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Title: The Ministry of Healing
Series: ---------
Author: Ellen White
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 355
Format: Digital Edition
Series: ---------
Author: Ellen White
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 355
Format: Digital Edition
Synopsis: |
White reiterates
how Jesus' ministry was as much physical healing as it was a
forgiving of sins. She then talks to physicians and nurses about how
they should ministering to both soul and body in their duties.
Finally, she goes over various healthful habits that the laity can do
on their own to help keep themselves healthy, thus ensuring that they
are able to reach out to non-Christians.
My Thoughts: |
Most of my issues with this book are the same exact ones that I had
with The
Great Controversy. So no need to re-hash them all. With
just a couple of exceptions. Those I will add right now.
White claims that cheese is completely unfit for human consumption.
My guess is because the process of creating cheese is pretty much
letting milk rot. Be that as it may, I vehemently disagree. I'll
agree that cheese can be unhealthy in terms of fat and cholesterol,
but completely unfit for consumption? I don't think so! I would give
up beef before I give up cheese (and to be honest, I really don't eat
red meat any more. Turkeys and chickens for me). The second issue is
her saying that pickles aren't to be eaten either. I'm not nearly as
big a proponent of pickles as I am cheese, but I regularly eat a
small jar of Vlasic kosher dill spears every week. For me, they are a
great way to get salt back into my system from the physical labor I
do all day and get some yummy crunch. They serve a purpose and I am
not just eating them for the taste (even though I do like the taste
of dill pickles a lot).
With that out of the way, I'll talk some about what I do agree with.
Just like in my Quote
Post earlier this month, White directly addresses
Appetite. All aspects of a Christian's life is to be under the
control of the Holy Spirit. A loss of self-control, which is one of
the Fruits of the Spirit, shows that you aren't as mature as God
wants you to be in your Christian Growth. And a deliberate loss of
control is a spurning of what God offers you. Overeating is a small
thing in and of itself, but the consequences of a life of overeating
lead to what we see in America today (obesity numbers ballooning up
and causing all sorts of health issues) AND it shows that Christ is
not in control of your life, your Appetite is. Gluttony isn't
something we hear preached about from the pulpit any more, but
considering the typical American lifestyle, I think it should be.
White wrote this back in 1905 and it is just as appropriate today as
then, if not more so.
Alcohol. I am a teetotaler, someone who abstains from alcohol
completely. I was brought up this way and nothing I've seen in in
other's lives, even Christians, makes me think that another option is
open to me. White was part of the Temperance Movement of her times,
which had a big hand in passing Prohibition back in the 20's. Where
White and I part ways is that she categorically condemns alcohol.
That goes beyond what the Bible says. The Bibles tells Christians to
NEVER get drunk but it does not forbid alcohol. However, the amount
of people who can walk that line is small and from my own anecdotal
evidence, should not be used to justify drinking at all. I don't
think Christians should drink. The negatives of alcohol far outweigh
the positives and I have seen too many lives destroyed, or seen the
collateral damage from such a self-destruction. It is like having a
lion on the end of a chain attached to your wrist.
Finally, White goes over the importance of proper dress (both for
modesty and health), fresh air, exercise and proper ventilation in
any living quarters. A lot of the specifics are kind of like “well
yeah...” to anyone who lives today, but it just goes to show how
far ahead of her time White was. I also found that most of these
things I was already doing, as I work outdoors at a physically
laborious job.
To end this, I would re-title this something along the lines of “Aunt
Ellen's Big Book of Homilies”. Bits and pieces of wisdom but not
something you should create any theology from.
.
★★★☆☆