of His magnificence. At the foot suggests availability, “Here I am Lord right in front of you ready to be used in a way which would please you most.” At the foot conjures a sense of looking upward, or looking up to, as in adoration. Though the little drummer boy adored his Lord, he could only march his humble tune and drumsticks to the foot of the cross. That was his life and his life was his sacrifice. Those drumsticks are this scalpel, a living sacrifice at the very foot of the cross.
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OUR FAITH, AT SCALPEL
AT THE CROSS
SCALPEL AT THE CROSS AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We live no longer for ourselves
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable (1 Peter 1:3-4). Because we believe this to be true, we live no longer for ourselves, but by the power of his Spirit, we invest God’s gift of wisdom and expertise in orthopaedic medical ministry for the healing of others. We believe God’s Word as it proclaims boldly that all have sinned, and all will fall under the judgment of God. Therefore, we use the means given to us through orthopaedic medicine to point one another and those who have never heard this gospel to the mercy and treasure of salvation found in Jesus Christ who is LORD of all … and who will one day return for all who love and follow him.
Scalpel At The Cross
Affirmation of Faith
The purpose of our Affirmation of Faith is to express a global picture of what we believe.
I. THE TRINITY
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit; and that these are the same divine essence and are equal in every divine perfection, but that they have different roles. (Genesis 1:1, 26; John 1:1, 3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19, 20; Ephesians 4:5, 6)
II. GOD THE FATHER
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Luke 10:21, 22; Matthew 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; I Timothy 1:1, 2; 2:5, 6; I Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6)
III. JESUS CHRIST
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; 8:46; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9, 10; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; I Timothy 3:16)
IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe in the Holy Spirit sent into the world by God to glorify the Son of God. We believe that without his work no one would come to faith. We believe that His work in regeneration is not the result of water baptism or any outward ritual. We believe He indwells everyone who trusts in Christ, and helps them make progress in overcoming sin and in becoming more like Jesus Christ in thought, deed, and love for God the Father. (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26, 27; 16:9-14; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 5:22-26)
V. THE WORD OF GOD
We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the infallible Word of God, verbally inspired by God, and without error in the original manuscripts. We believe that God’s intentions, revealed in the Bible, are the supreme and final authority in testing all claims about what is true and what is right. In matters not addressed by the Bible, what is true and right is assessed by criteria consistent with the teachings of Scripture. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21; 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 14:37; Mark 13:31; John 8:31, 32; 14:26; 16:13-14; 17:17; 20:31; Acts 20:32; Matthew 22:29, 43-44; 24:35; Numbers 23:19; Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 12:6; Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2)
VI. THE HUMAN CONDITION AND SALVATION
We believe that man was created by God in His own image and for his glory; but that man sinned and fell short of God’s glory, and thus incurred physical, spiritual, and eternal separation from God. We believe that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and sin by choice, and so are under divine condemnation. We reject justification by works of the law, and we believe that only those who trust Jesus Christ as their Savior, by virtue of His atoning death on the cross, submit to him as Lord, and embrace Him as supreme Treasure of their lives, are justified, delivered from condemnation, and receive eternal life. We believe that this faith leads to a heartfelt turning from sin. The Christian life involves growth in grace through persevering, Holy Spirit-empowered resolve to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ. (Genesis 1:26-7; 2:17; 3:19; 3; Ecclesiastes 2:11; Matthew 13:44; John 1:13; 3:14; 3:16; 5:24; 5:30; 7:13; 8:12; 10:26; 17:3; Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 17:9; James 1:14; Romans 3:19; 5:19; Philippians 3:7-8; I John 1:9; II Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:11; 8:1; I Corinthians 15:1-2: Hebrews 3:12-14; 6:11-12; 10:39)
VII. THE CHURCH
We believe in one holy, universal Church made up of all who trust Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Treasure of their lives. We believe that God calls us to unite with other believers in local churches to help each other to value Christ above all, to praise Him together, to grow in our love and knowledge of Him, to stir each other up to good works, and to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. We believe that Christians should be baptized and regularly eat the Lord’s Supper. (Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 15:36, 41; 16:5; I Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:1-3; Revelations 1:4, 10, 11; Hebrews 10:24-25; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
VIII. THE LAST THINGS
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body and the final judgment of all people, leading to the eternal happiness of the righteous in the Lord’s presence, and the eternal separation of the wicked from the presence of the Lord. (Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Phil. 3:20; I Thessalonians 4:15-8; II Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 4:5; 15; II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 20:11-15)