Neglect by the Church and the Ministry
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His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and
hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:4-6
. Our great need is unity, perfect
oneness in God’s work.
Those who cannot see the importance and bearing of the medical
missionary work should not feel authorized to endeavor to control any
phase of it. They need an increased knowledge in every line of health
reform. They need to be purified, sanctified, and ennobled. They need
to be molded and fashioned after the divine similitude. Then they will
see that the medical missionary work is a part of the work of God. The
reason why so many church members do not understand this branch
of the work is that they are not following their Leader step by step in
self-denial and self-sacrifice. The medical missionary work is God’s
work and bears His signature, and while means must not be absorbed
in this one line so as to hinder or cripple the work that should be done
in new fields, it should not be regarded as unimportant.
The gospel ministry is an organization for the proclamation of the
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truth to the sick and to the well. It combines the medical missionary
work and the ministry of the word. By these combined agencies
opportunities are given to communicate light and to present the gospel
to all classes and all grades of society. God wants the ministers and
the church members to take a decided, active interest in the medical
missionary work.
To take people right where they are, whatever their position or con-
dition, and help them in every way possible—this is gospel ministry.
Those who are diseased in body are nearly always diseased in mind,
and when the soul is sick, the body also is affected. Ministers should
feel it a part of their work to minister to the sick and the afflicted
whenever opportunity presents itself. The minister of the gospel is
to present the message, which must be received if the people are to
become sanctified and made ready for the coming of the Lord. This
work is to embrace all that was embraced in Christ’s ministry.
Then why do not all our ministers heartily co-operate with those
who are carrying forward medical missionary work? Why do they not
carefully study the life of Christ, that they may know how He labored,
and then follow His example? Is it for you, the appointed ministers of
Christ, who have His example before you, to stand off and criticize the