“Not to Become the Whole Body”

The relationship of the medical missionary work to the third angel’s message was again stated to be “as the right arm is to the body,” but “the right arm is not to become the whole body. The work of seeking the outcasts is important, but it is not to become the great burden of our mission.” (Ibid.)SHM 292.1

Mrs. White now took occasion to urge, as she did so many times before and since, that there be a close co-operation between the ministry and the medical missionary work: “The Lord’s people are to be one. There is to be no separation in His work. ... Satan will invent every possible scheme to separate those whom God is seeking to make one. We must not be misled by his devices. ... The education of students in medical missionary lines is not complete unless they are trained to work in connection with the church and the ministry. ...SHM 292.2

“The medical missionary work is not to take men from the ministry, but to place them in the field. ... Young men who have received an education in medical missionary lines ... should be encouraged to speak, not only on these special lines, but also upon the points of present truth, giving the reasons why we are Seventh-day Adventists. ...SHM 292.3

“There must be no belittling of the gospel ministry. No enterprise should be so conducted as to cause the ministry of the Word to be looked upon as an inferior matter. It is not so. Those who ignore the ministry are ignoring Christ. The highest of all work is the ministry in its various lines, and it should be kept before the youth that there is no work more blessed of God than that of the gospel minister.SHM 292.4

“Let not our young men be deterred from entering the ministry. There is danger that through glowing representations some will be drawn out of the path where God bids them walk. Some have been encouraged to take a course of study in medical lines who ought to be preparing themselves to enter the ministry.”—Ibid.SHM 292.5