Home Page of ACTS International
Home Page of ACTS InternationalHow to Find and Know God without having to be religiousLife Help Articles dealing with faith, family, and practical helps for purposeful livingDaily and Weekend Encounters with more than a third-of-a-million worldwide subscribersSupport the Work of ACTS International a not-for-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible for U.S. donorsCurrent report on the ministries and services of ACTS InternationalOnline Store of ACTS ... ACTS CommunicationsAbout ACTS International
         
     
   
 
  Site Map Email Share and/or Bookmark
   
   

Add Daily Encounter to your website without charge

Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, January 3, 2013


Divine Healing Part I. Should Christians Seek Medical Help?

"Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses."1

A Daily Encounter reader writes, "Is it biblically correct for some 'religious' groups to refuse their 'followers' to be taken for medical attention at clinics/hospitals for help when they are sick? And is it right not to allow immunization of children against diseases like polio, measles, etc.? They claim that God's Word in the Bible is against such? I think God's word is being misused here."

Dear Cheryl (name changed), you are correct in saying that God's Word is being misused here. Unfortunately, there will always be some people who mean well but are sadly misguided. And there will always be religious fanatics who misinterpret God's Word to twist it to say what they want it to say ... and do so to control their followers. The Bible calls this legalism and being bewitched.2

Personally speaking, I believe it is very misleading and even cruel to deny anyone the medical attention they need. Even Paul said to Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach sake. And Paul himself had some affliction from which God never delivered him or never healed him; rather, God said, "My grace is sufficient for you."3

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but my father went through a stage of religious fanaticism and refused to have my younger sister immunized. She died of diphtheria when she was only two-and-a-half years old.

In much younger days I taught a Sunday school class of ten-year-old boys. I loved these kids. We had some great times together. However, one of these boys was slowly going blind, but his parents believed God would heal him so never sought any kind of medical help. It was very sad to see this cruelty.

In later years a close friend of mine, when in his mid-40s, had cancer and went to a healing group who prayed for him after which they told him he was healed ... so he never got the medical attention he desperately needed. Some months later he excitedly told me about his healing experience. In no time he was back in hospital. His body was riddled with cancer and it was too late then for medical help. He died within a few months.

True, sometimes God does heal people and sometimes he doesn't. But thank God for medical help, for without it, many more of us would not be healed.

And by the way, Luke, an early follower of Jesus, writer of one of the four Gospels, and a missionary companion of Paul, was a physician.

To be continued ....

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please deliver me from religious legalism and fanaticism, help me to be realistic, and give me the wisdom needed to have a balanced view and understanding of your Word—and the good sense to apply it to my life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 Timothy 5:23 (NIV).
2. See Galatians 3:1-5.
3. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.

<:))))><

 
  • Next Devotional
  • Previous Devotional

  • 2. To Know God and be sure you're a real
        Christian click on:

    3. Donate: To help send Daily Encounter
        without charge to people around the world
        click on:

    4. To send today's Daily Encounter to a friend
        click on:

    Email

    5. To share your faith in a simple, attractive
        way with a friend click on:

    6. For today's featured article click on:

    7. This week's chuckle as seen "On the Lighter
        Side"  on Weekend Encounter click on:

    8. Change Address of your subscription to
        Daily Encounter
    click on:

       
        Back to Return to previous page Previous Page    
       
    Site Map   Top
       
         
             
    Find Peace With God footer
     
      ARTICLES
    About God
    About Faith
    Relationships
    Success/Failure
    Solutions
    Recovery
    Ask the Teacher
    Better Living Tips
    Friendship
    Words of Love
    Words of Inspiration
    People Power for Jesus
    Simple and Effective Witnessing for Christ

    SITE TRANSLATIONS
    Spanish Espanol
    French Francois

      DEVOTIONS
    Devotionals
    Daily Encounter
    Weekend Encounter
    Encuentros Diarios
    Archives
    Subscribe
    When God Is Silent
    Prayer Partners
      Needed

    Special Needs

    BIBLE HELPS
    Helps and Studies
    Today's Reading
    Annual Reading

      QUOTES AND TESTS
    Today's Quotes
    Happiness Test
    Stress Test

    ACTS IN ACTION

    ACTS Websites
    ACTS in Action Report

    COMMUNICATIONS

    Syndicate ACTS Articles
    "I Hate Witnessing"
       Audio—No Charge

    Opening Closed Minds
    Effective Communications
    Jesus, the Communicator
    Punching Holes in
       the Darkness

      REPORTS
    About ACTS
    Be an ACTS Friend

    MISC.
    People Power Invite
    Links
    Weather
    Privacy Policy
    Snail-Mail List
    Contact Us/Feedback

    ACTS BOOKSTORE
    Online Bookstore


    Site Map
    Report problems to ACTS International
    All pages in this site © Copyright 2005-2024 by ACTS International
    P.O. Box 73545, San Clemente, CA 92673 U.S.A.
     
    HOME   Daily Encounter  Find Peace With God