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Teaching and Healing
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In teaching health principles, keep before the mind the great ob-
ject of reform—that its purpose is to secure the highest development
of body, mind, and soul. Show that the laws of nature, being the laws
of God, are designed for our good. Obedience to them promotes
happiness in this life and aids in preparation for the life to come.
Lead the people to study God’s love and wisdom as revealed in
the works of nature. Lead them to study that marvelous organism,
the human system, and the laws by which it is governed. Those
who perceive the evidences of God’s love, who understand some-
thing of the wisdom and beneficence of His laws, and the results of
obedience, will come to regard their duties and obligations from an
altogether different point of view. Instead of looking upon obedience
to the laws of health as a matter of sacrifice or self-denial, they will
regard it as it really is—an inestimable blessing.
Gospel workers should feel that giving instruction in the prin-
ciples of healthful living is a part of their appointed work. Of this
work there is great need, and the world is open for it.
Everywhere there is a tendency to substitute the work of organi-
zations for individual effort. Human wisdom tends to consolidation,
to centralization, to the building up of great churches and institu-
tions. Multitudes leave to institutions and organizations the work of
benevolence; they excuse themselves from contact with the world,
and their hearts grow cold. They become self-absorbed and unim-
pressible. Love for God and humanity dies out of the soul.
Christ commits to His followers an individual work—a work
that cannot be done by proxy. Ministry to the sick and poor, the
giving of the gospel to the lost, is not to be left to committees
or organized charities. Individual responsibility, individual effort,
personal sacrifice, is the requirement of the gospel.
““‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to
come in,”’” is Christ’s command, ““‘that My house may be filled.”’”
He brings men and women into touch with those whom they seek to
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benefit. “‘Bring to your house the poor who are cast out,’” He says.
“‘When you see the naked, that you cover him.’” “‘They will lay
hands on the sick, and they will recover.’”
Luke 14:23
;
Isaiah 58:7
;
Mark 16:18
. Through direct contact, through personal ministry, the
blessings of the gospel are to be communicated.