According to archeology studies, in the beginning of the book of Acts the ratio of Christians to non-Christians was 1:500,000. At the end of the book of Acts the ratio goes down to 1:60. What happened to facilitate such explosive growth of the Christian church?
In short, it was medical ministry. The early Christian church had effectively implemented the preaching, teaching and healing ministry of Jesus. I’ve explored the implications of what medical ministry means to us today in this blog series.
What I find interesting is the context in which medical ministry thrived. Consider the following elements of the Roman Empire.
- Sexual immorality was rampant. Prostitution was legal. Divorce was rare because there was no such thing as sexual fidelity. It was not uncommon for someone to have multiple sex partners. In fact, it was not rare to own a sex slave.
- Gluttony was common. Those at the festivity would eat until they were absolutely full. The guest would then enter a special room where there was a feather and a basin. He would then take the feather and use it to induce vomiting into the basin so the guest could go back to the feast and eat more. Archeologists also have discovered a practice of pink baby mice dipped in honey and swallowed to further induce vomiting.
- Violence was common. The Roman Coliseum was a large stadium where people were entertained. It was in these large coliseums where you had gladiator fights – humans vs humans, humans vs animals. The battles were a fight to the death. In fact, during its 390 years of existence, an estimated 400,000 people died and one million animals were slaughtered.
Within this context, medical ministry served to bring about change in society. The tide of sexual immorality, gluttony and violence was stemmed by the Gospel message of peace, temperance and purity.
Medical Ministry for the 19th Century
Today we take for granted the cultural context of the 19th century when Ellen White began writing about medical ministry. Medicine did not have the same level of respect and trust today and it’s not hard to see why.
The first president of the United States, George Washington was suddenly ill at the age of 40. His medical treatment included bleeding him three separate times for a total blood loss of 14 ounces. At the end of his life he told the doctors, “Let me die in peace.” The newspaper the next day reported the following words, “He received the best medical treatment and died in spite of it.”
Dr. Chapman wrote in The Family Medicine Chest Dispensary published in 1835, “the patient should frequently draw in the breath of smoke freely so that the internal surface of the air vessels may be exposed to the action of the vapor.”
Dr. Boyd developed a unique treatment for children suffering from high fevers. He said, “Let the little patient be bled freely at the commencement of the case. Then give the child three years old or upwards wine mixed with emetic tartar. If necessary repeat in one half-hour. If the second dose does not cause vomiting, double its quantity unless the case be very mild. The vomiting should be encouraged by warm drinks and the nausea continued for a few hours.”
Dr. Hooker recommended the following treatments:
- Mercury used for chronic disease
- Quinine used for fevers
- Tobacco for ailing lungs
Medical Ministry for the Early Adventist Pioneers
Early Adventist pioneers and contemporaries of Ellen White were not beacons of health.
James White suffered a stroke from overworking. J. N. Andrews, the first Adventist missionary to Europe loved sausage and aged cheese. J.N. Loughborough was hooked on cigars and enjoyed bread dipped in pork gravy.
As a result, Ellen White pleaded with God and in 1863 she was given the health message in vision. She wrote, “I did not study to obtain it. It was given to me by the Lord to give to others.” Counsels on Diet and Foods 493.
Medical Ministry for the Adventist Church
The Adventist church took her teachings on health and medical ministry and began to implement them, albeit imperfectly. One hundred years later, Adventists were studied. Today the Adventist Health Study has found that on average Adventist live 7-10 years longer than the average American.
Here are a few findings from the Adventist Health Study that have challenged conventional wisdom or added to our knowledge of health.
- Previously, the medical community thought vegetarian diets were bad for you. Now we know they are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, colon cancer and longer life expectancy.
- Consumption of nuts decreases the risk for heart disease.
- Beans have a protective effect against colon cancer.
- Beef significantly increases the risk of heart disease.
- Tomato consumption are linked with a lower risk of prostate cancer.
Why do Adventist live 7-10 years longer? Because medical ministry is a change agent. Whatever our cultural context, God challenges us to seek to improve the health and wellbeing of populations. Consider today’s problems and how medical ministry can be a change agent.
Medical Ministry for Today’s Problems
- Heart disease is still the number one cause of disease and is still preventable. According to a Harvard study, 50% of cancers are preventable. Forty-eight percent of Adventists eat meat more than once a week. Medical Ministry can be the change agent.
- The Right Arm is separated by the Body. When I was visiting a church in Washington, I spoke with a committed Seventh Day Adventist physician. We spoke on the topic of medical ministry – specifically on doctors working with the church. “We’re disjointed. We could do a better job coordinating,” he said. Medical ministry can be the change agent.
- In an age of advancing technology, medicine is becoming increasingly impersonal. Medical ministry is about high-touch, not just high-tech. And that highly personal touch comes from the insistence that a human being is not just number, not just a dollar sign, but a whole person. As a result, I seek not just to minister to the patient’s physical needs but also to her mental, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Medical ministry can be the change agent.
How can medical ministry be the change agent in your context?
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