AMEN 2009 Student Conference: The Ministry of Healing

Chester Clark

Adventist Medical Evangelism Network (AMEN)

The Ministry of Dentistry

In the Ministry of Healing, page 140, we find this statement, Luke, the writer of the gospel that bears his name, was a medical missionary.

In the scriptures he is called the beloved physician.

Colossians 4.14, the apostle Paul heard of his skill as a physician and sought him out as 1 to whom the Lord had entrusted a special work.

He secured his cooperation, and for some time Luke accompanied him in his travels from place to place.

After a time, Paul left Luke at Philippi in Macedonia.

Here he continued to labor for several years, both as a physician and as a teacher of the Gospel.

In his work as a physician, he ministered to the sick and then prayed for the healing power of God to rest upon the afflicted ones.

Thus the way was opened for the Gospel message.

Luke's success as a physician gained him many opportunities for preaching Christ among the heathen.

It is the divine plan that we shall work as the disciples worked.

Physical healing is bound up with the gospel commission in the work of the gospel.

Teaching and healing are never to be separated.

And let's just glean a few thoughts from this quote.

First of all, I think I have another slide.

Thinking of Luke and his role of working with Paul, Luke was loved by his patients, wasn't he?

And it was because he had the love of Christ in his heart and they knew that he was interested in their welfare.

I didn't know we had that kind of a change.

He was a skilled physician, that statement said.

He knew what he was doing, and he used the knowledge that he had acquired.

The Lord had entrusted him with a special work, And that work was working with Paul as a team.

And he combined healing and teaching, we found in that statement, and also Luke's success in healing opened doors for a spiritual work.

And this is something that we can do as well.

And as we go about our work, we will be loved by our patients as we demonstrate God's love and experience God's love in our own hearts and lives, they will automatically see it.

You when you finish dental school will be a skilled physician or dentist.

And you will have the skills that many young graduates do not have.

And I found that at least in Arkansas, which doesn't have a dental school, the training that I had was several notches above the dentists that I got acquainted with in the area.

1 reason was in Loma Linda, we did a lot more quantity of work in school than others.

I've known of some dental schools that only required about 8 or 10 crowns in their experience.

And so naturally, they're still learning an awful lot.

I don't know what the requirement is now, but it was like 60 units when I was in school.

And it's on a point scale now, so it's easier to get points from a mantis, sure enough.

We had to drop the requirements because when I came through, it was 30.

Because our patient pool, I think, is less.

Well, I thought maybe you had some big money input, because our crowns helped to support the school when we were students.

But anyway, nonetheless, just the thorough training that you will be getting and the orientation to treating the whole person will set you above many of those that are trained in other schools.

The Lord has entrusted you with a special work.

Dentistry is a unique way to minister in the lives of people.

And you can work as a team with pastor and Bible work as well.

And a dentist cannot be all things to all people.

And so it's such a blessing to be able to team up with others in the church for making your efforts, your contacts lead into soul winning experiences.

And also your success in healing will open doors for a spiritual work just like it did for Luke.

And I think that is God's plan for us today as dentists.

This is a recent picture of a botanical gardens.

I wish it was our campus, but just a few weeks ago, the tulips were in bloom and my wife and I had a chance to spend a few hours there.

Another statement from Ministry of Healing, gospel workers, and I'm going to insert the word dentist because I think that's who she was talking to as well.

Because it's easy for us sometimes when she talks about physicians or gospel workers or reformers to think it's somebody else.

But I think we need to put ourselves in the picture here.

Dentists should be able also to give instruction in the principles of healthful living.

There is sickness everywhere and most of it might be prevented by attention to the laws of health.

The people need to see the bearing of health principles upon their well-being, both for this life and for the life to come.

They need to be awakened to their responsibility for the human habitation fitted up by their Creator as His dwelling place, and over which He desires them to be faithful stewards.

They need to be impressed with the truth conveyed in the words of Holy Writ, those words being in 2 Corinthians 616, Ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.

That verse has been a special encouragement to me recently.

As I have memorized it, I think of what a fantastic opportunity we have to actually have God dwelling in us.

He has promised to do that, and He is willing and able to do that.

And we can encourage our patients as well to recognize that they are the temple of the living God and need to take care of their temples.

Going on, Ministry of Healing, page 146, that, Thousands need and would gladly receive instruction concerning the simple methods of treating the sick, methods that are taking the place of the use of poisonous drugs.

There is great need of instruction in regard to dietetic reform.

Wrong habits of eating and the use of unhealthful food are in no small degree responsible for the intemperance and crime and wretchedness that curse the world." I think I spend more time talking about diet than I do about brushing and flossing.

Of course, my hygienist covers that area pretty well.

But I constantly talk to people about their diet.

And when I see children, especially with a mouthful of decay, I ask them some questions about what it is, you know, what kind of diet they have.

And of course, it's always the grandparents that give the kids candy.

But anyway, This is 1 way of talking about health on a daily basis, but you'll find you'll have other opportunities as well to talk about health in a larger sphere as well.

Every gospel worker, meaning every dentist, should feel that the giving of instruction and the principles of healthful living is a part of his appointed work.

Of this work, there is great need and the world is open for it.

And I think the world is more open now than it used to be because information is so much more readily available.

Dentists who take up Their appointed work will not only be a blessing to others, but they will themselves be blessed.

The consciousness of duty well done will have a reflex influence upon their own souls.

The despondent will forget their despondency.

The ignorant intelligent and all will find an unfailing helper in him who has called them.

Have you thought of yourself as a reformer?

Of all the people in the world, reformers or dentists should be the most unselfish, the most kind, the most courteous.

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