General Theology
Faith or Negligence?
by Tim Lien
In Wausau, Wisconsin last week, 3 siblings were removed from their parents after their 11 yr. old sister died of an undiagnosed (yet fully treatable ) form of diabetes. The parents believed that healing comes exclusively from God. The removal has only occured for the duration of the upcoming investigation. Officials believe at the outset that there is little evidence that shows intentional wrongdoing.
The article is here.
Two quotes:
The family believes in the Bible, which says healing comes from God, Leilani Neumann said.
“There is no intent. They didn’t want their child to die. They thought what they were doing was the right thing,” he said. “They believed up to the time she stopped breathing she was going to get better. They just thought it was a spiritual attack. They believed if they prayed enough she would get through it.”
In a similar case: When I was young there was a family in our church that refused to buy life insurance, as they felt it was not properly trusting God to do so. The story does not have a happy ending. The dad died prematurely in an accident.
What do you think?
Posted by Tim Lien at April 2, 2008 08:21 AM
When I had cancer many years ago, people (some friends) came out of the woodwork offering various types of “advice” as to the reasons for illness and on avenues for healing. Maybe I shouldn’t see it this way, but I think that many of the medicines, etc. are gifts from God (especially in regard to major illnesses). I don’t think that that takes away from the fact that God can heal through “miraculous” ways, but healing through conventional methods is no less a miracle to me. Nor do I feel that conventional methods lessen the dependence on and power of prayer. Getting the diagnosis of a major illness, going through unpleasant side effects of treatments, and sometimes living with the ongoing effects of those treatments all require much prayer. Maybe it depends on viewpoint?
(Hope that make sense—I’ve been answering math questions while trying to type this!!)
I agree with Dana. It reminds me of a joke I heard one time:
A man was in his home and the nearby river started to flood. The man was sure that God would deliver him from the flood. Emergency services comes by in a big truck to carry him over the rising waters to safety. He refuses, saying that God will save him. The waters continue to rise, forcing him to the second floor of his home. A neighbor in a boat comes up to the house and begs the man to leave. He steadfastly refuses, saying that God will save him. The waters rise even more, and the man gets on the roof, praying to God to save him. A rescue helicopter flies overhead, and the rescuers cry out to the man to grab onto the rope they had dropped. With the waters going even higher, the man refuses, saying that God will save him. The water eventually overtakes the man, sweeping him away in the flood to his death.
The man gets to Heaven, and when face to face with God, says, “God, I don’t understand. I thought you would save me.” God replies, “Well, I sent a truck, a boat, and a helicopter!”
The point is that God works quite often through ordinary means. His workings are not limited to the supernatural.
I’ve had several Arminian friends raise an objection to why anyone who believes in election would bother with evangelism. Underlying that reasoning is the same assumption - that God only acts supernaturally. Just as I believe that God acts through us in carrying out his purposes in election, so do I believe that he acts through doctors, hospitals and drug companies to bring about healing.
I’ve never really understood this attitude of not using medicine and doctors for religious reasons. God gives all things and I think Dana’s post about God’s grace within that process is right on.
By the way, wasn’t Luke a medical doctor? It seems he was approved by God in his work.