Reversing the Worst Evil

Ismael Facio, Pastor

John Kelly 10/31/2022 at 8:26 am
My contribution: This was one of the best AMEN Conferences I’ve attended out of the 5-6 I have attended over the years. And the discussion in this networking walk group was part of what made it such a high point. Thank you to Pastor Ismael and each participant.
Additional thoughts: I believe John Shin’s 3-point vision for AMEN is in full alignment with the topic and direction of our networking group. I earnestly ask each of us to pray God will prosper us (AMEN) as we seek to fulfill John’s vision for AMEN members doing and leading our churches in doing medical missionary evangelism.

I believe we must keep in mind that as good as it is to use our practices to share Christ in the workplace (and this is simply essential if we want to be like Jesus), our calling is much broader and deeper than just that. We are called to teach and lead our church (God’s church) in doing medical missionary work. We are to be evangelists (medical evangelists) and not just doctors/dentists/nurses/etc. We are to hold meetings in the cities and present the 3 Angels’ messages in connection with medical missionary work.

The AMEN free clinics are an example of part of this work, since they connect us with the people in very positive ways. But we need to organize and follow up these clinics with a series of health presentations sharing God’s 8 simple remedies, including diet, dress, exercise, sleep, abstemiousness, trust in God. (NEWSTART) And prophecy must be an integral part of these presentations. It is presenting and explaining prophecy that reveals God’s work and will, that reveals the 3 Angels’ messages. Not all of us can do it all, but all can do part of it. We need to keep networking to build on the momentum started at AMEN 2022!

John Kelly 10/29/2022 at 5:27 pm
My contribution: Another excellent meeting & discussion. I agree that John H.N. Tindall is/was a great example of successful medical evangelism. I believe it is significant that our best example of medical evangelism was not a physician, & we struggle to find an example of great success in medical evangelism who was a licensed physician. While it is of course true that physicians can be very effective servants for God, is it also true that in today’s world it may be easier to do successful medical evangelism as a non-physician? Perhaps the best training is public health, or preventive medicine? Or, maybe lifestyle medicine? It is a rare primary care physician who makes a great medical evangelist.
Additional thoughts: If Christ’s Gospel Commission includes physical healing, is a presentation of the Gospel that does not include physical healing really a presentation of the true Gospel? Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 5:24 (Matt. 9 & Mark 2) that physical healing authenticates Jesus’ power to forgive sin. Can a pastor (or anyone) present the true Gospel without including physical healing? How can we authenticate our Gospel presentations with physical healing?

John Kelly 10/28/2022 at 8:28 pm
My contribution: Good discussion this morning. What might pastoring look like if it fully included Christ’s healing ministry? How would it differ from what we see now? Would it not include physical healing? The Great Commission includes physical healing, and we are instructed that healing is never to be separated from the Gospel. Could it be that we Adventists (and Christians in general) have so fully adopted the world’s standards and methods that we’ve surrendered Christ’s Gospel Commission? Would it be any surprise to learn that Satan was doing all he could to destroy God’s church’s ability to fulfill His Commission? Could it be that we need to intentionally review our Commission and re-envision what it necessarily entails and requires?

And how would the work of the Adventist Christian physician differ if it incorporated all that Christ did in His medical missionary work? Surely it would include preaching the Gospel along with physical healing. But, would the physical healing even look like the modern medical practice as it does today? Does the practice of modern medicine embody the methods, attitudes and purposes Christ taught and illustrated in His ministry? Does it embody the simple, natural remedies God revealed in the SoP counsels are the means He has chosen to use to bring about supernatural results? (2SM 346) Could Adventist medical ministry be in as much need for re-envisioning as pastoral ministry?
Additional thoughts: What will God have to do before we, His remnant people, His gospel medical ministers (pastors and physicians), are willing to adopt Christ’s methods and abandon the methods of the world? Will He have to destroy our modern society? to pull us away from dependence upon worldly methods and standards? Hopefully we will be willing to step away from the world’s methods with gentler, milder urging from God. I do believe we have to separate from the world before we can fully represent God and present His Gospel to the world. We cannot be partially in the world and partially in Christ–we must be wholly God’s or we are not His at all. Because we are lukewarm, He says He will spew us out of His mouth. May God forgive and redeem us! We must ever remember that He CAN do all that He has called us to do.

Ismael Facio 10/27/2022 at 8:10 pm
My contribution: Great contribution Dr. Kelly! What a blessing it would be to re-examine Jesus’s ministry and challenge our minds with the thought of “How can I follow more closely in His footsteps?” What would that look like? What a wonderful experience may be awaiting us to enjoy!

John Kelly 10/26/2022 at 6:40 pm
My contribution: I think it is particularly telling that even professionals who are themselves both a pastor and a physician (MDiv & MD), when filling a pastoral position in a Conference, separate their time between “pastoring” and “doctoring.” One would think that there could be no separation within a single individual, but apparently the work of these two “roles” is so distinct today that they are not easily integrated?

I believe we may need to reconsider Jesus’ ministry with an eye towards what it would look like if starting with a clean slate, and not trying to integrate what we’ve come to think of as how these two roles operate or function. I believe it must be possible to imitate Christ’s methods and ministry, but certainly we can imitate that of the disciples.
Additional thoughts: Lifestyle medicine (LM) presents a golden opportunity for licensed certified physicians to have a medical practice that focuses on God’s “health reform message” and helps people see their need for divine power to make positive changes. Helping someone make lifestyle changes is a great entree to helping them know Jesus. It is as natural as can be. I recommend LM as one important way to open doors for the Gospel as a medical evangelist.