By William V Beasley
AProve all things, hold fast that which is good” (I Tim. 5:21). When a new thought is presented those who have a closed mind say, “That is not what I have believed, therefore it cannot be true.” The honest and open minded individual will weigh carefully and consider fully. What I am about to say will be new to many who read it. Is your mind open or closed?
Men, for a few moments please imagine two things. First, that you are going to have an operation or other treatment in the pubic region of your body. Secondly, that the ratio of male and female doctors in this country was reversed. That is, that the vast majority of doctors were women with only a few male doctors here and there. Question: How far would you drive to be able to be treated by a male physician? If you are like most of the men with whom I have spoken, a two or three hundred mile trip would not be excessive. Why? We are too modest to let a woman, even a woman doctor, examine our private parts.
Why then do we not expect the same degree of modesty from our wives, daughters and sisters? Are men supposed to be more modest than women?
Provoking One’s Husband
There is another thought to consider. What husband has not at some time been upset, even if never openly admitted, at the thought of another man examining his wife’s pubic area and/or her breasts? There may be some who have never been upset by such, and there will undoubtedly be those who chose to “not remember” such.
On the other hand, I have yet to even hear of a husband who objected, even to himself, when his wife was examined by another woman (nurse or doctor).
“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”
A third consideration cannot be ignored. What about the doctor? Doctors are human (high bills and all), and can be tempted just like any other man. We, as Christians, have a responsibility to our doctor (and everyone else) even greater than his responsibility to us.
The Big Lie
Oh yes, we have all heard the big lie that “doctors see so much that it means no more to them than a mechanic working on the engine of an automobile.” Hogwash! Such simply is not true.
The receiving of an MD degree does not create a god who is above temptation, or even a man without natural desires. I know this is true because doctor’s wives have babies. I know it is true because some doctors have been honest enough to reveal their thoughts. For a shocking revelation see Reader’s Digest, April 1973, pg. 262, the two final full paragraphs on the page. Note especially what the doctor wrote on the chart of some women patients. If one doctor wrote such on the patient’s chart, what did he imagine in his heart? What have other doctors thought when our wives, daughters or sisters were being examined?
Clarification
I am not saying that every female patient tempts every doctor every time he examines her. Some women because of age and/or physical condition would not be as likely to tempt. But what about the young, well endowed women?
The child of God, not a physician, is to be an example “in purity” (I Tim. 4:12). We, as children of God, are to live on a higher plane than does the world, yes, even higher than does the worldly doctor, and we admit freely, if we are honest, that we can be tempted. Why then swallow the lie that says a doctor is above such? There may be some doctors who are never tempted by what they see, but these are things which we can not know. Regardless of how professional his demeanor, how grand-fatherly his appearance, his heart, with all its thoughts, is beyond our scrutiny.
Conclusion
Am I saying that women must stop going to male doctors? No! When given a choice, even if it means a little inconvenience, a little extra traveling, it would be good to find a female doctor, especially if one needs an obstetrician or a gynecologist.
I am saying we need to consider these things; we need to Aprove all things, hold fast that which is good.”
Truth Magazine, XVIII:38, p. 7
August 11, 1974