The Watchtower, May 1, 1951
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WATCHTOWER
MAY 1, 1951
Semimonthly
DIVINE HEALING FOR
PERFECT LIFE
THE PRAYER OF FAITH
DURING SICKNESS
MAKING A SUCCESS OF MARRIAGE
CHRISTIANITY'S
NON-CHRISTIAN WITNESSES
PLANNING NOW FOR
THE TIME TO COME
©WTB&TS
Announcing JEHOVAH'S KINGDOM
"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa.43:12 THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases.—Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself. Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street
Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNORR, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
Religious Meeting in Public Park No Union of Church and State 259
Divine Healing for Perfect Life 261
The Prayer of Faith During Sickness 268
Image Put to Unexpected Use in Chile 274
"Subjection to the Superior Authorities" 275
Making a Success of Marriage 276
Christianity's Non-Christian Witnesses 280
Planning Now for the Time to Come 283
Questions from Readers 286
Announcements 288
Abbreviations used in "The Watchtower" for the following Bible versions
AS - American Standard Version LXX- The Septuagint Version
AT - An American Translation Mo - James Moffatt's version
Da - J. N. Darby's version NW - New World Translation
Dy - Catholic Douay version Ro - J. B. Rotherham's version
ED - The Emphatic Diaglott RS - Revised Standard Version
Le - Isaac Leeser's version Yg - Robert Young's version
Unless otherwise indicated, the Bible used is the King James Version
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RELIGIOUS MEETING IN PUBLIC PARK NO UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE
THE Supreme Court of Wisconsin, by a unanimous decision on December 5, 1950, strengthened the great wall of American civil liberties by sealing up one of its gaping holes. The court ruled that the County of Milwaukee could not prohibit meetings in the public parks by Jehovah's witnesses because they were religious.
Milwaukee county passed a law completely forbidding all religious organizations from holding meetings or giving speeches on the public streets and in the parks of the county, on the ground that both state and federal constitutions prohibit union of church and state. It was argued, in support of this county law, that since parks were sustained at public expense the usage of them by religious organizations was an unlawful appropriation of public funds for religious purposes.
Notwithstanding this prohibitive law, Jehovah's witnesses in Milwaukee went ahead and applied for permission to hold meetings in South Shore Park. The permit was denied, but the public Bible lecture was held anyway on July 31, 1949. David Carter, the ordained minister who delivered the Bible discourse to the assembly, was allowed to give his talk without interference. But at the conclusion the park police ordered him to report to the district attorney's office the next day to answer a summons for an alleged violation of the law. There he was charged with disobeying the law prohibiting such meetings, and was therefore put on trial. Subsequent conviction and appeals finally brought the case to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.
In due time, on November 10, 1950, counsel for Jehovah's witnesses had the privilege of giving the state supreme court solid-rock arguments, and mortar too consisting of cohesive reasoning and judicial logic, with which the court might plug up this hole the enemy had blasted in the defenses of civil liberties. It was pointed out to the high tribunal that, while both the state and federal constitutions prohibit the establishment of a state religion, yet they do not exclude religions from enjoying certain benefits from the state. While churches may not be aided or supported by public funds, yet they have a constitutional right to hold meetings. Moreover, to deny a religious group the right to use the parks would be to discriminate against religious assemblies, and since no discrimination of that sort appears in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, none should be written into it at this late date. It was also emphasized that Jehovah's witnesses had not monopolized the park or prevented others from using it too, nor did the meeting interfere with any other recreational activity going on in the park. Consequently, Jehovah's witnesses as a religious organization had as much right to exercise freedom of speech and assembly in the public park as do political and commercial organizations.
Counsel for Jehovah's witnesses informed this high court that the doctrine advocated by the antireligious county law was similar to the threat of Communism against all religions. In communistic countries all religion is curtailed. There, the most powerful as well as the insignificant religious organizations are completely barred from benefits of the state, such as tax exemption granted to the churches in this country. And to a very large extent communist countries deny religious groups civil guarantee of protection of their fundamental rights of assembly, worship and speech. Surely the courts of this democratic land cannot allow laws of that nature to creep in and choke out time-honored religious freedom!
If the argument supporting the Milwaukee county law is correct, the court was informed, then criminal gamblers and slot machine operators would have the constitutional right to hold meetings in the parks, while law-abiding Christian ministers endeavoring to improve the morality of the community would be prohibited from using the same parks. If the extreme contention that the doctrine of separation of church and state bars Jehovah's witnesses from the parks is accepted, then the same twisted reasoning would make unconstitutional and void all exemptions from taxation now granted the churches. Such interpretation would certainly mean the death toll to all religions, for the burden of taxation would be too great.
Wisconsin's highest court saw the tragic consequences to religious freedom if it accepted the doctrine of this Milwaukee county law. Hence it unanimously accepted the argument advanced by Jehovah's witnesses and handed down a judgment that will do much to protect the religious liberties
of all Americans. It was a most timely decision too, for totalitarian forces are steadily increasing their pressure against the fortresses of freedom.
Briefly consider the solid truths and brilliant logic contained in this very important decision. "When, in Art. I, sec. 3, the Wisconsin Constitution guarantees the right of free speech it does not except or restrict speech on the subject of religion." If it did it would clash with the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and would therefore be null and void. "Speech on religious topics is just as free . . . as speech on other subjects." It is granted that civil authorities have the right, and may, in "the interests of public order, safety, and equitable sharing of facilities, exercise reasonable control over when, where and under what conditions public meetings may be held on public property". However, "the Milwaukee county ordinance purports not to regulate but to prohibit speech in public parks on political as well as religious subjects." Hence, "to deny to the people all use of the people's property for the public discussion of specified subjects is an unconstitutional interference of rights expressly guaranteed by both state and federal constitutions." Consequently, the ordinance "is void, as in conflict with both constitutions, and the conviction under it is likewise void and must be set aside". This was the unanimous and happy conclusion of Wisconsin's Supreme Court.
There are other cases against Jehovah's witnesses in other parts of the country where the same type of ordinance prohibiting religious park meetings has been framed and applied. It is therefore hoped that, by the undeserved kindness and guiding power of Jehovah, the courts in those states will wisely follow the Supreme Court of Wisconsin and plug up similar breaches in the democratic walls.
DIVINE HEALING for PERFECT LIFE
"All your sicknesses he heals, he saves your life from death." Ps.103:3,4 Mo.
EHOVAH God, without the aid of the electronic scientists of today, can make a healthy world. The more advances medical science claims to make in its fight on disease, the more diseases or complications it encounters or appears to create for itself. In nations reputedly the most civilized the malignant diseases are spreading and yearly taking a terrible toll. The sign of the end of this system of things has also appeared in fulfillment of Jesus Christ's prophecy. We see "in one place after another pestilences" and "food shortages" which lead to undernourishment and so open the way to the invasion of sickness and disease. (Luke 21:7,11, NW; Matt. 24:3,7) This poses an unconquerable problem for man, but not for Jehovah God the Almighty. Undismayed he moves ahead in carrying out his promise to create a diseaseless new world, where obedient mankind will enjoy perfect life forever.
2 It was a completely healthy world that God established with Adam and Eve and their "covering cherub" back there in
Eden. What, then brought on these things called disease sickness and ill health, with death as the end? It was the violation of God's inflexible law! No creature can tamper with His law and expect to
remain well. By this we mean not only the physical law of nature but also the moral law, and this primarily.
3 Terrible plagues Jehovah God brought upon the oppressor's land in order to liberate his chosen people from the military power of ancient Egypt. Then in the free wilderness, to show what he could do for the national health, he cured the undrinkable water for his liberated people and said: "If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his eyes, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians: for I am Jehovah that healeth thee." (Ex. 15:22-26, AS) On his own wise terms he entered into a covenant or agreement with the nation of Israel, requiring strict obedience from them but promising unusual blessings. He gave them not only the most sanitary and healthful laws but also commandments concerning their moral conduct toward God, man and
beast.
4 To warn against the idea they could tamper with his law and not suffer the unavoidable consequences, he said to them: "Jehovah will smite thee with the boil of Egypt, and with the emerods [or,
What now poses a problem for medical science, but not for God?
What brought in ill-health and death? What does this show?
3, 4. How did Jehovah's dealings and covenant with Israel show the connection between keeping law and keeping well?
tumors], and with the scurvy, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed. Jehovah will smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore boil, whereof thou canst not be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the crown of thy head. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, JEHOVAH THY GOD; then Jehovah will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. And he will bring upon thee again all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will Jehovah bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed." (Deut. 28:27,35,58-61, AS, margin) So there is a connection between keeping the Creator's laws and our health and well-being. The diseaseless free new world will be made up of happy creatures who keep their Maker's laws perfectly.
5 Jehovah said to his fellow worker, his only-begotten Son who became the Jewish Messiah: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." (Gen. 1:26) So Jehovah the Creator and his Son Christ Jesus know all about the human system, a joint creation of theirs. They knew how to make it function perfectly at the beginning. They know what put it out of order down till this day. They know what to do to rid it of every disturbance and put it in perfect running order again. This knowledge they will fully prove in the righteous new world now so near. Still, all through human history, from man's fall into sickness and death, Jehovah has revealed himself as the divine Healer. He especially manifested his power to heal by his beloved Son when on earth as the "man Christ Jesus".
In his days on earth there was much physical suffering among the Jews in Palestine, and we read: "Jesus set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom and curing every kind of disease and every kind of ailment." (Matt. 9:35, NW) It was God's spirit or active force operating through Jesus that did this. To this fact the apostle Peter testifies, saying: "Jesus who was from Nazareth, how God anointed him with holy spirit and power, and he went through the land doing good and healing all those oppressed by the Devil, because God was with him." (Acts 10:37, 38, NW) No physical affliction in others could resist his treatment, not even death. The record reports a number of cases where he even raised the dead, so that he could say, in proof of his being the Messiah or Christ: "The dead are being raised up, and the poor are having the good news declared to them."—Matt. 11:5, NW.
PHYSICAL CURES SUSPENDED FOR CENTURIES
7 Jesus passed on this power to certain ones of his disciples. We read: "So he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, in order to expel these and to cure every kind of disease and every kind of ailment. These twelve Jesus sent forth, giving them these orders: ' . . . Cure sick people, raise up dead persons, make lepers clean, expel demons. You received free, give free.'" (Matt. 10:1, 5-8, NW) When he afterward sent out seventy more followers, he gave them similar instructions: "Cure the sick ones in it, and go on telling them: 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'" (Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-10, NW) After Jesus re-
5, 6. What facts about him and his Son argue in favor of Jehovah's knowledge and ability as Healer?
Did Jesus reserve the healing power to himself? What are the facts?
turned to heaven, this healing power continued with his apostles. In fact, beginning at the Pentecostal feast, the glorified Jesus poured out the holy spirit of God upon all his devoted followers, and upon some of them he conferred the gift of the power to heal and even raise the dead. (Acts 2:1-18; 5:16) The last physical cure by the power of God's spirit to be reported in inspired Scripture is that where, about A.D. 59, the apostle Paul on the island of Malta prayed, laid his hands on a man and healed him of fever and dysentery.—Acts 28:7, 8, NW.
Today, after nineteen centuries, there are religionists in Christendom who practice what they call "divine healing". There are a number of religious sects that insist on it. Their members outwardly refuse to take any medicines and claim to rely solely on prayer, fasting and mental concentration. Certain evangelists see that printed announcements of themselves are made attractive to the public by including in the advertisement "miracles of God's power" and "prayers for the sick". Apparently miraculous cures are effected at public healing meetings which astound the onlookers. Is this "divine healing" and is it done by the gift of the holy spirit? That claim is made, but is it true? And are we to reject all the benefits of modern medical science and to seek cures from God by his miraculous power? Is it a rejection of Christian faith to use medicines and have operations?
9 One big fact helps us to answer these questions, and it is this: That divine physical healing was a feature of Christ's first presence and of the infancy of his congregation, but it was due to pass away with the death of his apostles and their associates. Authority to heal was one of the
gifts of the spirit which, since Pentecost, was imparted only through the apostles or in their presence. Do not let any of us fail to see what the magician Simon of Samaria could see, namely, "that through the laying on of the hands of the apostles the spirit was given," and so Simon was shrewd enough to offer Peter money to buy this apostolic power but was refused with indignation. (Acts 8:17,18,NW) Again it was while the apostle was present, preaching to the Italian centurion Cornelius and his household, that, without Peter's laying his hands upon these Gentiles, "the holy spirit fell upon all those hearing the word" and they began "speaking with tongues and glorifying God". (Acts 10:44- 46,NW) For the same reason it was first when those twelve men at Ephesus listened to the apostle Paul and got baptized again, this time in the name of the Lord Jesus, and "Paul laid his hands upon them," that "the holy spirit came upon them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying".—Acts 19:1-7, NW.
10 Men who received the gift of miraculous healing through or in the presence of the apostles could not impart the spirit to others. So they could not pass on the gift of healing power to others. Consequently when the apostles died and also those associated with them, then the spiritual gift of miraculously healing people in a physical way ceased to be imparted or exercised. Today we are nineteen centuries removed from the apostles. That is a very big gap to be leaped between us and the apostles through whom the gifts of healing were imparted. So in the physical absence of Jesus and his apostles it is futile for a Christian to pray for the spiritual gift to heal others and for himself to be miraculously healed.
Who now insist on divine healing? What questions does this raise?
What big fact helps us to answer these questions?
What proves it?
Why is it futile to pray now for healing or for healing power?
No, we are not arguing that God's holy spirit has not been poured out upon the remnant of Christ's faithful congregation in these last days. We merely mean that this special miraculous gift has not been bestowed with it. But the "fruit of the spirit", which is love, has not failed to appear. It abounds in the true Christian congregation today. Paul made it clear that love would remain after the miraculous gifts of the spirit passed away. He wrote: "Love never fails. But whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with." The gift of miraculous healing marked the babyhood of the Christian congregation in order to build up its faith and to identify it as God's chosen people from then on. But now that it has come to manhood or maturity after these nineteen centuries of Christian experience, the true remnant of Christ's followers do not exercise that gift. "When I was a babe, I used to speak as a babe, to think as a babe, to reason as a babe; but now that I have become a man, I have done away with the traits of a babe." (1 Cor. 13:8-11,NW) Now we Christians have something grander and larger than physical healing, and this we shall presently explain.
12 Sticklers for divine physical healing in these "last days" will argue that if we do not possess and use this miraculous power it proves we are not the true organization of God. But we ask, Were all Christians who received the holy spirit to be endowed with the gift of miraculous healing? Or miraculous tongues? Or miraculous translations of tongues? No; no more than all Christians were meant to be apostles, or predictors of future events, or miracle
workers. "Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform powerful works, do they? Not all have gifts of healings, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all are translators, are they? But keep striving after the greater gifts. And yet I show you a surpassing way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbal." (1 Cor. 12:29 to 13:1, NW) Many are the so-called "healers" throughout heathendom as well as Christendom. And yet how they all display the lack of love in that they covet financial reward, fame, notoriety, prominence, and selfish power over people! So they are nothing in God's sight, despite their wonder-working.
13 Such healers do their works, not to support divine truth, but to perpetuate religious lies. They apparently cure physically, but fail to impart the more vital healing which is spiritual, leading to life in the new world. They release people from the power of a bodily ailment, but do not liberate them from the power of the Devil and his organization, this world. Measured by these facts, their works of healing are not manifestations of God's spirit.
14 Instead of placing heavy stress on miraculous cures, note where God's Word puts them in the list: not first, but fifth. Count: "God has set the respective ones in the congregation, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then powerful works; then gifts of healings." (1 Cor. 12:28-30,NW) Moreover, when Jehovah God foretold that he would pour out his spirit upon all kinds of flesh, he did not put the healing gift to the front as the proof of that spirit upon his people. He said: "I shall pour some of my spirit out upon every kind of flesh, and your sons
Was the passing away of the healing gift foretold? Where? How?
12, 13. (a) Why can it not be argued that divine healing is a necessary qualification? (b) What proves divine healers now fraudulent?
What shows healing was not the spirit's foremost manifestation?
and your daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams; and even upon my men slaves and upon my women slaves I will pour out some of my spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. . . . And then anyone that calls upon the name of Jehovah will be saved." (Acts 2:16-21, NW; Joel 2:28-32, AS) Prophesying, or the preaching of the Word of Jehovah's prophecy! This is what is foremost in proving the outpouring of His spirit upon all flesh that is devoted to him as his witnesses and slaves. This prophesying of the divine truth accomplishes far more than mere physical healing does.
15 Accordingly when Jesus, about to ascend back to heaven, gave his farewell commission to his followers, he did not give prominence to the fifth-rate gift of healing. He emphasized preaching, witnessing, and teaching. Read his words on this at Matthew 28:19, 20; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:6-9. This fact is not contradicted by the words that appear in the King James Version, the Douay Version and other old versions of the Bible, at Mark 16:17, 18, namely: "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Those words, in fact, all the verses from Mark 16:9-20, do not appear in the most ancient and authentic Greek manuscripts. Hence they are branded as spurious. The best modern Bible translations mark them as such or leave them out altogether. Even Jesuit Lattey's translation, the Westminster Version of 1948, is obliged to admit in a footnote on Mark 16:9-20, "These verses have not the same textual support
as the rest of the gospel." Hence the unquestionably inspired words of the apostle Paul at 1 Corinthians 12:28 to 13:11, quoted above, place a limit to how far and how long those added words of Mark's gospel may apply. They could not apply beyond the death of the apostles and their personal associates.
NATURAL CURATIVE METHODS NOT DEBARRED
16 In this day of great medical advancement those who contend for divine physical healing insist on resorting to it, for selfish benefit, rather than resorting to all the ordinary curative methods which are available today. They claim this is an evidence of their faith in God and their reliance upon him. But such a selfish application of divine healing is not supported by Jesus Christ and his apostles. There is no question that these men truly exercised the gift of miraculous healing by God's spirit. Did they exercise this miraculous power for their own physical benefit? Never! At the close of a 40-day fast Jesus did not satisfy his extreme hunger by turning stones into loaves of bread. The suggestion to use his power in such a selfish way came from Satan the Devil, not from God. When Jesus got tired from journeying, he sat down to rest, as by the fountainside at Samaria. When he grew sleepy, he slept for recuperation, as on the pillow in the stern of the boat when crossing the sea of Galilee. When his apostles returned from a strenuous missionary tour and reported to him, he took into consideration their physical and nervous frame and invited them to withdraw with him into a lonely place to "rest up a bit". (John 4:6; Mark 4:38; Luke 8:23; Mark 6:30-32, NW) So Jesus did not resort to the miraculous for the benefit of himself and his disciples.
How does Jesus' farewell commission to us support this? Why does Mark 16:9-20 not contradict this?
Is resort to divine healing for self-benefit Christlike?
17 In this respect Jesus did not follow the slogan, "Physician, cure yourself." At his home town of Nazareth, when preaching to his old associates in their synagogue, he said: "No doubt you will apply this illustration to me, 'Physician, cure yourself'; the things we heard as having happened in Capernaum do also here in your native territory." By this his old townsmen were meaning he should practice his miraculous powers on his former neighbors, the people of his town where he had been brought up, as if to say, Curing begins at home, for the benefit of your own first. "But he said: 'Certainly I tell you that no prophet is accepted in his native territory. For instance, I tell you in truth, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, so that a great famine fell upon all the land, yet Elijah was sent to none of those women, but only to Zarephath in the land of Zidon to a widow. Also there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the man of Syria was.'" Jesus tried to appeal to his own townspeople by his preaching rather than by the miraculous relief of sickness. If he had followed their idea, "Physician, cure yourself," he would not have been run out of town by them and threatened with stoning to death. Luke 4:16-30, NW.
18 Hence Matthew 13:58 tells us: "He did not do many powerful works there on account of their lack of faith." (NW) His miracles of healing he did on outsiders, just as the ancient prophet Elijah did. He knew that healing powers were not for personal advantage, but for a sign to outsiders, just like the gift of tongues: "Tongues are for a sign, not to the believers, but to the unbelievers, whereas prophesying [preaching] is, not for the unbelievers, but for the believers." (1 Cor. 14:22,NW) The one gifted with the power of divine healing was not to be a selfhealer.
19 If such a gifted person were to use his power selfishly, to keep himself always well, then, barring accidents or persecutions, when would he determine to die or let himself die? The prophet Elisha succeeded Elijah, and Elisha was used to raise a dead boy to life and to recover the foreigner, Naaman, from his leprosy, and to do other miracles. But did he cure himself or pray for miraculous cure? The faithful Record informs us: "Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face." On his deathbed Elisha used his prophetic power for King Joash but did not seek miraculous recovery for himself. "And Elisha died, and they buried him." Then what happened? "It came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet."—2 Ki. 13:14-21.
20 These facts corroborate that the healing power was to be used for others, not for the healer's personal comfort. Neither was the healer to enrich himself by this practice and accept financial pay or material rewards for his miracles. Elisha refused a reward from Naaman for cleansing him of his plague but gave the glory to God. So when his servant Gehazi deceitfully tried to collect the reward offered and misused Elisha's name, he was stricken with the disease from which Naaman had been cleansed. (2 Ki. 5:1-27) Those who pretend to practice divine healing and
17, 18. Why did Jesus not follow the Nazarenes' proverb, "Physician, cure yourself"?
19, 20. What does Elisha's course show as to self-cure and pay for miracles of healing?
who accept pay or rewards or take up collections of money render themselves unclean before God. Jesus instructed his gifted apostles: "You received free, give free."
21 Take now the apostle Paul for further illustration. Once he preached till midnight and Eutychus at a window collapsed with sleep and fell from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul freed himself from any blame by restoring Eutychus to life. That was an emergency miracle on a man within the congregation who had an accident.—Acts 20:7-12.
22 But how about making other members of the congregation well? There was Epaphroditus from Philippi, about whom Paul writes: "He fell sick nearly to the point of death; but God had mercy on him, in fact, not only on him, but also on me, that I should not get grief upon grief. . . on account of the Lord's work he came quite near to death, exposing his soul to danger, that he might fully make up for your not being here to render private service to me." (Phil. 2:25-30, NW) But there is not the trace of a suggestion here that Paul performed divine healing to save Epaphroditus from dying. Nor did he prevent him from getting near the gates of death, even though this fellow worker was of great help to Paul. But God blessed what means were used to bring him back to health and so God had mercy on the sick brother. Incidentally, if Epaphroditus were not to sleep in death but to go immediately to heaven at death, would sparing him for further earthly life have been a mercy to him? Besides him, there was Trophimus. In Paul's last letter before his death at Rome he writes to tell Timothy: "I left Trophimus sick at Miletus." (2 Tim. 4:20, NW) Why, now, did the gifted Paul leave Trophimus sick, and why had not Trophimus asked Paul to use his gift of the spirit upon him to make him well? Because miraculous power is not to be used for our personal convenience or for the relief of devoted Christians in the congregation.
23 There was another companion and fellow worker of Paul's who was afflicted with chronic sickness, Timothy. He had stomach disorders and frequent spells of sickness. Did Paul use his gift on him and miraculously drive away his ailments beyond return? Or did he say: "Timothy, exercise faith and pray for God to intervene and put you in better physical condition for the ministry of the good news"? Listen to Paul's prescription to Timothy: "Do not drink water any longer, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent cases of sickness." (1 Tim. 5:23,NW) Timothy may have been a total abstainer from alcoholics; we do not know for sure. But then the drinking water may have been bad and so contributory to Timothy's ailment. Paul told him the sensible thing to do; no, not go to a drugstore and get a pharmacist's special wine for constitutional disorders (as prohibitionists argue), but just "use a little wine", without specifying what kind.
24 As for Paul himself, he was not an altogether well man according to various suggestions in the Scriptures. Luke describes himself as accompanying Paul on his missionary trips, from Troas, in Asia Minor, on. And what was this Luke's profession? Paul tells us in these words: "Luke the beloved physician sends you his greetings." (Col. 4:14, NW) Not in a spiritual sense, but in a physical medical sense Luke was a physician. The reasonable inference is that Paul had him along for the medical services he could render both Paul and his fellow missionaries. Were true Christians under obligation to restrict
21, 22. What do the cases of Eutychus, Epaphroditus and Trophimus show?
Did Paul use or recommend divine healing for Timothy?
What does Luke's accompanying Paul argue?
themselves to faith cures and divine healing, it would have been inconsistent for Luke as a Christian to practice his profession, especially upon his companions in service.
25 From these Scriptural facts we rightly conclude that, when we fall sick or certain ailments come on us with age, we may turn to natural methods of cure, or medical remedies. We may resort to doctors of whatever school seems to us to be the best. We may go to sanatoria or to hospitals or have a surgical operation. Such curative methods are not barred to a
So from the above facts what do we conclude we may and may not do?
Christian of faith. We need not delay the proper treatment or care of ourselves by praying and waiting upon miraculous divine healing. It would be wrong to pray and wait for an answer to such a prayer. Why? First, because such healing is not for believers themselves and, second, because such gift of healing by the holy spirit has passed away. To apply to faith healers would do us a spiritual injury, because these carry on their profession, not by power of God's spirit, but by the Deceiver's power. Their teachings and works prove they do so. If they understood the Scriptures they would not be in that business.
The Prayer of Faith During Sickness
THE disciple James speaks about the prayer of faith for the sick. Does he not contradict what has been said above? Let us examine his words on this: "Is there anyone suffering evil among you? Let him carry on prayer. Is there anyone in good spirits? Let him sing psalms. Is there anyone sick among you? Let him call the older men of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him, rubbing him with oil in the name of Jehovah. And the prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up. Also if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him."—Jas. 5:13-15, NW.
2 The context makes it clear that James is here talking, not of physical, but of spiritual sickness. He first mentions suffering evil. That refers to "suffering evil for the good news according to the power of God". It means enduring some hardships for serving as a Christian witness of God and keeping one's integrity toward God. (2 Tim. 1:8, NW) So, if one is suffering thus, let him carry on prayer so as to be helped to continue faithful, advises James. But, James, what if anyone is in good spirits? "Let him sing psalms." Doing so, he edifies himself and those hearing him. But what if anyone is not in good spirits? In other words, what if one is sick spiritually? The fact that James contrasts being sick with being in good spirits plainly indicates he is dealing with spiritual and not physical sickness. The course of treatment he now recommends also argues it is spiritual sickness. The older men of the congregation, who are full-grown in the faith and full of wisdom from above and acquainted with God's instructions, are the proper ones for the spiritually sick one to call in.
If he were ailing physically, he would call in a doctor, if he could afford it, or would resort to some medicinal remedy.
What are the older men of the congregation to do with the one sick spiritually? They are to pray over him, so that he can hear what they pray and can show he agrees, with his "Amen!" He has fallen into such a spiritual state that he cannot properly pray on his own accord any more. Not able to ask in faith and with an unwavering mind, he has no confidence in his own prayer. (Jas. 1:6,7) Something has brought on this spiritual illness. The older men must ascertain what this is. Paul, too, refers to this kind of sickness and tells one cause, the improper celebration of the Lord's evening meal or Memorial supper. "For he that eats and drinks eats and drinks judgment against himself if he does not discern the body. That is why many among you are weak and sickly and quite a few are sleeping in death. But if we would discern what we ourselves are, we would not be judged." (1 Cor. 11:29-31, NW) Those in this condition were not keeping unity with the Christian congregation, the body of Christ. So Paul as an older brother wrote them for their help and spiritual cure.
4 The older men of the congregation are not merely to pray with the spiritually sick. They must also rub him with oil in the name of Jehovah. Not literal oil, like the so-called "extreme unction" of Catholics, or like that described at
Mark 6:13. The "oil" here is the soothing word of instruction from the Holy Scriptures and it restores the spiritually sick one to unity with the Christian congregation which is in God's favor. As it is written: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that came down upon the skirt of his garments." (Ps. 133:1,2,AS) Speaking of oil to symbolize refreshment and soothing, Psalm 23:5 (Mo) says: "Thou hast poured oil upon my head, my cup is brimming over." The healthful effect of God's message is described at Proverbs 15:30 in this way: "Good tidings make the bones fat." (AS) And the correction which leads to spiritual health is described as soothing and curative by the psalmist when he says: "Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be as oil upon the head; let not my head refuse it." (Ps. 141:5,AS) And that it denotes a means of healing is shown when the good Samaritan poured oil along with wine into the wounds of the man waylaid by robbers. (Luke 10:34) So the older men of the congregation are to rub the spiritually sick one with oil in the sense of stimulating him with the soothing, healing, comforting, corrective Word of God.
5 In the name of Jehovah they are to do this. That is to say, in faithfulness to Jehovah God and according to his purpose, so as to aid the spiritually ill one to recover and have a part anew in vindicating God's name and proving the Devil a false god and liar. Those older men must
Why were the older brothers to pray over the sick?
In what way is it that they rub the sick with oil?
How do they do this "in the name of Jehovah"? And with what effect?
pray in faith, believing that God's Word is right and has power to help the sick one to see the error of his way and to recognize the right way. Such a united prayer of faith, together with the invigorating application of God's Word, will make the spiritually indisposed person well. It will build up his confidence in God's promise and in the rightness of God's Word and way, and will restore him to that way. Thus "Jehovah will raise him up", giving him strength to go in the way of truth and righteousness, and lifting him up out of his despondency and a feeling of being abandoned by God. His spiritual illness may have been due to getting into the bad habit of neglecting to meet with God's people or due to failing to feed regularly on God's Word and active service. Or he may have committed some serious sins for which he has been put out of favorable relationship with God and his organization. But now if he responds to the prayer offered unitedly by older men of faith and to their healthful stimulation of reproof, correction and exhortation from God's Word, and turns around and resumes the right way, what sins he has committed will then be forgiven him. This forgiveness is not on the basis of any self-righteousness in him, but is on the basis of Jesus' righteous sacrifice for sins.—1 John 1:7 to 2:2.
CONFESSION
6 Hence, in direct contrast with the secret confessional carried on by some religious systems, James instructs us: "Therefore openly confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may get healed. A righteous man's supplication when it is at work has much force." (Jas. 5:16, NW) Since the illness is connected with sins, it is apparent that the unhealth is spiritual, not physical. Otherwise, the
sinners against God would all be in states of serious bodily disease or sickness. But such is not the case. Oftentimes worldly sinners are in far better physical health than faithful servants and witnesses of Jehovah God. To illustrate the powerfulness of prayers by the righteous man, not a sin-sick man, James calls to mind Elijah's prayer: "Elijah was a man with feelings like ours, and yet in prayer he prayed for it not to rain, and it did not rain upon the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the land put forth its fruit." (Jas. 5:17,18,NW) The land of Israel was smitten with drought and famine because the nation was spiritually sick and out of harmony with Jehovah God. Elijah called for the fire test to demonstrate that Jehovah is God, and when the people at Mount Carmel acknowledged this and shouted, "Jehovah, he is God," and then turned the demonized prophets of Baal over to be executed, Elijah prayed for rain upon their land. It came. In unshakable faith he prayed seven times for this miracle of rain. Prayer works.
So by praying for those who are spiritually sick and who plain-spokenly confess their sins to us and seek our spiritual aid they "may get healed", spiritually so. This saves them from lapsing into spiritual death which would end up in their destruction from all future life. In their case Almighty God would destroy "both soul and body in Gehenna". (Matt. 10:28, NW) To encourage us to thus help brothers who are spiritually ailing and in danger of fearful consequences, James ends up his letter with this powerful reminder: "My brothers, if anyone among you is misled from the truth [this resulting in spiritual illness] and another turns him back, know that he who turns a sinner back from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
(Jas. 5:19,20,NW) Those sins which the spiritually sick person confessed and from which you prayed for him to be healed will be covered over. God will remember them no more, but will renew his peaceful relations with the returned sinner. It is by the sin-canceling blood of Jesus that the sins are thus covered over, but your prayer helped to move the divine arrangement of things to such a result. For such a privilege of lifesaving service you can be very thankful.
"A THORN IN THE FLESH"
But are we not also privileged to pray to God in our physical sickness and speak to him about it? Yes, we are. But we are not to pray for divine healing. The day for that is past. That gift of the spirit passed away with the decease of the apostles and their immediate associates. Furthermore, this miraculous healing was to be a sign to outsiders and to be performed upon them. It was not to be used for the selfish comfort of the faithful believers. True Christians, the servants of Jehovah God, do get physically sick. His own Word testifies to that. The apostle Paul had some physical affliction, which he likened to a "thorn in the flesh". Did he pray about it? Or, so highly gifted as he was, did he miraculously pluck this thorn out of his flesh himself, or did God do it for him with divine power? Hear Paul's own testimony:
"No one should put to my credit more than what he sees I am or he hears from me, just because of the excess of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not be overly exalted, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to keep striking me, that I might not be overly
exalted. In this behalf I three times entreated the Lord that it might depart from me; and yet he really said to me: 'My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you; for my power is being made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast as respects my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may like a tent remain over me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in cases of need, in persecutions and difficulties, for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful."—2 Cor. 12:6-10, NW.
10 What was Paul's thorn in the flesh? Some think it may have been poor eyesight or a pussy affliction of the eye. This may have been a hang-over from the three days of blindness with which Jesus struck him down when, as Saul of Tarsus, he was on his way to Damascus to extend his violent persecution to Christians there. To stop Saul abruptly and to convince him instantly that Christ was resurrected to heavenly glory and that it was the followers of the living, glorified Christ whom Saul of Tarsus was persecuting, Jesus miraculously appeared to him in the way to Damascus. But while not being killed by the vision or having his eyes burnt out of their sockets, he had to pay dearly for it. It was only by another miracle that his eyesight was restored. But likely to only a limited degree.—Acts 9:1-19.
11 Paul seems to refer to dim eyesight when he writes the Galatians: "I bear you witness that, if it had been possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me." This, too, may be why he added this line to them: "See with what large letters I have written you with my own hand." (Gal. 4:15; 6:11,NW) For that reason, too, it may be that he dictated most of his letters. Poor eyesight seems to be betrayed when in the Jewish court
8.9. May we pray about our physical sickness? How did Paul go about it?
10, 11. What may have been Paul's "thorn", according to some indications?
he looked intently at the Sanhedrin and spoke back sharply to the high priest and then apologized, saying: "Brothers, I did not know he was high priest. For it is written, 'You must not speak injuriously of a ruler of your people.'" (Acts 23:1-5, NW) At any rate, a pussy, weak pair of eyes in those days without spectacles could have been quite a handicap and hindrance to Paul at work and study. It could have irked him, making him long for its correction, and making him pray about it. An American Translation renders "thorn in the flesh" loosely as "a bitter physical affliction".
12 But Paul's "thorn in the flesh" may correspond with something that plagued the Israelites after they had entered the land of milk and honey. On the plains of Moab, across the Jordan river from the Promised Land, Moses said this warning to them: "But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall those that ye let remain of them be as pricks in your eyes, and as thorns in your sides, and they shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell." And Moses' successor, Joshua, repeated this warning before he died. (Num. 33:55; Josh. 23:11-13, AS) The Israelites failed to heed these warnings and did not push the campaign of ridding the land of the pagan, demonworshiping peoples, and so Jehovah sent his angel and said to them: "Ye have not hearkened unto my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you." (Judg. 2:2, 3, AS) So the apostle Paul may have had some such thorn in the flesh like those pagan, demon worshipers of Canaan who plagued with their presence those Israelites who were trying to go straight
according to Jehovah's law. If so, what do the Scriptures allow for such "thorn" in Paul's side to be?
13 Since Paul was here writing a letter to the Corinthians to follow up his first letter in which he deplored the disunity that had crept in among them, and the sectarian spirit that led them to follow human leaders, the "thorn" may have been their "superfine apostles". These were not in harmony with Paul's teaching, and they denied Paul's apostleship. So Paul said to the congregation: "I consider that I have not in a single thing proved inferior to your superfine apostles. But even if I am unskilled in speech, I certainly am not in knowledge, but in every way we manifested it to you in all things. Now what I am doing I will still do, that I may cut off the pretext from those who are wanting a pretext for being found equal to us in the office of which they boast. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness. But their end shall be according to their works."—2 Cor. 11:5, 6, 12-15, NW.
14 He also mentioned to the congregation in Galatia those men who were gnawing away at Paul's work and threatening it with ruin among them. So he said: "I marvel that you are being so quickly removed from the One who called you with Christ's undeserved kindness over to another sort of good news. But it is not another; only there are certain ones who are disturbing you and wanting to pervert the good news about the Christ. . . As we have said above, I also now say again, Whoever it is that is declaring to you as
To what else may the thorn in Paul's flesh correspond?
13, 14. So who do the Scriptures allow for such "thorn" to be?
good news something beyond what you accepted, let him be accursed." "I wish the men who are trying to overturn you would even get themselves emasculated." "Henceforth let no one be bothering me, for I am bearing on my body the brand-marks of a slave of Jesus."—Gal. 1:6-9; 5:12; 6:17 NW.
15 Paul calls the "thorn in the flesh" an angel of Satan, to keep striking me, that I might not be overly exalted". And such these false apostles and disturbers and assailants of Paul's apostleship and work would be, to keep him from getting too elated over his ministry. On the other hand, if the "thorn" was an irremovable affliction of his eyes or other part of his body, it could serve as an angel of Satan to prick him with pessimism or an inferiority complex and a consequent discouragement. Whatever the thorn's nature, Paul prayed three times for its removal. Another thing, he prayed at a time when the gift of the spirit for healing was still bestowed and operated. The thorn, Satan's angel, weakened Paul. He would have been glad to be rid of it.
16 But the Lord did not answer his triple prayer. Instead, he fortified him with these words: "My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you; for my power is being made perfect in weakness." Because Paul was left weak by the unextracted thorn, it gave the Lord the opportunity to give Paul a strength to do things which was not his own. So the Lord could demonstrate what he could do with a faithful servant who was hampered with a sore weakness. This gave evidence that the power of Christ was overshadowing his apostle. Realization of this changed the mental view of things for Paul. Instead of being further grieved over his imbedded weakness, Paul said: "Most gladly, therefore, will I rather
boast as respects my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may like a tent remain over me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in cases of need, in persecutions and difficulties, for Christ." Why so, Paul? "For when I am weak, then I am powerful." Since he was physically weak in himself, he had to be powerful by the power of Christ which sheltered him like a tent.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS DESPITE AFFLICTION
17 Paul failed to get divine healing in this respect, but not because he lacked faith. Nevertheless, he labored far in excess of any of the rest of the apostles. His case shows that we do not have to have divine healing of our physical infirmities and sicknesses in order to accomplish something in active service as a witness of the Most High God. Paul illustrated what God through Christ can make out of a man afflicted with a thorn in the flesh which constituted a weakness for him. Like Paul, we can be happy over what the Lord accomplishes through us in spite of our ailments, disabilities or weaknesses which divine healing fails to remove from us today. If we accomplish anything in spite of these, we are bound to conclude it was the Lord who accomplished it through us, and not we ourselves. This keeps us from growing elated and swell-headed. It reminds us we are powerful to do anything only by his power which tents over us. It allows God's power through Christ to be made perfect in operation through us, in the face of our admitted debility. For this reason the glory for our accomplishments deserves to go to God through Christ. Our ministry as his servants and witnesses is a glorious treasure, and we can now appreciate why this treasure is committed to creatures of earth who are
16. (a) How was the thorn an "angel of Satan"? (b) So what did Paul pray, and how did the Lord respond and Paul take it?
Yet how did Paul labor, and what do his case and his attitude show us?
like earthen vessels. Paul explains: "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the power beyond what is normal may be God's and not that out of ourselves." 2 Cor. 4:1,7,NW.
18 The service reports of modern days show that God is accomplishing a mighty work through men and women and children who are fully devoted to him but who are handicapped with some physical impairment. They have enough truth so as not to pray and wait upon God to perform the miracle of divine healing and relieve them of what ails or hampers their bodies, before they try to get something done in his service. They do not have to have the power of divine healing remove their natural infirmities and defects in order to be convinced themselves or to convince others that they have the truth and are witnesses of Jehovah. Just as they are they try to serve as ministers of the good news of His kingdom which must now be preached world-wide. So today invalids and cripples on their wheel chairs or beds testify to the incoming Kingdom by whatever means and to whomever their limited conditions allow. They speak to all who come in touch with them, they write letters, mail out or pass out literature, telephone, use sign language, etc. These are reporting the time they thus devote to witnessing, and they are listed among the more than
375,000 active witnesses whom the Almighty has raised up in this year 1951.
19 These confined ones should not be neglected. We should care for them, cooperate with them, supply their service needs, furnish them spiritual food by personal visitation and other means. Besides persons in hospitals, sickrooms, and other places of confinement who are letting the light of Kingdom truth shine out, there are others who are blind, who are deaf and dumb, who are crippled or otherwise handicapped and afflicted. These are nevertheless going out into the field and proclaiming the Kingdom and accomplishing a mighty witness, all in demonstration of God's power amid weakness. So none of suchlike should be disheartened. Let them carry forward their splendid efforts and put the power of God to the proof. By this they have part in demonstrating that it is as Zechariah 4:6 states: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts."—AS.
20 However, the questions on sickness and divine healing are more than we can consider in this Watchtower issue. Are you interested to have these discussed in our next issue? We believe so. So your questions as yet unanswered in the above are very likely to be satisfied in what we have yet to say.
Besides such confined ones, what are other handicapped ones doing, and thereby what do they demonstrate?
What about further questions on sickness and divine healing?
To correspond with this, what do 1951 service reports show?
Image Put to Unexpected Use in Chile
In the famous seaport of Valparaíso one of the missionaries began a study in "Let God Be True" with a Catholic family. Like all Catholics they had their own statue of the Virgin, a large expensive one in this case. Following the study of the chapter, "Use of Images in Worship," they realized the pagan nature of such worship, but they did not wish to lose the money invested by destroying the image so an advertisement was inserted in the daily paper. Many came to investigate but in each case they asked, "Why do you wish to sell it?" To all they explained the truth they had learned from their Bible study as to the uselessness of such an image. This resulted in no buyers but many hours of witnessing. It gave so many opportunities to witness that they became loathe to sell it.
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