It is the opinion of some people that if a doctor does not go to a foreign field to take up medical missionary work, he is not doing the Lord's work, and is perhaps living selfishly. Considering the facts, it seems that this is a false impression concerning the work of our doctors and nurses, because many of our medical folk are doing much here in the homeland. "Christ's Object Lessons" points out the spirit of true service for God:
"There are many who have given themselves to Christ, yet who see no opportunity of doing a large work or making great sacrifices in His service. These may find comfort in the thought that it is not necessarily the martyr's self-surrender which is most acceptable to God; it may not be the missionary who has daily faced danger and death, that stands highest in heaven's records. The Christian who is such in his private life, in the daily surrender of self, in sincerity of purpose and purity of thought, in meekness under provocation, in faith and piety, in fidelity in that which is least, the one who in the home life represents the character of Christ,—such a one may in the sight of God be more precious than even the world-renowned missionary or martyr."—Page 403.
This does not minimize the great sacrifices that many of our God-fearing doctors have made to carry the gospel to the far corners of the earth, but it does reveal that however short the service, or humble the work, the one who goes forward in simple faith shall not be disappointed with the reward. Many of our doctors are doing considerable missionary work in a quiet way right where they are, but this phase of the doctor's work is seldom heard of by the average layman.
Southern California, where the College of Medical Evangelists is located, has perhaps more S.D.A. doctors than any other section of North America. Since I gave up the pastorship of a church to give my full time to the medical school, the local conference has been making appointments for me to go to a different church each Sabbath; thus I have had a little opportunity to see the leadership and the workings of many churches here in this large conference. The thing that has impressed me most is that in almost every church where I have gone, I find a doctor or several doctors leading out in various important church offices, such as local elder, Sabbath school superintendent, missionary leader, or in other capacities of the church organization.
This shows that our doctors, with their educational advantages and community leadership, are acting as potent forces in many of our churches. When a doctor leads out in this way, he naturally feels a responsibility for the goals and prosperity of the church. He is usually an example in giving large donations; and, as the expression is often used, "he is a real pillar of the church."
Having recently taken a trip across the United States, I had an opportunity to study some of the more remote churches, and found many of our doctors leading out very definitely in a self-supporting missionary program equal to that of any of our paid workers. This is the side of the doctor's work that has perhaps been overlooked in reporting the activities of medical missionary work.
Statistics from the General Conference Medical Department reveal that only a small percentage of our doctors leave the truth and turn their talents to the world and moneymaking. The majority of our doctors are just as keenly interested as the lay members in pushing the triumphs of the cross, seeking to enlighten souls, and laboring for the salvation of our fellow beings. It seems to me that some of the reports about our doctors' devoting their time and strength to self-serving are merely gossip. Often we hear only the one side, and that is the bad side. When a doctor leaves the straight and narrow way, it attracts notice, just as it does when a minister listens to Satan's sophistries and allurements, and misses his calling. Everybody knows about it: but we never hear of the great majority of doctors who are doing just such a noble medical missionary work as I have mentioned.
Looking at the Doctor From All Sides
Now let us view our doctor from another viewpoint—we might term it the financial. The liberal offerings of our physicians and surgeons amount to many thousands of dollars a year toward the support of local church activities and home missionary projects, as well as foreign mission budgets. Many of these God-fearing doctors are too timid to try to lead out in a public way, but they willingly assume the responsibility of helping in a monetary way. Take the tithe given by our doctors away from our conferences, and it would indeed be missed in our financial structure. A few months ago a doctor whom I know handed the church treasurer a check for $1,200, which was his tithe for three months. Our great mission program is aided to a great extent by the finances of godly men who render unto God the service He asks.
Mrs. E. G. White says that we need consecrated men to follow the plow, and other statements from the Testimonies plead for consecrated doctors to carry on local practice, thus aiding our home missionary work and the foreign missionary program by their means.
I appeal for us to remember the local doctors in our prayers, because they have their temptations, and Satan tries to discourage them in a very definite way; but the Lord has a very important place in His plan for them. I also wish to appeal to the local doctor to be faithful and active in his church, and to be alert to see the opportunity of medical missionary work right where he is.