Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 98:389 (Jan 1941)
Article: Spiritual Causes of Disease and Death
Author: Frank C. Pinkerton

BSac 98:389 (Jan 41) p. 92

Spiritual Causes of Disease and Death

Frank C. Pinkerton

The Christian knows that the first cause of all disease is spiritual: Adam’s rebellion against God. Most medical scientists however do not accept this metaphysical origin of sickness, and therefore attribute all disturbances of health only to some immediate biological disorder. The Christian physician also, of course, recognizes these secondary physical causes of disease. Not many Christian doctors, it must nevertheless be admitted, seem to be aware of yet other causes for disease-which are not biological but spiritual, although they are prominently referred to in the Scriptures. It is not the first reason for sickness (which all Christians admit to be spiritual) that we will now consider, but spiritual second reasons of disease and death, of which few physicians and Christians apparently take cognizance. Such causes are operative only in Christians since, as we shall see, these illnesses are disharmonies of the new life which only the believer possesses.

Let us say at once that while the first reason for all sickness is Adamic sin, the second reason is not always related to the Christian’s personal sin. That it is related, is a common notion of many, Christians and unbelievers alike; and cannot be too strongly combatted. It was already a prevalent opinion in the days when our Lord was on earth. “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). How many of us are tempted to ask the same heartless question when confronted by a case of hopeless affliction! And how we need the rebuke of the Lord Jesus now, as they of old: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:3)! Let us beware of attributing sickness to sin, unless it is sin in ourselves as revealed by the Holy Spirit. And here let us remark that we are not to attempt judgment on our fellow Christian as to the spiritual causes of sickness, even as we individually

BSac 98:389 (Jan 41) p. 93

are not to judge him in any other matter. Our study is in no sense to be an encouragement for one to try to diagnose the reason for a specific instance of illness in any Christian. Only the Holy Spirit is wise enough to interpret to the believer the meaning of God’s providences. This investigation rather is undertaken in the hope that by calling attention publicly to the teaching of the Word with regard to sickness, the Spirit of Truth may Himself privately apply the Scriptures to such as may be helped thereby, as He in His infinite wisdom sees fit.

While it is untrue that all disease in the believer must be due to ...