A "Medical" Missionary? A Question And An Answer
The Question: "Brother Layton do you know of anyone who will finance me for five years in a medical school. I believe that since Christ and the apostles performed miracles of healing with their preaching that it will greatly help me to carry a ministry of healing with preaching today; there is so much sickness that to go to them and administer to their bodies will give me a wonderful opportunity to teach them the gospel."
The Answer: The idea of becoming a doctor as a stepping stone to preaching the gospel would not solicit any consideration at all among the people I know. If person knew medicine and could therefore administer to the sick it would be fine; but I question the scripturalness of the church training men in any science as a means to gospel ends. Frankly I do not believe it is right. Most certainly on an individual basis for one to become a doctor (or anything else in the professional field that is ethical) and use his ability as such to further the work of the Lord it is good. Doctors, lawyers, merchants, et. al. if they are Christians are obligated to use the influence their contacts afford to speak out for Christ and His church; but beyond this it should not go and cannot go scripturally. The church can never maintain its separate identity as God's soul-saving institution when it enters the supporting and training field for anything other than preaching the gospel. Thinking brethren might be persuaded to help a man prepare to preach the gospel; but none would help him become something else as a means to preaching the gospel. These are my sincere convictions in the matter. I hope that you may find some means of financing your schooling but I do not know of anyone whom I think would do it.
The fact that miracles were employed as a provisional part of inspired preaching is not parallel to ones becoming a doctor. Miracles were never intended nor designed for the physical benefit of the human race — more were left blind, lame and sick than were healed by Christ and the apostles. Just enough healing (and other signs) were done to "confirm the word." The "more excellent way" is the fact that God's revelation is no longer fragmentary but is woven into one complete confirmed volume, the New Testament. All the support it needs are those who believe it, obey it and teach it. To direct attention to it through channels (whatever they may be) other than a forthright declaration of it seems to suggest the impotency of the message itself. Miracles confirmed the word. It is now confirmed therefore miracles ceased. If anything is needed to encourage an acceptance of the message it would have to come from the Lord just as the confirming miracles. But nothing will any more come from the Lord other than the gospel message. Romans 10:6-8 declares that since the message is here we need not expect even the Lord to come down etc.
We are a people, and the only people on earth, who believe that apostolic methods set forth in the permanent organization and practice of the church are static until the end of time; hence progress in science and culture in general offers no tempting aid that we need employ in preaching the gospel. I greatly admire your desire to preach and my advice to you is "to let down your bucket where you are." If your heart burns within you to preach the gospel then arise and do it. The only preparation you need for that is to know it.