When Ryan told me I could write an uncensored blog my first thought was to preach why everybody should seek to repeal the tobacco tax, or why the Kansas Jayhawks are awesome, or why Arkansas needs much colder weather, but most of you have heard those discourses from me many times over. Instead I decided to write a parable on the relationship of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross and our limited tolerance of theological diversity. Hopefully it will make sense.
I work as a sales representative for a nebulizer company and I call on pediatricians in clinics and hospitals. My role is to convince doctors why they need to use my company as their supplier of nebulizers. First of all, a Nebulizer is a device used to deliver medication in the form of a mist which is inhaled into the lungs in order to improve breathing. The bottom line for a nebulizer is to get the patient breathing better so they can live a healthier life.
In the medical industry there are many companies who manufacture nebulizers, so how do we know which one is “right”? Well, essentially all nebulizers are the same, but there is one major non-negotiable in regards to nebulizers. The patient probably will not fully understand the pharmacological efficacy of the device so the non-negotiable aspect is the patient needs to appreciate that the treatment itself is going to make their life better; not perfect, but better. Our society sometimes places too high a value on trying to figure everything out, but there are some aspects of the nebulizer and the treatment that are beyond most people’s comprehension. The beauty of the matter is not in knowing how the treatment works but the fact that the treatment does work.
Essentially, all nebulizers are the same and have the same desired outcome: breathing better because of the treatment. But there are some minor differences. Some have a better treatment time, some a higher respirable fraction, and some are more portable, but in choosing a nebulizer sometimes the deciding factor needs to be what allows the treatment to have a deeper deposition with the patient.
In finishing, a sales representative with my company told me about a conversation she had with a doctor about how our company started. She told the doctor how several years ago our owners broke off from the original company to start their own nebulizer company because of differing interpretations of the business contract. The original company sued our owners and then our owners countersued; all the while both companies are still to this day trying to gain market-share over each other. The doctor’s comment, “That’s a lot of drama over nebulizers.”
I agree with the doctor. I want him to use my nebulizers but I realize I am biased about what nebulizer delivers a better treatment. But all the doctors and companies agree that the main thing needed for making breathing and living better…is the treatment.
Legend:
nebulizer = denomination/religion
doctor = pastor
treatment = God’s redemptive work in a person’s life
patient = a person
breathing better = following Christ
healthier life = bringing God’s kingdom to earth