Lay Medical Evangelism and the Final Crisis

I WISH to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work."—Counsels on Health, p. 533.

For some time these words have been ringing in my ears and giving me cause for serious re­flection. They are clear cut and definite. They form another ray of light that penetrates the darkness of the future. Since doubtlessly we are rapidly approaching the day when this di­vine prediction will be realized, it behooves us to ponder it seriously and to prepare diligently.

This prediction speaks of a soon-coming sea­son, no doubt immediately before the end of probation, when a conspiracy of circumstances masterminded by the enemy of all righteousness will drastically circumscribe the activities of God's servants. This statement does not pre­dict a decrease in fruitage. On the contrary, ever greater harvests will accompany the final call of the gospel. But it does seem plain that this prophecy foretells a drastic limitation of method. Could we also say that we shall be forced to adopt methods of evangelism more nearly approaching those the Saviour used? Could it be true that the final crisis will con­strain us to use the medical arm to the fullest advantage? We know that this arm is strong and productive at the present time. But still greater triumphs will be attained when it is used by all workers for God.

The servant of the Lord reminds us that "it is important that everyone who is to act as a medical missionary be skilled in ministering to the soul as well as to the body."—Ibid., p. 507. Christian physicians, who minister to the body, cannot afford to ignore the interrelated condi­tions of the mind and soul. And neither can physicians of the soul overlook the intimately related conditions of the body. Although both types of workers for God emphasize their pe­culiar ministry because of specialized training in either medicine or theology, there should be a growing cooperation between them. God's work will triumph to the degree that unity and harmony is established between these two as­pects of service.

Medicine is not merely the highly specialized practice of administering medications or of re­moving diseased organs. It is equally concerned with prevention. While medicine "sometimes cures, often relieves, it always consoles." Con­solation can be administered most frequently and is needed the most. It is here that laymen can shine, especially if they will study to con­sole intelligently. Those who are not doctors or nurses or even technicians of various kinds can practice "lay medicine." I fully believe that the counsel of the Spirit of Prophecy relative to medical work for laymen was written for our day. I also believe that its counsel can be car­ried out in spite of the ever-increasing demand for diplomas and certificates.

We are told that "all gospel workers should know how to give the simple treatments that do so much to relieve pain and remove disease."— The Ministry of Healing, p. 146. Every worker for God, be he a highly educated minister of the gospel, a successful businessman, or even one who cannot claim much education, should be thoroughly familiar with the practice of medicine open to him. He should be fully ac­quainted with the remedies at his disposal— fresh air, sunlight, water, exercise, rest, sleep, and diet.

But even the use of these excellent remedies in the cure of disease does not represent all that is involved in lay medical practice. We are re­minded that "too little attention is generally given to the preservation of health. It is far bet­ter to prevent disease than to know how to treat it when contracted."—Ibid., p. 128.

In the field of preventive medicine all can shine, especially if a definite effort is put forth to seek added information. To help someone to recover from an illness is wonderful. God is glorified. But to prevent illness is even more wonderful. Simple remedies should be studied and used. But special efforts should be made to know the truth about prevention and to teach it to others. I believe this is the Lord's counsel.

Christian sympathy together with the applica­tion of the layman's simple remedies will en­courage, upbuild, remove prejudice, and carry the work of God to its triumphant end during the very trying days that lie ahead.

This work can be done by everyone, whether minister, physician, or layman. "Christ commits to His followers an individual work—a work that cannot be done by proxy. Ministry to the sick and the poor, the giving of the gospel to the lost, is not to be left to committees or organized charities. Individual responsibility, individual effort, personal sacrifice, is the requirement of the gospel."—Ibid., p. 147.

That our ministers are counseled to practice lay medicine we are not left to surmise. It is stated clearly that "if our ministers would work earnestly to obtain an education in medical missionary lines, they would be far better fitted to do the work Christ did as a medical mission­ary."-—Medical Ministry, p. 239.

I appreciated this pointed counsel. It is emi­nently practical, notwithstanding the apparent limitations and difficulties presented by rules in a highly organized society and the demands for licenses and diplomas. If we are eager to carry out this good counsel, God will surely point the way toward its complete implemen­tation.

Will a minister really be more efficient in his work as a lay medical practitioner? The servant of the Lord says: "A gospel minister will be twice as successful in his work if he understands how to treat disease."—Ibid., p. 245. Not only will he be more successful now, but active at a time soon to come when no other type of min­istry will be tolerated. Therefore is it not a duty incumbent upon all of us to seek instruction without delay?

If our medical and nursing schools devote sufficient time to the study of spiritual and evan­gelistic methods in order to enable its grad­uates to be efficient gospel workers, would it not be wise for our theological schools to pro­vide proportionate time for the study of physi­cal methods? Medical and nursing methods, which would enable our ministers and Bible teachers to do a fully balanced work, could be taught in either medical or theological institu­tions. No doubt the former would be prefer­able, since facilities for thorough instruction would be at hand.

"The Lord calls for men and women in our churches who have the light to engage in gen­uine missionary work."—Ibid., p. 242. This light can best be imparted by well-trained ministers or by our doctors and nurses in congregations that are fortunate enough to count them as members. Thus the entire membership will be prepared for that inevitable hour when the gos­pel endeavor will be severely circumscribed.

Let us not wait until that hour comes. Medi­cal missionary work has ever been God's method. If every church is made the training school for medical missionary skills, the final scenes will not overwhelm us.