DIVINE HEALING AND HYPNOTIC SUGGESTION by Daniel H. Kress, M. D.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 18, 1916

DIVINE HEALING AND HYPNOTIC SUGGESTION

By Daniel H. Kress, M. D.

Deceptions Through Following the Wrong Guide—It Takes More than Suggestion to Cure—The True Source of Life

By DANIEL H. KRESS, M. D.

TRUE science, and science falsely so called, have for ages stood arrayed one against the other. This controversy began in the Garden of Eden. God had 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." When man sinned, death entered the world, although its presence was not discerned. Man became a dying creature.

THE ONE SAFE GUIDE

The word of God was then, and is ever to be, man's guide. With it, men are safe in their scientific investigations. Without it, they are in danger of arriving at wrong conclusions. "Ye shall not surely die. . . . Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

Satan claimed that the food which God withheld would not only prolong life, but would impart a feeling of well-being to which they were strangers. There now existed a temptation to arrive at truth by experimentation instead of by a "Thus saith the Lord." The woman "took of the fruit thereof, and did eat."

Judging by the sensation she felt from its stimulating properties, she concluded that "the tree was good for food, and . . . to be desired to make one wise." Fully convinced of the truthfulness of Satan's words, she related her experience to her husband. It appealed to him, and she "gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." Ever since then, so-called remedies that are valueless and even harmful, have had attached to them testimonials from deceived mortals, recommending their use to others. Drugs may be deceptive. Stimulation is not strength.

Eve's experience and conclusions were not reliable, because they stood arrayed against the positive command of Jehovah. Man cannot rely upon his senses to guide him in the selection of his food and drink. The word of God is his only infallible guide. The claim made by Satan, "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil," leads men to forsake the word of God; but the results have demonstrated that it is unsafe to do this.

THE SUBVERSIVE ARGUMENT OF THE SERPENT

The argument used by the serpent is used in encouraging the use of alcohol and other narcotics. True science and the voice of Jehovah say, In the day you partake of these, you shall surely die. The claim made by Satan through science falsely so called is, Alcohol is a valuable food in health, and a medicine in disease. The promise is, "Ye shall not surely die," but shall experience added strength and mental vigor by partaking of it. The immediate feeling experienced after using these narcotics would lead any one unacquainted with their deceptive nature, to believe that they actually impart new strength to body and mind.

Many a one, after having read the wonderful claims made in behalf of some drug or patent medicine, has been persuaded to try it, and after having experienced the apparent feeling of well-being, has been satisfied himself, and has recommended it to friends and relatives. Thus every drug has its advocates. Testimonials given by deceived people lead others to experiment, and these evils are perpetuated.

It is just as true to-day as it was at the beginning, that every one who partakes of the poisons that are forbidden in God's word, even though feeling better for the moment, is sustaining an injury, which he will sooner or later discover.

"Wine is a mocker," because it contains a narcotic poison known as alcohol. The same in principle is true of cocaine, morphine, nicotine, caffeine, and other narcotics, no matter by what name they may be known. The admonition is, "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." All these drugs appear to make men wiser and stronger. Under their influence, the poor man forgets his poverty, and remembers his misery no more. It makes the one under its influence unconscious of his real condition. Man needs a clear mind to discern his faults and defects of character, in order to feel his need of divine help and 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 distinguish between the sacred and the common, and between right and wrong. They destroy the judgment, and cause men to "err in vision." Their use results in degeneracy of the entire man,—body, soul, and spirit.

RESULT OF IMPAIRING THE BRAIN

By marring the brain, the only medium through which God can communicate with man and transform his inner life, the use of narcotics makes faith in God impossible, and faith carries healing with it.

Some have asserted 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 ever results 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 the possessor for a time; but sooner or later, it will be found to be a deception. The only thing that can really benefit is a belief of the truth. The virtue lies in faith in truth. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

IT HAS POWER TO SAVE

Such a faith can come only by receiving the word of God; for "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The word of God, received as the word of God, has in it the power to save and to keep. "As many as received Him [the Word], to them gave He power to become the sons of God." Christ lived and imparted God's word, and thus kept men from evil. He said, "I have given them Thy word."

The one who turns from the word of God is in danger of receiving the voice of science falsely so-called. Experimentation without the word of God as a guide is unsafe, and may confirm men, as it did Adam and Eve, in the belief of a lie. The Bible does not deal in the details of science. These are to be studied. But the great underlying principles pertaining to scientific facts are all found in this Book.

HYPNOTIC SUGGESTION IN MEDICINE

Hypnotic suggestion is classed as one of the important sciences of to-day. It is receiving attention in some of our leading medical universities. There has been forced upon the medical profession, through Christian Science, etc., a recognition of the fact that mental influences exert a power over the body either for good or for evil, according to the nature of the impulses sent forth from the mind.

The treatment by hypnotic suggestion is as follows: By various means, the individual to be treated by suggestion is put into what is known as a hypnotic state. While he is in this condition, ideas are communicated to his mind which are supposed to remain afterwards the controlling factor in his conduct.

Thus the sick one awakes from his hypnotic sleep asserting that he is well and cannot become sick again. He repeats this over and over. To the inebriate, while in the hypnotic state, the words are repeated, "You must not drink any more, you cannot drink any more."

There are a class of subjects who appear to be cured in this way. That does not prove this to be a true science. When the Son of God said to a man sick of palsy, "Take up thy bed, and go unto thine house," and to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch forth thine hand," His word imparted to them the power to do what He commanded. Nowhere do we read of the Saviour's first putting into a hypnotic state those who came to Him.

CHRIST DID NOT TEACH IT

Christ did not teach that man is divine by nature. To the Jews He said, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." Paul said, "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing." It is the impartation of the divine nature that gives power to do. "As many as received Him (Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God," the power to do right. This power is never communicated to a person in a hypnotic state, or a state of unconsciousness, neither is it forced upon man contrary to his will.

This new philosophy teaches man to look within for help. It teaches that man is by nature a part of God, possessing all His attributes. In other words, the claim is that man is divine. This is merely a perpetuation of the science which was urged on Eve in the Garden of Eden, "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

DIRECTED TO THE TRUE HEALER

Christ directed the minds of men to God as the Healer. He said, "I can of Mine own self do nothing." He called upon all to "search the Scriptures." He said, "I have given them Thy word," then added, "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth." He urged upon all, the need of being "born again," and becoming "new creatures." Through receiving the word of God, all this was to be accomplished. "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."

This new philosophy is not all bad. If it were, no honest man would be deceived by it. The good and the evil are combined. This is what makes it dangerous. The fruit that appears good, conceals evil. It is supposed to impart life, but death is concealed within it.

DISEASES IN THE MIND

It is true that many diseases have their origin in the mind, and are wholly due to a wrong mental state. Some also that are brought on by wrong habits of eating, drinking, etc., are aggravated by a wrong mental state. All are benefited by a change of mind. This change of mind the gospel imparts. Christ's mission 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." Such a mental state as the gospel brings to man carries with it health. It removes worry and fear, and imparts an abiding confidence and trust in the Creator. It brings to men a knowledge of God, and confidence in His all-wise providences. It carries impulses of health to every organ and cell of the body.

"BE OF GOOD CHEER"

To the mentally diseased, the words are still spoken, "Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." The cheer that comes as a result of the knowledge of sins pardoned, brings about a mental state that leads away from sin and transgression of law. The mind that before was at enmity with God, and not subject to His law, neither indeed could be, now delights to do God's will, because His law has been written in the heart, and has become a delight. Such a change of mind alone can bring lasting happiness, peace, and health.

NOT AS A CLOVEN-FOOTED MONSTER

The Bible is not to be regarded as a book among books, but as the book among books. By it, every theory is to be tested. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." There are many books and many pleasing theories that are inspired not by God, but by the prince of darkness. Some one has said, "If I have to face the devil, I like to have him look like the devil, lie like the devil, and smell like the devil, so I can recognize him." But Satan comes to man not as a cloven-footed and hideous monster. He comes as "an angel of light," and his ministers appear as ministers of righteousness. For this reason, many persons are deceived by his misrepresentations, and being unacquainted with the Bible, are in danger of calling darkness light, and light, darkness.

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 surely come, and lead them to believe and receive a lie as the truth. Satan's delusions can be detected only by those who believe in and have received the word of God. "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them."

STIMULATION MISTAKEN FOR HEALING

Science falsely so called can only claim and appear to do that which true science does. It can bring to the mind artificial stimulation, which its receiver may interpret as a new lease of life and added strength; but disappointment will surely follow, even though sentence is not executed speedily.

The wrong food and drink may likewise produce exhilaration and a feeling of added vigor, but he that is deceived thereby is not wise. "Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." 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. 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. "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life." No promise of life is held out, in the word of God, to the persistent transgressor, no matter how sincere he may be in his deception.

THE STATUTES OF LIFE

The words addressed anciently to God's people apply to His people for all time. After making known the statutes of life, and the conditions that 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 do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God." God's laws, physical and spiritual, are "life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." The spirit of life is the spirit of obedience; and to the one in whom this spirit dwells, the promise is given, "He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." Christ enters our body temples, defiled by sin, to cleanse them, and thus bring to man that which Heaven wishes him to enjoy, peace, contentment, and health, in the life that now is, and the fullness of these blessings in the life that is to come.

No one need be "ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."