A Critique of the Book Prophetess of Health

Ellen C. White Praying for the Sick

On page 184 Prophetess of Health claims that Mrs. White had grown reluctant to pray for the sick because of her fear that those for whom she prayed might be healed and yet turn out unworthy. This is drawn from Letter 17, 1892 to Dr. J. H. Kellogg written March 11, 1892, in which she answers questions on this subject. Actually, she does not say here that she had grown reluctant to pray for the sick, but that she had come to feel it was “not my duty to engage with others in praying for the sick” because she was reluctant to “quench the faith” of those others who prayed with “intense earnestness,” virtually demanding that the sick be healed. No, Mrs. White had learned a different approach to prayer for the sick. Early in her experience, she too had taken this demanding attitude: CBPH 86.4

My prayer was very urgent, for it seemed to me that my petition must be answered, and they were raised up to health. Now a number of these cases have resulted in something very different than could be desired; for the course of several has proved that it would have been better had they died. One, after having grown to years, became a notorious thief, another became licentious, and another, though grown to manhood, has no love for God or His truth.—Letter 17, 1892. CBPH 86.5

Because of these experiences, she had adopted a more submissive form of prayer for the sick. Her prayer was; “Lord, we cannot read the heart of this sick one; but thou knowest whether it is for the good of his soul, and for the glory of thy name to raise him to health” (Ibid.). CBPH 86.6

Mrs. White doubtless continued to pray for the sick until the end of her life, but her prayer was that God’s will be done rather than that her own judgment be followed. Thus she was reluctant to join in prayer groups for the sick where her own approach might chill the faith of those who manifested such an “intense earnestness.” CBPH 86.7