Sunday, June 03, 2007

Wesley, Medical Science and Prayer

Hal Knight shares the following interesting tidbit in a discussion about about Methodism's founder and his thoughts on physical health.

"He [John Wesley] was the first person to put into popular print this advice for assisting someone seemingly suffocated: 'Blow strongly with bellows down his throat. This may recover a person seemingly drowned. It is still better if a strong man blows into his mouth.'"
"Wesley's appreciation of traditional remedies and medical science in no way dampened his belief in prayer. 'God has more than one method of healing either the soul or the body,' he insisted and recorded numerous instances of healing that occurred in response to prayer alone. Wesley did not pit medicine and prayer against each other but saw both as means God uses to heal." (Emphasis Mine.)
—Eight Life-Enriching Practices of United Methodists, 74.

I believe this should be our approach today.