The Need of Instruction on Health Principles
The
Need of Instruction on Health Principles
E.
G. White July 5, 1892
During my sickness I have thought
much in reference to praying for the sick, and I believe that if prayer should
be offered for the sick at any place (and it certainly should), it should be
offered at the Sanitarium for the relief and restoration of the suffering. {SpM 5.1}
But in this matter of praying for the
sick, I should not move in exactly the same lines as have my brethren. I have
been considering many things that have been presented to me in the past in
reference to this subject. Suppose that twenty men and women should present
themselves as subjects of prayer at some of our camp-meetings. This would not
be unlikely, for those who are suffering will do anything in their power to
obtain relief and to regain their health. Of these twenty, few have
regarded the light on the subject of purity and health reform. They have
neglected to practice right principles in eating and drinking, and in taking
care of their bodies: and those who are married have formed gross habits, and
indulged in unholy practices, while those who are unmarried have been reckless
of life and health. In clear rays the light has shone
upon them; but they have not had respect to the light, nor have they walked
circumspectly; yet they solicit the prayers of God’s people, and call for the
elders of the church. Should they regain the blessing of health, many of them
would pursue the same course of heedless transgression of nature’s laws, unless
enlightened and thoroughly transformed. {SpM 5.2}
They solicit the prayers of God’s
people, and call for the elders, of the church; but little is known of their
private life. Sin has brought many of them where they are, to a state of feebleness of
mind and debility of body. Shall prayer
be offered to the God of heaven for His healing power to come upon them then
and there, without specifying any conditions? I say No! decidedly no! {SpM 5.3}
What then shall be done? Present
their cases before Him who knows every individual by name. Present their cases
to Him who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Present
these thoughts to the persons who come asking for your prayers. We are human, we can not read the mind or
heart or know the secrets of your life. These are known only to yourself and
God. If you now repent of your sin, if you can see that in any instance you
have walked contrary to the light given you of God, and have neglected to give
honor to the body, the temple of God, and by wrong habits have degraded the
body which is Christ’s property, make confession of these things to God. {SpM 5.4}
Unless you
are wrought upon by the Spirit of God in a special manner to confess your sins
of a private nature to man, do not breathe them to any human soul. Christ is
your Redeemer, He will take no advantage of your
humiliating confessions. If you have a sin of a private character, confess
it to Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man. “If any man sin, we
have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” If you have
sinned by withholding from God His own in tithes and offerings, confess your
guilt to God and to the church, and heed the injunction that has been given
you, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my
house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open
you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be
room enough to receive it.” {SpM 5.5}
Note: The inference is that one
cannot expect answers to prayer for health or restored health if he/she is
robbing God in tithes and offering. Further, one so engaged cannot expect to be
saved. End note.
Praying for the sick is a most solemn
thing, and we should not enter upon this work in any careless, hasty way. Examination
should be made as to whether those who would be blessed with health have
indulged in evil speaking, alienation, and dissension. Have they
sowed discord among the brethren and sisters in the church? If these things
have been committed, they should be confessed, before God and the church. When
wrongs have been confessed, the subjects for prayer may be presented before God
in earnestness and faith, as the Spirit of God may move upon you. {SpM 6.1}
But it is not always safe to ask for
(un?) conditional healing. Let your prayer include
this thought, “Lord, Thou knowest every secret of the soul. Thou art acquainted
with these persons, for Jesus their advocate gave His life for them. He loved
them better than we possibly can. If therefore it is for Thy glory, and
the good of these afflicted ones to raise them up to health, we ask in the name
of Jesus, that health may be given them at this time.” {SpM 6.2}
In a petition of this kind, no lack
of faith is manifested. There are cases that are clear, and the Lord works with
His divine power in their restoration. The will of God is evidenced too plainly
to be misunderstood. The Lord does not afflict willingly nor grieve the
children of men. Like as a father pitieth
his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.
For He knoweth our frame, He remembereth
what we are dust. He knoweth our hearts, for He reads every secret of the soul.
He knows whether or not those for whom petitions are offered would be able to
endure the trial and test that would come upon them if they lived. He knows the
end from the beginning. {SpM 6.3}
Many will be laid away to sleep in
Jesus before the fiery ordeal of the time of trouble shall come upon our world. This is
another reason why we should say after our earnest petition, “Nevertheless, not
my will, but Thine, O Lord, be done.” Such a petition will never be registered
in heaven as a faithless prayer. The Apostle was bidden to write: “Blessed are
the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow
them.” From this we can see that every one is not to
be judged as unworthy of eternal life. If Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, prayed,
“O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,” and then added,
“Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt,” how very appropriate is it for
poor, finite mortals to make surrender to the wisdom and will of God. {SpM 6.4}
In praying for the sick, we are to
pray that if it be God’s will, they may be raised up, but if not, that He will
give them His grace to comfort, His presence to sustain them in their
suffering. Many who should set their house in order,
neglect to do it when they have hope that they will be raised to health in
answer to prayer. Buoyed up by a false hope, they do not feel the need of
saying words of exhortation to their children, parents, or friends, and it is a
great misfortune. Accepting the assurance that they should be healed when
prayed for, they dare not make a reference as to how their property should be
disposed of, how their family is to be cared for, or express any wish
concerning their matters of which they would speak if they thought they should
be removed by death. In this way disasters are brought upon the family
and friends. For many things are left unmentioned, because they fear expressions on
these points would be a denial of their faith that should be understood. Believing
that they will be raised to health by prayer, they fail to make use of hygienic
measures that are in their power to use, fearing that it would be a denial of
their faith. I thank the Lord that it is our privilege to cooperate with Him in
the work of restoration, availing ourselves of all possible advantages in the
recovery of health. It is no denial of our faith to place ourselves in the
condition most favorable to recovery. {SpM 7.1}
The use of drugs has not been
specified as in the Lord’s order, but He has given special light concerning our
health institutions, directing His people to practice and cultivate
hygienic principles. Such should be taught those who are in ignorance as to how
to live in accordance with pure principles, practicing those things that will
preserve the body in a healthful condition. Man is to cooperate with God-given
ability. He is not to be ignorant as to what are right practices in eating and
drinking, and in all his habits of life. The Lord designs that His human agents
shall act as rational, accountable beings in every respect. {SpM 7.2}
But though light upon this matter has
been shining upon the pathway of our people for nearly thirty years, yet a
large number are far behind the light. Our churches are ignorant of hygienic
principles and practices. We ought to be far advanced in wisdom, understanding
what the will of the Lord is. We ought to know how to keep our minds pure and our
bodies in a healthful condition. {SpM 7.3}
But though we have sinned, we may
come to Christ in penitence, and find pardon. We can not
afford to neglect one ray of light God has given. To be
sluggish in the practice of those things which require diligence,
is to commit sin. The human agent is to cooperate with God, and keep under
those passions which should be in subjection. To do this he must be unwearied
in his prayers to God, ever obtaining grace to control his spirit, temper, and
actions. {SpM 7.4}
Ellen G. White
July 5, 1892.