Visiting the sick is a vital part of the ministry of Christ. Faithful gospel preachers engage in visiting the sick out of care and compassion, not obligation. If someone says that the preacher visits because, “That’s part of his job,” then he does not know the heart of the true evangelist. Preachers, who truly care, want to know about those in the congregation  who are sick. They certainly want to visit them, as well. We want to take to heart the Lord’s directive, “I was sick, and ye visited me” (Matthew 25:36).
     Sometimes it is the case that a brother or sister enters and leaves the hospital before the preacher ever learns about that person’s condition. When that happens, the caring evangelist feels bad, because it appears to the afflicted brother or sister that he does not care. Perhaps the church member, then, spreads the word, “Well, the preacher didn’t bother to come and see me.” The complaint gets around to just about everybody except the preacher. Yet, if the preacher had known of the person’s situation he certainly would have been there. Some brethren apparently think that preachers are omniscient and automatically know of their situation without a word being said to them about it.
    James 5:14 reads, “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” The meaning of that controversial verse is not my concern here. I find delight, however, in the interesting comments of Albert Barnes on this verse. He says, in part:
     It may be added, as worthy of note, that the apostle says they should call for the elders of the church; that is, they should send for them. They should not wait for them to hear of their sickness, as they might happen to, but they should cause them to be informed of it, and give them an opportunity of visiting them and praying with them. Nothing is more common than for persons—even members of the church—to be sick a long time, and to presume that their pastor must know all about it; and then they wonder that he does not come to see them, and think hard of him because he does not. A pastor cannot be supposed to know everything; nor can it be presumed that he knows when persons are sick, any more than he can know anything else, unless he is apprized of it; and many hard thoughts, and many suspicions of neglect would be avoided, if, when persons are sick, they would in some way inform their pastor of it. It should always be presumed of a minister of the gospel that he is ready to visit the sick. But how can he go unless he is in some way apprized of the illness of those who need his counsel and his prayers? The sick send for their family physician; why should they presume that their pastor will know of their illness any more than that their physician will?
     I say, amen to these remarks by Mr. Barnes! Understanding that his use of the word pastor, as applied to the preacher is both ashdodic and unscriptural (cf. Ephesians 4:11), his point is nevertheless well taken. The elders want to be called if there is someone in the hospital, or sick at home. So does the preacher. As servants of God we all want to visit and pray for those who are sick. It could be that in the entire debate of the meaning of James 5:14 we may have missed this obvious directive. Read it again!

     The above article was submitted as my associate editorial in the August-September 2000 issue of First Century Christian. It illustrates a frustrating problem to me as a gospel preacher, although I can happily say that it is not a frequent problem. I can easily understand a person’s preference for privacy in some situations and the desire that certain ailments not be broadcast, if such is their wish. If someone requests, “No Visitors Please,” I respect that as well. My article, however, touches on the matter of brethren who bear their physical infirmities in secret and then scorn the preacher in their own private circles for his supposed ineptitude in failing to visit the afflicted saint. Such seems to me both unfair and unjust.
     Not long after my article appeared in First Century Christian I received a letter from brother J. A. Floyd, Jr., of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Brother Floyd wrote, in part, “Saw your article in a recent issue of First Century Christian. For the last 16 years I have been involved in a hospital ministry. One of the main things I do is to contact elders and church offices when members are hospitalized.” I am impressed. Here is a brother who is doing something to help eliminate for many others the very problem I discussed in my article. This is undoubtedly a vital work in his area as it would be in any area where it is or might be done.
     The Woodburn church of Christ of Bowling Green oversees brother Floyd’s work in visitation ministry. A dozen other congregations support him as they benefit from his work as well. Brother Floyd prepares a quarterly report of his work, including visits in hospitals, nursing homes, funeral homes and private homes. He also includes reports of funerals attended, funerals conducted, phone calls, cards mailed, business trips and gospel handouts. By “gospel handouts” he means bulletins, tracts and Bible markers. Brother Floyd views his purpose as helping elders of the churches that support him to fulfill their responsibility as shepherds. I know, in my case, anybody who informs me of one of our members who is in the hospital, if I might not otherwise know of it, helps me greatly! I am happy to offer my amen to brother Floyd’s efforts, and my prayers for the success of his labors.—10822 Mabelvale West Road, Mabelvale, AR 72103. Email: dkg621@swbell.net