Science-True and False by D. H. Kress

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 2, 1916

Science—True and False

By D. H. Kress

D. H. KRESS, M. D.

In the garden of Eden the controversy between true science and science falsely so called, began. God said to Adam and Eve, “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Satan said, “Ye shall not surely die.” He promised to them a larger and a better life, by partaking of that which God had forbidden. Eve concluded to arrive at truth by experimentation, and accordingly she put forth her hand and did eat. She felt an exhilaration she had not experienced before. Convinced that God was wrong and Satan was right, she gave unto her husband, and “he did eat.” Although there was no visible evidence of it, man became a dying creature at the moment he ate of the forbidden fruit.

The Word of God is man's guide. With it he is safe in his investigations and researches. Without it he is in danger of arriving at wrong conclusions. Science, falsely so called, and the voice of Jehovah have for ages stood opposed in regard to alcohol. The claim made by science has been, “Alcohol is a food in health, and a medicine in disease,” while the Bible has been saying, “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red.” “Whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” The immediate feeling of strength and well-being experienced after taking a dose of whisky, brandy, wine, or beer, would lead any one unacquainted with the deceptive nature of alcohol to believe that these liquors actually impart new vigor to body and mind.

In the same way many a one, after reading the wonderful claims made in behalf of some patent medicine, has been persuaded to try it, and after experiencing the apparent feeling of well-being, has satisfied himself of its supposed virtue, and recommended it to friends and relatives. So we find every patent medicine has its advocates.

Alcohol is forbidden in the Word of God. It is as true today as it was at the beginning, that he who partakes of this poison, even though feeling better, is sustaining an injury. Alcohol brings about premature old age and shortens life. This has been fully demonstrated.

Narcotics are enemies of the gospel. Man needs a clear mind to discern his faults and defects of character and to

feel his need of a change of heart. Satan is aware of this, hence he blinds the minds of men by the use of narcotic poisons. The mental paralysis they produce makes it impossible for man to discern between the sacred and the common, and between right and wrong. They destroy the judgment, and cause men to err in vision. By making man unconscious of his real need, saving faith in God is made impossible.

Some assert that it does not matter in what a person exercises faith, that the virtue lies in faith itself. Time fully demonstrated that it did matter whether Eve believed God or believed Satan's suggestions. No permanent good can ever come from believing a lie. Faith in a lie may act as an artificial mental stimulus for a time, as did the eating of the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. It may appear to benefit for a time. Virtue comes through a belief of the truth; the virtue lies in truth. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Many diseases have their origin in the mind, and are wholly due to a wrong mental state; while others which are brought on by wrong habits of eating, drinking, etc., may be aggravated by a wrong mental state. Christ's mission to this world is to “bind up the broken-hearted,” to “proclaim liberty to the captives,” and “to comfort all that mourn,” “to give the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” The truths of God's Word remove worry and fear, and impart an abiding confidence and trust in the Creator. That Word brings men to a knowledge of God, and gives them confidence in his providences. Such a mental state conveys impulses of health to every organ and cell of the body. To the mentally distressed, the words are still spoken, “Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”

There are many pleasing theories and practices which are inspired by the prince of darkness. Satan never appears to man as a cloven-footed, hideous monster. He comes as an angel of light, and his ministers also appear as ministers of righteousness. Those unacquainted with the Bible will be in danger of calling darkness light, and light darkness. Should Satan appear on our streets tomorrow and heal the sick and perform other miracles, the great mass of humanity would flock to him and bow down and worship him.

To those who turn away their ears from the truth as revealed in God's Word, and will not receive the love of it, that they might be saved, strong delusions will come, and they will eventually believe a lie. Satan's delusions can be detected only by those who believe in and are familiar with the Word of God. “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,” is the promise given by the true Witness, “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them.”

The belief of a lie can bring artificial stimulation to mind and body, which may be interpreted as a new lease of life. Disappointment will follow, even though sentence is not executed speedily. The whole aim of the gospel is to bring man into harmony with God by writing in his heart God's laws. A faith that claims health or life, but ignores the laws of health, must be spurious. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” True faith claims God's promises in his appointed way. It heeds the conditions upon which the promises are based.

The blessings of life and health come only to the doer of God's law. No promise of life is held out in the Word of God to the transgressor, no matter how sincere or honest he may be in his deception.

The words addressed anciently to God's people apply to his people for all time. After making known the statutes of life, and conditions which would assure life, Moses said, “I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, . . . and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, . . . and a curse, if ye and spiritual, are ‘life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.’”

The fulness of these blessings can be realized only in the life to come. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life.” Then it is that there shall be no more pain, no more sickness or death. Man will again have access to the tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations, and the fruit of which will perpetuate life.