林
道 明
林醫生，您好
很好，謝謝！
感謝主！有機會得袁衛得長老介紹與您晤面，知道您醫務很忙，就用這主日崇拜後的時間來訪問您。
謝謝您從那麼遠的地方來參加我們教會主日崇拜，也來訪問我。我覺得非常不配。
我知道您和您的教會參加了醫療佈道，到墨西哥去，您身為外科醫生，在那兒一定很忙吧！
是的，對我而言，這真是一個難得也謙卑的經驗，可以在宣教區為主事奉。我真想多作些工，但是時間有限，也許我們應該按時去那兒或其他需要醫療宣教的地區，我們可以代表耶穌的心與手來撫摸這樣迫切需要的羊群，醫治他們的痛苦與傷痕。
我們的好友 一 高齡九十歲的袁長老說您的愛心很大、醫術也很高明，我聽到好多次，覺得很想認識您，訪問您，可否請您自我介紹一番？
我幼 時接受耶穌作我的救主。我出生福建廈門鼓浪嶼。父親林時新，任中華基督教會牧師，母親作中學教師。兄弟姊妹七人，我是長子。一九四九年父親受聘請任緬甸仰光衛理公會牧師。感謝神的帶領，全家于該年八月安全搬到仰光。在十幾年中間，緬甸的華人教會得神的祝福，聖靈同工，建立許多新教會，引人歸主，擴展外 科 醫 生
神的國度。父親被推選作衛理公會會督。退休後與母親移民美國與子女們同住。我母親一生靠信心生活，忠心愛主的精神，實在為主作美妙的見證，也作了我們子女
美好的榜樣。我一九五四年來美國密西根大學攻讀。畢業後考進芝加哥西北大學醫學院。四年後畢業醫學，繼續實習外科專科在西北大學及加拿大多倫多大學。
為什麼上加拿大呢？
因為我從緬甸申請來美時，居緬短時，無法申請緬籍。當時緬政府已經承認中共。我不能用中華民國護照出國。在這艱難情形之中，神替我開路，聽我的祈禱，安排用無國籍學生身份證來美國求學。一到美國，無親無友，半工半讀的生活真是萬分辛苦。因有心讀醫學，學業成績必須保持得很好。到讀完大學和醫學之後。美國移民局就通知我不能以學生身份居留，必須離開美國。醫學院與外科主任盡力替我申請居留在西北大學繼續學習外科。各方面的要求，全無效果。最後外科主任為我安排到加拿大多倫多大學外科系完成實習。神再一次聽我的祈禱，為我開路。感謝主的宏恩，奇妙的作為，保守我，努力奮鬥完成學業。
那您怎樣返美國作工，又怎麼會到加州來的呢？
在一九七O年四月，神安排我有機會來加州大學洛杉磯分校醫學院開會，會中見到多位同學，他們鼓勵我搬來南加州。當時，加拿大滿地蓋雪，這裡地上有花有草。禱告中得神的指示，過年初就搬到加州。現在長子迦勒在公共衛生部門工作，女兒美安是內科醫生，女婿亦是外科醫生，感謝主的恩典和祝福。
那您是怎樣結婚的呢？
我是在醫學院工作時跟杜曼禮女士認識，同是基督徒，她是內科醫生，我們在芝加哥結婚現已過 32年了，感謝讚美主。
聽說您們一家有不少的醫生啦，可以自己開一個醫院吧？
現在兄弟姊妹們全家共有十二個醫生，其中有三位牙科醫生，這不是人的才幹，乃是神的恩典，應該用神給我們的恩典來事奉祂。在美國開醫院不是件簡單的事情。
您在教會服務是在那方面？
我家參加華人宣道會也差不多二十年了，我有參加義務醫療宣教工作。本年七月底起參加醫療短宣工作在墨西哥，以前也有到台灣屏東恆春基督教醫院事奉。有機會時也有用聲音讚美主。早年在詩班事奉，後來臨時有醫院急診的電話，使我在詩班中的工作受到中斷，雖然是為了救病人於垂危，可是，總覺得心裡內疚。
這也許是每一位帶職傳道，帶職事奉人共同的感受。這也是有的人到了某一人生的階段，會決定全時間的事奉的。當然，從廣義的立場來看，行醫也是為神工作，任何職業，祗要奉主的名作，都是全時間事奉主！
對，無論是屬何職業，我們每天生活中要求主賜我們愛心、智慧與力量為主作見證。有主的愛來感動同工們或病人們。讓聖靈充滿我們的心，用我們的思想、語言和行為來領人歸主，榮耀主名。當然，如果有機會專工事奉主，那就更好了。
說句笑話，如果每個人都是牧師的話，教會裡教友就沒有了，這也是為什麼在十二支派裡僅有一族是利未人分別為聖，專門作負責聖殿的聖工，其他的差事，由其餘的十一支派各行其職了。
您這樣講解，使我心裡的結總算是打開了，我父親是牧師，做兒子的難免沒有步父親後塵的思想。
當然，主耶穌說過：要收的莊稼多，工作的人少，求神差遣工人都去收割莊稼，不少的醫務人員，去到了海外去做宣教士，留美的基督徒醫生中也大有人在，不但如此，他們組織了華人醫療宣教會，到台灣等地去行醫傳道呢！
是的，我很希望有機會多到海外去事奉醫療傳道的工作。目前，我教會裡有些會友也是我服務的對象。
袁長老總是說您醫術高明，他也是您開刀的病人之一，他是很佩服您的，醫生有病人的表彰，有口皆碑，比任何的廣告宣傳要好得多，您在開刀之中，有什麼屬靈的心得呢？
我的病人大多是美國人，包括白人、黑人、拉丁美洲人，和亞洲的民族，當然包括中國人，當您開刀的時候，一割開不同膚色的表皮之後，一切內在的組織、器官、肌肉、血管、神經與骨骼、韌帶等等都是一樣的，都是神造的，神設計的。而且，醫生能做的不過是把有病的部份切除、修補，或移植，而恢復的功夫仍要靠人體自己來復原。所以生命的力量來自創造生命的主！再就是，當我觀察病人，我覺得病人的信心很重要，沒有信心、沒有指望、沒有信主的病人，他們康復往往不及有信心、有指望、有信主的病人，所以我認為病的康復與信與不信有影響。還有，禱告對病人的重要性。
我在最近的洛杉磯時報上讀到一段新聞，有位醫生為了研究禱告的果效，已經放棄了行醫，現在專心作實驗及講演與寫作，他說：禱告可以使種子發芽快些，使植物長得高些，使病好得快些。
這正是我的感覺，也是聖經的教導，在信的人，凡事都能，主耶穌曾說：你的信救了你！
林醫生，我想問您，身為學醫的人，您對宗教與科學之間是否看到有矛盾呢？
宇宙奇妙偉大，也證明創造主，我們的神的奇妙偉大，惟有祂的大能有這樣的創造全能，科學愈有新的發現，愈能見到神的博大與精微，祂的匠工絕非人力能成，人體的微妙叫人觀止。
林醫生，您可否告訴OK的讀者，您一生裡最能體念神的一段時間，或一件事。
當然可以，我一生得到神的宏恩，祂一段一段的帶領我，祂是慈愛、公義，永不改變的神，我一生裡最寶貴的事就是我接受基督作我個人的救主。
在最近的大地震裡，您可經驗到神的拯救？
我們教會最近才建了新堂，而這次地震的震央就在我們的城裡，聽說是地底下幾哩是地震的發源地，可是我們的教會除了地上裂了兩吋的裂紋之外，毫無損害，我們的教友都住在附近，有的家屋有些損毀，但是人人都平安，這是神在危難時賜下的保守。叫我們信的人更是要堅信祂的慈憐與保護了！而且，也因為這個地震，在我們這區的人，更能領略到大災難的將至，主來的日子近了。當最近一位佈道家來此開佈道大會時，成千上萬的人決志信主，
靈魂的主在此有了豐收，這是出乎我們意料之外的收獲，所以說：萬事互相力，叫愛神的人能得益處，就是按祂旨意蒙召的人。（羅馬書八章廿八節）
哈利路亞，讚美主！林醫生，謝謝您在百忙中給我們時間接受訪問，而且賜我們美好的見證，願神繼續賜福您，成為多人的祝福！
謝謝您及袁長老，給我機會為主開口向OK雜誌的讀者們作這次感恩的見證，也願主賜福每一位讀者，能在生命中體念神的救恩，相信耶穌為救主！把自己完全交在祂的手中，任祂使用，祂必使您一生有出乎您意料之外的成就，好歸榮耀於我們的天父！阿們！
阿們！
TOH BIN LIM,
Dr. Lin , How are
you?
Very well, thank you.
This opportunity to visit with you was hard to come by; you are so busy.
Elder Victor Yuan suggested that I come to your church and interview you before
the Love feast.
Yes, it’s true. The tyranny of time is always upon us. When
Elder Yuan told me that you were going to interview me. I felt unworthy
of being the subject of your interview.
I understand that you and your church joined a medical missionary group in
Yes, indeed. It was a really great and humble experience for me to serve
the Lord in the mission field. I would like to do more, but time is so
limited. Maybe we should make it a
habit of going down there or to some other place where medical services are in
want. We could probably represent the heart and hands of Jesus to touch people
in need and to mend the hurts and wounds of His flocks out there.
Our mutual friend, ninety-year old Elder Yuan told me of your love for.
M.D. SURGEON
Christ and for brothers and sisters in Christ and also mentioned that your
surgical skills are famous.
I wanted to meet you and interview you. Would you tell us about
yourself?
I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior when I was young. I was born in
In
I came to the States from
How did you come to
In April 1970, God provided me with the opportunity to deliver a paper at
the
How did you meet your wife?
I met my wife, Dr. Margaret To, at the medical school hospital. She is a
Christian physician of internal medicine. We married in
I understand that there are quite a few doctors in your family – perhaps
enough to staff a hospital.
Presently our extended family has twelve medical practitioners, including
three dentists. None of us is
especially talented, but God’s grace is sufficient. We ought to serve Him with
the gifts He has bestowed upon us.
However, it is not a simple matter to open a hospital.
Are you active in your church?
I joined the
This type of guilt is felt by many sincere Christians who ser e the church
on a voluntary basis. This may be why some decide to serve God in full-time
ministry. Of course, in a
broad sense, all professions, including medicine, are rendering service of God, if
done in the name of Jesus.
Yes, no matter what our profession, we should witness for our Lord with the
love, wisdom, and strength He gives us. The love of our Lord will teach our
co-workers and patients. Let the Holy Spirit fill our hearts, empowering our
thoughts, words, and actions to lead people to Christ. Give glory to our Lord.
Of course, it is best to serve our Lord with all our hearts, minds, and
strength.
Just joking. If all Christians are pastors, who will attend
services? Of the twelve Israelite tribes, only the Levites were kept holy for
serving the spiritual welfare of the tabernacle or temple. The other eleven
tribes had their responsibilities.
Your explanation has resolved a knot in my heart. My father was a minister.
As a son, many times I wish to follow in his footsteps.
On the other hand, the Lord Jesus said the field is white, the laborers are few. Pray that
God will send more workers to the field to harvest. That’s why some Christian
doctors, including quite a few Chinese Christian doctors, have gone abroad as
medical missionaries. They organized a medical missionary society and take
turns serving in
Yes, I would like to do more medical missionary work. Presently, many in
our church also need my service.
By the way, Elder Yuan mentioned that you are a skillful surgeon. As a
patient of yours, he admires you a lot. It is a great achievement to be a
physician who has the praise of his patients. It’s much better and effective
than advertisements. Have you gained any spiritual insight from your surgical
work?
My patients are mainly Americans, including whites, blacks, Hispanics; the remainder are Asians, including Chinese. In an operation,
once you pass beneath the skin color, you will find all the tissues, muscles,
organs, blood vessels, nerve systems, tendons, bones are all the same. They were all designed and created by
God. We doctors can only remove the diseased part or do repairs or transplants;
it is up to the patients to recover. The rejuvenating energy of life is from
God. My observation is that the faith of patient is very important. Those
patients with no faith, no hope often do not recover as speedily
as those believers with faith and hope. Moreover, prayer has a direct effect on
a patient’s recovery.
In a recent news report in the
That is exactly what I feel. That is what the Bible teaches. To believers
all things are possible. Jesus said, your faith has
saved you!
Dr. Lim, may I ask you, as a physician, what are your opinions about the
supposed conflicts between religion and science?
The vastness and the wonder of the universe prove the Creator, our great
and wonderful God. Only God could have the power and wisdom to create such a
beautiful world and all things in it. No other can do it. The intricacy of the
human body is beyond description.
Dr. Lim, would you tell our readers about a period or single event in which
you felt that God was really close to you?
Of course. God has been
gracious to me all my life. He has always led me. He is a kind, righteous,
unchanging God. The most precious thing in my life is that I accepted Christ
Jesus as my personal Savior.
In the recent
We just built a brand new church. The earthquake epicenter was right in our
town, Northridge; it was said to be several miles directly underneath our town.
Our church building only sustained some two inches of cracks on the cement
floors. Nothing else was damaged. Some church members who live nearby had a
little damage, but no one was hurt. This I call God’s protection in danger. We
believers can fully trust in Him for His mercy. Because of this earthquake, we
realize the great tribulation is near; our Lord will return soon. An evangelist
came to our area to conduct a mass meeting. Tens of thousands came forward to
accept Jesus as their personal Savior. The Lord of souls has harvested
abundantly beyond our expectation. “And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Hallelujah, praise the Lord. Dr. Lim, thank you for taking the time out of
your tight schedule to be interviewed and for giving us your testimony. May God
bless you and make you a blessing to many more!
Thank you and Elder Yuan for giving me this opportunity to speak for my
Lord to your O.K. readers. I hope that every reader could realize the salvation
of God, and believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Put yourself in His hand; let
Him use you. He will give you an unexpected achievement in your life and give
all the glory to our Heavenly Father. Amen!
Amen.