> Okay, there's this thing that's bugging me, and you can find folks who adhere to it like flypaper to ABC gum.
>
> "If there are any sick among you, suffer him not to admit it, and in the minute that he doth admit it, thou shalt look horrified and admonish him, saying, 'Do no claim that!'"
>
> Maybe it's in the book of Germs.
>
> Anyway, in all the reading I've done in Scripture, I've not found anything that even suggests that this should be the case. Where does it come from?

I know what you mean, though I am not sure where it comes from. It might come from a confusion of scriptures that show that Christians should have faith in God for healing, such as those in James that ask us to pray for the sick and anoint them with oil.

The problem comes with the confusion; rather than adopt the rather simple principle of asking for healing from God, people think that it is only out of lack of faith that one would admit that they are really ill. These ideas are mutually contradictory, of course. There is really no point in praying for healing if you aren't really sick...

Beyond that, asking someone not to admit that they are sick is to ask them either to remain silent or lie; the first seems like nonsense to me, and the second is immoral. Best to avoid both and admit the truth, I think.

> Nyperold

frum