THE GOSPEL OF HEALTH
《健康福音》
1897年6月1日
1、医疗布道工作
(选自近期的书信和出版物)
我对医疗布道工作和男男女女为这项工作受教育的问题深感兴趣。……我越来越多地感受到要就这个问题作更明确的见证，必须作出更加直接的努力去关心适当的人，向他们说明每一个布道士若是了解如何治疗身体的疾病，如何照顾患罪病的心灵，就会得到的益处。这种双重的服务会使与上帝同工的人进入人的家庭，接触社会各阶层的人。聪明地了解如何依据卫生原则治疗疾病，会获得许多人的信任，否则这些人就不会接触真理。许多人在痛苦中才降卑自己的心灵，而一个正设法减轻他们身体痛苦的人向他们所说赞同真理的话，也就能感动他们的心了。简短的、满载最温柔的同情、凭着信心将受苦的人呈现给那大医师的祷告，会使他们心中产生信任、安息和倚靠，往往会使身心都恢复健康。{GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 1}
我很惊讶，医师们竟问我是否认为他们若是放弃自己的医疗实践而去参加传道工作，上帝就会更喜悦。我准备好回答这样询问的人：你若是一名基督徒且是一位有能力的医师，你就有资格作为一个传道士为上帝做十倍于你仅仅作一个传道人所做的工作。我希望劝告青年男女注意这个问题。危险的时期就在我们前面。全世界都将陷入困惑混乱和痛苦危难之中，各种疾病会临到人类家庭，而现今流行的这种对健康律的无知会导致极大的痛苦，使许多原可得救的人丧命。{GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 2}
撒但在不断极力利用人们的无知，藉着不适当治疗身体来给疾病打下基础，然而自称上帝儿女的人要趁机获得对人体系统的认识，了解如何保持身体健康。……{GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 3}
当宗教逼迫威胁我们国家的自由时，凡坚持良心自由的人都会处在不利的地位。他们为自己的缘故，趁着还有机会，应当学习医疗知识，了解疾病的原因、预防和治疗。凡是这样做的人将会到处找到工作的园地。有许多受苦的人需要帮助，不仅在与我们信仰相同的人中，而且主要在那些不认识真理的人中间作工。……{GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 4}
几乎在每一个教会都有青年可以接受教育成为医师或护士。他们决不会拥有比现在更有利的机会了。我奉劝大家怀着祈祷的精神考虑这个问题。要作出特别的努力，挑选那些显示出效用和道德力量的青年，让他们在巴特尔克里克疗养院接受一种教育，作传道士到主可能召他们去作工的任何地方去。应当使他们始终谨记：他们的工作不仅要解除人们身体的痛苦，而且要照顾将要灭亡的心灵。重要的是每一个担任医疗布道士的人都要能够熟练地照顾人的心灵和身体。…… {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 5}
现在需要圣洁虔诚的人将自己的智力、体力和虔诚培养到极致，并且要受任命，作为男女医疗布道士前去作工。应该作出一切努力好派出聪明的工人。来自耶稣基督的恩典曾赐给保罗和亚波罗，使他们因属灵的美德而出众，同样的恩典也能在许多忠诚献身的宣教士身上重现并且进入工作状态。……. {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 6}
我非常关心医科学生受教育作传道士。这正是在别的方法都不奏效的地方介绍真理的办法。我看到上帝的天意让医疗布道工作成为一个伟大的切入点，藉此接触患病的人。何等有为的一个园地敞开在医疗布道士面前啊!耶稣基督就是完全意义上最高典范的布道士，而与那大医师的布道工作相结合的，是医治各样的疾病。……传道士了解使人身体受苦的疾病，联合受过教育照顾身体疾病的医师，与忠心尽责的羊群牧人一起，使所做的服务有神圣性和加倍的效能，这是多么必要啊!主本着祂伟大的良善和无比的爱，一直在敦促祂人间的机构，说明传道士若不知道如何治疗患病受苦的人，就确实没有完成他们的教育。若是曾认为这是传道士工作教育的一个重要分支，许多已经丧命的人原可以活着。要是他们明白如何治疗身体的疾病，如何考虑因果，他们就能藉着聪明地了解人体和治疗身体疾病的方法，接触别无他法可以接触的许多暗昧的心思。…… {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 7}
在活泼无私的行为里表达的真理乃是支持基督教最有力的证据。解救患病的人，帮助痛苦哀伤的人，乃是按照基督的路线作工，证明最有力的福音真理表明基督在地上的使命和工作。懂得解救受苦人类的技术，乃是打开无数的门户，使真理在人心找到落脚之处，使人得救得生——永远的生命。{GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 8}
THE GOSPEL OF HEALTH
June 1, 1897
Medical Missionary Work
Selections from Recent Letters and Publications
I am deeply interested in the subject of medical missionary work and the education of men and women for that work.... I am more and more impressed with the fact that a more decided testimony must be borne upon this subject, that more direct efforts must be made to interest the proper persons, setting before them the advantages that every missionary will have in understanding how to treat those who are diseased in body, as well as to minister to sin-sick souls. This double ministration will give the laborer together with God access to homes, and will enable him to reach all classes of society. An intelligent knowledge of how to treat disease upon hygienic principles will gain the confidence of many who otherwise would not be reached with the truth. In affliction, many are humbled in spirit, and words in favor of the truth spoken to them in tenderness by one who is seeking to alleviate physical suffering may touch the heart. Prayer, short, weighted with tenderest sympathy, presenting the suffering one in faith to the Great Physician, will inspire in them a confidence, a rest, and a trust that will tend to the health of both soul and body. {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 1}
I have been surprised at being asked by physicians if I did not think it would be more pleasing to God for them to give up the medical profession and enter the ministry. I am prepared to answer such an inquirer: “If you are a Christian and a competent physician, you are qualified to do tenfold more good as a missionary for God than if you were to go forth merely as a preacher of the word.” I would advise young men and women to give heed to this matter. Perilous times are before us. The whole world will be involved in perplexity and distress, disease of every kind will be upon the human family; and such ignorance as now prevails concerning the laws of health would result in great suffering and the loss of many lives that might be saved. {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 2}
While Satan is doing his utmost to take advantage of men’s ignorance and to lay the foundation of disease by improper treatment of the body, it is best for those who claim to be the sons of God to avail themselves, while they can, of the opportunities now presented to gain a knowledge of the human system and how it may be preserved in health.... {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 3}
As religious aggression subverts the liberties of our nation, those who would stand for freedom of conscience will be placed in unfavorable positions. For their own sake, they should, while they have opportunity, become intelligent in regard to disease, its causes, prevention, and cure. And those who do this will find a field of labor anywhere. There will be suffering ones, plenty of them, who will need help, not only among those of our own faith, but largely among those who know not the truth.... {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 4}
In almost every church there are young men and women who might receive education either as nurses or physicians. They will never have a more favorable opportunity than now. I would urge that this subject be considered prayerfully, that special effort be made to select those youths who give promise of usefulness and moral strength. Let these receive an education at our Sanitarium at Battle Creek, to go out as missionaries wherever the Lord may call them to labor. It should ever be kept before them that their work is not only to relieve physical suffering, but to minister to souls that are ready to perish. It is important that every one who is to act as a medical missionary be skilled in ministering to the soul as well as to the body.... {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 5}
Holy and devout persons, both men and women, are wanted now to go forth as medical missionaries. Let them cultivate their physical and mental powers and their piety to the uttermost. Every effort should be made to send forth intelligent workers. The same grace that came from Jesus Christ to Paul and Apollos, which caused them to be distinguished for their spiritual excellencies, can be received now, and will bring into working order many devoted missionaries.... {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 6}
I am intensely interested in the education of medical students as missionaries. This is the very means of introducing the truth where otherwise it would not find an entrance. I can see in the Lord’s providence that the medical missionary work is to be a great entering wedge, whereby the diseased soul may be reached. O what a field of usefulness is opened before the medical missionary! Jesus Christ was in every sense of the word a missionary of the highest type, and combined with his missionary work that of the great physician, healing all manner of diseases.... How essential that the living missionary should understand the diseases which afflict the human body, to combine the physician, educated to care for diseased bodies, with the faithful, conscientious shepherd of the flock, to give sacredness and double efficiency to the service! The Lord in his great goodness and matchless love has been urging upon his human instrumentalities that missionaries are not really complete in their education unless they have a knowledge of how to treat the sick and suffering. If this had been felt as an important branch of education in the missionary line of labor, many who have lost their lives might have lived. Had they understood how to treat the ailments of the body, and how to study from cause to effect, they could, through their intelligent knowledge of the human body and how to treat its maladies, have reached many hardened minds that otherwise they could not approach.... {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 7}
The truth expressed in living, unselfish deeds, is the strongest argument for Christianity. The relieving of the sick, the helping of the distressed, is working in Christ’s lines, and demonstrates most powerful gospel truths representing Christ’s mission and work upon earth. The knowledge of the art of relieving suffering humanity is the opening of doors without number, where the truth can find a lodgement in the heart, and souls be saved unto life—eternal life. {GosHealth June 1, 1897, par. 8}
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