Ah, the Fruits of the Word of Faith Movement

Post by **__id_2627** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:17 pm

Truly a sad story.
Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Shel

Post by **_TK** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:50 pm

I read this tragic story as well.

I have very mixed feelings on this topic, primarily because I believe that God does heal us today. I have a hard time figuring out how to have faith in healing while taking medicine or going to a dr. not that I dont take medicine or that i dont go to drs if needed, but i often wonder if i can have faith for healing AND rely, as a practical matter, almost exclusively on human wisdom (i.e. medicine) for healing.

I suppose the prudent thing for these parents to have done would have been to take their child to the dr, but still pray fervently for a miraculous healing. or does that just negate faith?

it's a tough issue. i certainly don't have the answers.

TK

Post by **_Sean** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:18 am

So could it be that God did want her to live but couldn't help her?
Or maybe that God works through modern medical doctors?

If it is the case that God works through modern medical doctors, it a shame that most of the world's population don't have access to these doctors. Most people are "all alone" out there, with "only" God to rely on.

Post by **__id_2627** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:31 am

Well if they were relying on God that would be great. However it seems that they were relying on the power of the amount of faith they had rather than God.

I do believe that God does work through modern medicine. Most of our modern medicine is nothing short of miraculous. But what these people have done is like putting their daughter at one end of the supper table with a meal at the other end, and not allowing her to go eat it while they pray for food to drop from heaven.

Shel

Post by **_STEVE7150** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:31 pm

that they were relying on the power of the amount of faith they had rather than God

Sometimes the degree of one's faith did matter in the NT as to whether Jesus performed a miracle.
Jesus could do no miracles in one town because they lacked faith, yet the lady with the blood issue was healed because of her faith and Jesus in another instance said "be it done unto to you according to your faith."
However although God is more pleased by a greater faith i don't think healing is guarenteed and if a person believes it is, then it may be a way of testing God which we should not do.
Obviously the parents should not have tested God or even assumed their faith guarenteed healing or even assumed the healing would not be done through doctors.

Post by **__id_2574** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:31 pm

Hi T.K.,

I’m with you in struggling through this whole “faith in healing” issue. What does it look like in real life? Sometimes it’s easier to figure out what it doesn’t look like (through these extreme examples), but what does the James 5:15 “prayer offered in faith” practically look like in operation? I’m afraid that we often spend so much time reacting against WOF excesses or imperfect theology that we miss out on what it means to grab hold of real faith for healing.

This became a very real issue for me personally when a medical check-up late last year showed some major problems. It’s sure given me the opportunity to practically work out my own theology on healing. (Like you asked, does real faith mean I shouldn’t get medical care? Does it mean I shouldn’t follow special dietary restrictions? Will doing these things steal glory from God?)

I’m not saying my conclusions are the right ones, but here’s what I’ve come up with. So far.

• I decided to go ahead and seek the best medical care possible. In my case, doctors and medicine can’t cure me (though they might be able to give me more time) so the decision was simpler. Only God can bring about a healing miracle. And I feel that my seeking medical help – helpless as it is – can only magnify God’s glory in the end. In other words, when I get healed, everyone will know it wasn’t because of doctors or medicine.

• I decided to fully trust God for a healing miracle in my life. I’m not saying that it’s God’s will that everyone be healed, or that it’s even God’s will that I be healed. (I just don’t know for sure.) But I do believe that God expects us to pray in faith for healing. So I’ll leave all that “is it or isn’t it God’s will” theological struggle to others more qualified. I’ll just pray in faith … and rest in God’s hands.

• I decided to value God’s glory far above my own healing. (And am trusting that He knows how – and is able – to bring that about.) So Philippians 1:20-21 is very dear to me right now. “… that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” So though I'm expecting to get healed, I really won't be disappointed if I don't. It's all about His glory ... and I'll be experiencing another kind of healing.

So far, this has been quite a journey. And my wife and I are learning to embrace this season and all that God has for us in it. He is such a good God!

By His Grace,

Gregg

Post by **_TK** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:01 pm

thanks for sharing that, Gregg. i think you are handling your situation very wisely.
i'll be praying, and i know others will here as well.

TK

Post by **_STEVE7150** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:41 am

i'll be praying, and i know others will here as well.

Amen!

Post by **__id_2627** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:26 am

Hi Gregg,

My prayers are with you. To me, you seem to be a man of great faith.

We are having a conversation on faith in another word of faith thread. Not sure if it will help you or not...

God Bless,
Shel