Christ was the great Medical Missionary, and He is our example. Of Him it is written that He "went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." Matt. 4:23. He both healed the sick and preached the gospel. Healino-b and teaching were linked closely together in His ministry. They are not to be separated today. (See "Testimonies," Vol. IX, pp. 170, 171.) The true gospel medical missionary is he who in his ministry most perfectly emulates the example and teaching of the Great Medical Missionary.
A Christian physician or other properly trained medical worker may become a true gospel medical missionary if, in addition to and in connection with his scientific medical service, he combines the ministry of the Word as Jesus combined the ministry of the Word with His healing of disease.
"Christ has given us an example. He taught from the Scriptures the gospel truths, and He also healed the afflicted ones who came to Him for relief. He was the greatest physician the world ever knew, and yet He combined with His healing work the imparting of soul-saving truth. And thus should our physicians labor. They are doing the Lord's work when they labor as evangelists, giving instruction as to how the soul may be healed by the Lord Jesus. . .
"The greatest physician is the one who walks in the footsteps of Jesus Christ."—"Counsels on Health," p. 544.
"Every physician can and ought to be a Christian, and if so, he bears with him a cure for the soul as well as the body. He is doing the work of an apostle as well as of a physician."—Id., p. 535.
Not only a physician, but a minister, or other consecrated spiritual worker, may likewise become a true gospel medical missionary if in addition to and in connection with his ministry of the Word, he combines the ministry of physical healing, using and promulgating those simple, natural means of life and health that have been given to this people for this very purpose.
"A gospel minister will be twice as successful in his work if he understands how to treat disease."—"Medical Ministry," P. 245.
"Let our ministers, who have gained an experience in preaching the Word, learn how to give simple treatments, and then labor intelligently as medical missionary evangelists."—"Testimonies," Vol. IX, p. 172.
Christ is the full and true example for both classes of workers—the ministerial and the medical. "The physician and the minister should realize that they are engaged in the same work."—Id., Vol. VII, p. III. Christ combined the medical with His spiritual ministry and the spiritual ministry with His medical—healing with preaching, and preaching with healing.
"How essential that the living missionary should understand the diseases which afflict the human body, to combine the physician, educated to care for diseased bodies, with the faithful, conscientious shephe-d of the flock, to give sacredness and double efficiency to the service." —"Counsels on Health," pp. 535, 536.
At times Christ preceded His healing with teaching or preaching, and at other times He preceded His teaching and preaching with healing. On certain occasions He preached without any immediate healings, and again He healed without any apparent immediate teaching or preaching. On every occasion He employed the most effective method or combination of methods in His approach and work. Jesus is the perfect pattern. Not many physicians or ministers are qualified to follow fully the example He set in His life and works, but all should imitate His example as far as possible.
"Ministers especially should know the character and works of Christ, that they may imitate Him ; for the character and works of a true Christian are like His. He laid asi,de His glory, His dominion, His riches, and sought after those who were perishing in sin. He humbled Himself to our necessities, that He might exalt us to Heaven. Sacrifice, self-denial, and disinterested benevolence characterized His life. He is our pattern. . . . He is a perfect and holy example, given for us to imitate. We cannot equal the pattern ; but we shall not be approved of God if we do not copy it, and, according to the ability which God has given, resemble it."—"Testimonies," Vol. II, p. 549.
Because the pattern of "His life and work" is perfect, and we are imperfect, and therefore unable as individuals to equal the pattern fully in our life and work, it is required, first, that ministerial workers and medical workers each endeavor personally and individually to imitate the Pattern as nearly as possible by combining in their ministry the two lines of work; and second, that they combine, or join themselves one with the other, in the work. Thus the example of the Master may be seen more perfectly and its benign influence be felt by those to whom the gospel is ministered.
Physicians, who are highly educated and also trained by practice in the scientific, medical field, should seek earnestly to become as highly educated and trained in things spiritual. Ministers, who are highly educated and trained in spiritual service, should seek earnestly to become highly informed and trained in medical ministry.
"The minister will often be called upon to act the part of a physician. He should have a training that will enable him to administer the simpler remedies for the relief of suffering. Ministers and Bible workers should prepare themselves for this line of work ; for in doing it, they are following the example of Christ."—"Medical Ministry,' p. 253.
It is not to be expected that a Christian physician will so minimize his medical work that he can give most of his time or even an equal part of his time and energies to teaching and preaching, for the Master Himself did not do this, and He is the true Head of the medical profession. ("Counsels on Health," p. 536.)
It is not so much the amount of teaching or preaching to be done by the Christian physician that makes him a true gospel medical missionary, as it is the nature and tactfulness of his teaching and preaching. "No one of all the parties with whom he is acquainted can do as much for the sick one as a truly converted nurse and physician."—"Medical Ministry," p. 235. On the other hand, if we as ministers are to imitate the example of the Master in our life and work, certainly we must give far more attention to medical ministry than we have done in the past. If we are to imitate the Example fully, we will devote more of our energies and time to medical ministry than we do to teaching or preaching, for Jesus did that in setting us our example.
"The Lord, in His great goodness and matchless love, has been urging upon His human instrumentalities that missionaries are not really complete in their education unless they have a knowledge of how to treat the sick and suffering."—"Counsels on Health," p. 536.
"True missionary work is that in which the Saviour's work is best represented, His methods most closely copied, His glory best promoted. Missionary work that falls short of this standard is recorded in heaven as defective. It is weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and found wanting."—"Testimonies," Vol. VI, p. 230.
"God is displeased with those who are too careless or indolent to become efficient, well-informed workers."—.H., Vol. Iv, p. 545.
"Soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work."—"Counsels on Health," p. 533.
The relationship between the two fields of work that make one a true gospel medical missionary is clearly set forth in the following: "The medical missionary work has never been presented to me in any other way than as bearing the same relation to the work as a whole as the arm does to the body. The gospel ministry is an organization for the proclamation of the truth and the carrying forward of the work for sick and well. This is the body, the medical missionary work is the arm, and Christ is the head over all. Thus the matter has been presented to me."—"Medical Ministry," p. 237. (See also "Testimonies," Vol. VI, p. 242.)
A perfect blending of the two phases of service and of the two classes of workers is the picture given us of God. "In God's work teaching and healing are never to be separated His commandment-keeping people are to be one. Satan will invent every device to separate those whom God is seeking to make one."—"Testimonies," Vol. VIII, p. 165.
Medically trained preachers of the gospel and ministerial medical missionary workers, joined in gospel service, will bring into the work a power and success that cannot be attained in any other way.
