Article October 2, 1902 Issue

The Bible and Medicine

Alfred Farlow

Boston Times

Since Christian Science advocates total abstinence from material remedies and implicit reliance upon Spirit as the proper means of healing the sick, Bible students naturally ask: Is the practice of discarding the use of medicine justified from a Scriptural standpoint? However much of the truth may have been understood and practised by the prophets it is conceded by all that Jesus alone understood and demonstrated the perfect way and he resorted to no material remedies, not even to the use of human will for he said : "Not as I will, but as thou wilt." "I speak not of myself : but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." Furthermore, after having accepted the teaching that God is omnipotent and the only first Cause, that He created all things, one may readily believe that the deific power can instantly destroy disease and sin and that to do this directly, instead of bringing it about through material laws or means,, seems more practical and more strictly in accord with the institutions of the All-wise.

The Scriptures declare: "Lo this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing?" "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way." "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." So long as man lacks in the understanding of the nature and essence of Deity he is naturally wanting in the understanding of His ways and means, and seeks out human and material inventions because the circumstances necessitate it. An individual lost in the woods does not choose the wrong path because he prefers that to the right one, but because he mistakes in judgment. That mankind have sought through material medicines to doctor the human body, though a mistake, has naturally resulted from their ignorance of a better way. Ill success from the use of crude human means has been convincing of their insufficiency, and has led on to the discovery of improved ways until at last Christian Science has been found.

It has been said that Jesus advocated the use of medicine when he said: "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." This position, however, seems to be very poorly taken, for if Jesus had taught the use of medicine he would surely have made his own life conform to that teaching. Throughout his career he taught by example exactly what he taught by precept. His own life conformed to all that he taught. He said : "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." He did not say, He who becomes well versed in material therapeutics shall do the works that I do. Neither did he declare: In the latter days, through the practice of medicine and surgery you shall be able to do greater works than I have done through the power of God. This was to be accomplished through faith in God, through a firm reliance upon His power. It has been said that when Jesus spoke of the good Samaritan "pouring in oil and wine" he was advocating the use of medicine.

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