Self-Surgery
On February 15, 1921, Dr. Evan O'Neill Dane proved a very important point for the medical field. This 62-year-old chief surgeon of Kane Summit Hospital in New York City operated on himself. He was convinced that patients could have most major surgeries performed on them while they were under local anesthesia only.
To prove his point, he gave himself a local anesthesia and took out his own appendix. The operation was an astounding success! He even recovered at a faster rate than those who had the same procedure performed while under general anesthesia--another medical breakthrough! This success was the precursor to modern-day same-day surgery in which patients are allowed to go home because they do not need to recover from the general anesthesia.
One has to marvel at the courage of this doctor to prove what he really believed. I must admit that I would probably not be that brave. (However, I did have a spinal block so that I could watch as the doctor did my knee surgery a number of years ago!) And yet, I believe that self-surgery is what we all need to do.
By self-surgery, I mean the time that I spend with myself analyzing myself and what I need to do to be a better version of myself, that is, the version that Jesus wants for me. Paul spoke about his own self-surgery. “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (I Corinthians 9:27).
He also told Timothy about how to do his own self-surgery. “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (I Timothy 4:16). Self-surgery can only happen with the sword of the Spirit. It is the only tool sharp enough to do it! (Hebrews 4:12).
According to Paul, there are two parts to self-surgery—discipline and doctrine. Discipline without doctrine is impossible because you will not know how to be disciplined. Self-discipline is not about doing whatever the self wants to do. That will lead to chaos. It is about doing with self what the Creator of the self wants us to do.
Doctrine without discipline is empty. Having the knowledge of what you are supposed to do without doing it leads to an empty life. Demons know the doctrine (James 2:19)! However, they do not have the discipline to do what they know. Therefore, their lives are empty and worthless.
Self-surgery takes the doctrine of Scripture and, through discipline, follows it closely. Only in moments with myself can I determine how I am doing. Only in moments with myself can I make the needed corrections leading to a successful conclusion with the Lord.
— Mike Johnson
