Blog post
As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).
Our time is marked by troubling trends that threaten both personal and public wellbeing. The prioritization of profit over people, shrinking international cooperation, and the spread of misinformation that undermines trust in science are steadily eroding the foundations of solidarity and compassion. When global institutions such as the World Health Organization struggle for resources and nations turn inward, it is the most vulnerable who are left behind. To abandon the foundational values of our faith in such a moment would be catastrophic. As the Psalmist warns, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
In these conditions, faith communities have a vital vocation: to nurture a value-based social order rooted in love, justice, and compassion; an order capable of sustaining life when political systems falter and market logics distort. Building such a society begins within us. It calls for a turning of the heart toward God and toward one another- a spiritual grounding that moves us to care not only for our own health, but for the health of the whole creation.
Three movements mark this faithful path: acknowledge, abide, and act.
Acknowledge
The first step toward wholeness is to acknowledge God’s presence in every part of life and creation. Scripture proclaims, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it” (Psalm 24:1). Health and life are therefore gifts to be stewarded, not possessions to be exploited.
To acknowledge is to recognize the divine image in every person (Genesis 1:26) and to honour the sacredness of our own bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). When we truly see God in ourselves and in others, we begin to treat the body, and the bodies of others, with reverence and care. This awareness summons us to promote equitable access to healthcare, to challenge systems that devalue life, and to respond with compassion to those who suffer. As the prophet Micah reminds us, what God requires is both simple and profound: “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Abide
Abiding means more than believing; it means dwelling daily in the life-giving values of our faith. Jesus says, “Abide in me as I abide in you” (John 15:4). To abide in Christ is to be rooted in peace, simplicity, and love, resisting the culture of self-centredness that fractures communities and isolates individuals.
As temples of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16), we are called to nurture our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing as an act of gratitude. This includes caring for our minds and bodies, resting when weary, nourishing ourselves wisely, and extending care to others. To abide is also to open ourselves continually to transformation - “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds” (Romans 12:2), so that our choices reflect wholeness rather than harm.
Act
Faith that remains unexpressed in action is incomplete. The Letter of James urges, “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves” (James 1:22). To act faithfully is to make belief visible: in how we care for the vulnerable, speak truth, support just health policies, resist misinformation, and embody compassion in everyday life.
When we act out of love and divine awareness, our lives become signs of healing in a wounded world. Jesus affirms, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Each act of care, from helping a neighbour to advocating for public health- becomes a testimony that God’s Spirit is alive and at work among us.
In acknowledging, abiding, and acting, we participate in God’s redemptive work: nurturing health of body, mind, and spirit, and restoring the bonds of community and creation. Through faith, love, and hope, we reclaim health not as a privilege for a few, but as a shared expression of God’s abundant life for all.
About the author :
Dr Manoj Kurian is the Director of the WCC's Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing. He is a Malaysian medical doctor, trained in Community Health and Health Systems Management. After working for seven years in mission hospitals in diverse rural regions in India, from 1999, he headed the health work at the WCC for 13 years. From 2012 to 2014, he worked at the International AIDS Society as the senior manager, responsible for the policy and advocacy work. From 2015 to 2024, Dr Kurian was the Coordinator of the WCC-Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.
