All in or All Out – The Doctor’s Prescription, 7-27-19
At an event, the host approached and asked a doctor to suggest an over-the-counter medication for another guest who was having minor stomach issues. That doctor had spent a lifetime working on hospital wards and in a Chicago emergency room. Yet, despite his incredible experience, he refused to help. Everyone, except his wife, was shocked and wondered if he was sidestepping his oath to serve humanity.
Despite pleas, he would not budge. Then he explained that because he was a doctor, anything he said would be labeled “professional medical advice.” He had watched other doctors give “simple information” and then something went wrong with the person, and those doctors were sued which endangered them, their family, and their practice. So he and his wife determined he would not recommend anything without first examining the person and getting their medical history and medications in order to determine if any over-the-counter medications could cause side effects, etc. for the person. He said sometimes there is more going on than the person suspects, and sometimes the person knows it but is in denial. He will help in life-and-death situations, but not with “simple information.”
His philosophy, he said, is be “all in” or all out.” “All in” meant he would do a full examination and diagnosis in a medical setting. And “all out” meant he would say nothing.
That may sound severe, yet many things in life fit that doctor’s philosophy. With your email or personal accounts, you must fully log in and fully log out. Anything in the middle can open your account to predators who will take over. Commitments must be either “all in” or “all out” because the gray area can lead you to misunderstandings and trouble. Marriage and engagement are like that. Either stay in and fight through the rocky times as well as good times, or be “all out” and don’t walk down that aisle. Ministry is like that. Either be “all in” to what God has called you to do, or be “all out” because in the middle Satan, the predator, can harm you. (And ministry covers more than standing in the pulpit–remember Stephen in Acts 7.)
Even God said be “all in” or “all out” with God: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). God is saying he will work with an “all in” (hot, passionate) person or an “all out” (cold, rejecting) person on worship and obedience. But God does want a middle-of-the road person.
Even if you disagree with the doctor’s position, his philosophy is worth adopting with God, your family or other people, and even with yourself. Be either “all in” or “all out.” Anywhere in the middle will surely destroy your peace. “But let your ‘Yes’ be Yes (all in).’ And your ‘No’ be No (all out). For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37).
God bless you!
Pastor Janice Fareed Hardy
