Article October 14, 1911 Issue

A writer in the Bible question department of a recent...

Frank Bell

Stroudsburg (Pa.) Times

A writer in the Bible question department of a recent issue undertook to answer the question why professing Christians generally do not endeavor to carry out the Master's command to heal the sick as do the Christian Scientists. His only response to this well-put query is an expression of his personal opinion that "these miraculous powers were given to the twelve apostles only, with the added power of conferring these gifts upon others; but that those upon whom the gift of healing was bestowed were unable to confer it upon others, hence it ceased to be with the church."

The inaccuracy of our friend's presentation of this subject is shown in the fact that he disregards the statement in Luke x, that the Master appointed, in addition to the twelve, "other seventy" disciples also, and sent them "into every city and place" to "heal the sick that are therein," and that they reported to him their great success in this work. Almost the last recorded words of the Master to the eleven were: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, ... teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." He did not say all things expect the healing of the sick. Elsewhere he said: "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." Certainly the works that he did included the healing of the sick by purely spiritual means, and certainly the ability to "believe" on him did not pass away with the apostles and their immediate associates. There is abundant record that for at least three centuries the church did not undertake to divide the, command of its Founder, "to preach the gospel, and to heal the sick." "These signs," said Jesus, "shall follow them that believe; ... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." It is not on record that he gave any other definition of a Christian.

The intimation that Christian Scientists neglect the injunction, "Freely ye have received, freely give," is wholly uncalled for and without justification. A little investigation would have shown our critic that Christian Scientists generally, and Christian Science practitioners in particular, are devoting much more of their time, thought, and means freely for the benefit of their fellow men than they were able to see their way clear to give before becoming Christian Scientists. Those who abandon secular pursuits and devote themselves wholly to the work, must needs look to the beneficiaries of their efforts for the necessaries of life; but that is a condition common to all religious bodies, and is in keeping with the Scriptural rule that "the laborer is worthy of his hire."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

A writer in the Bible question department of a recent...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access