Christian Health: Healing vs Medical Science

There are a few levels of belief and faith in being a true Christian. New Christians tend to be adamantly aware of all the potential evils in the world, even to a paranoid extent. They shy away from anything worldly because they have to first sanctify themselves from the world to get closer to the Lord.

Television and Internet media is off limits. Going out among friends and social gatherings can distract a new believer from their focus on the Lord. Reading certain books, listening to certain music, and even talking to certain people that appear ungodly are all avoided in the first level of a new believer. Some even avoid listening to or reading books by other pastors that are not their own.

Once they have overcome the fleshly and materialistic distractions of the world, and learn how to avoid certain things, lifestyles and people, they are faced with more complicated moral dilemmas such as choosing jobs, schools and friends for their children, and political and moral stances and beliefs. These are all addressed in the Word of God, but a student of the Word has to look deeper into the mysteries of the gospel to find the right answers. Certain scriptures indirectly address these topics.

For instance, there are certain jobs that contribute to the transgressions of the world such as a bartender that involves drunkenness, a police officer, or a military soldier that involves being aggressive with or sometimes killing others, or a lawyer or salesman who may have to lie occasionally to get the job done. Believers learn to disassociate themselves from such occupations and many more that corrupt themselves and other people. “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9. Meaning, just a little sin can lead to a lot more, and a spotted garment.

The belief in science, whether medical, environmental, astrological or other sciences are challenged by many church leaders and are refuted because of their belief in the words of the Bible. And rightly so. Evolution is refuted as false facts. Climate change is another scientific ideology many church leaders refuse to believe in. They hold that the earth is always changing and there is nothing anyone can do about it whereas, scientists are proving that climate change is real and effecting the earth’s populations around the world. Both can be true at once but too many church leaders have closed their ears to science.

Medical science and the use of medication for healing and pain is another area church leaders and Christians have blocked from their life in the gospel. Many believers refuse to take strong medication from doctors regardless of the illness, or have needed surgeries, which without can lead to serious medical problems for the believers. Others will take small doses such as aspirin, pain killers like over-the-counter Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Yet there are those who refuse even those choices. Again, it is according to the level of faith of the believer.

But many sicknesses are unavoidable such as common colds, the flu, and some major illnesses such as diabetes, certain cancers, and accidental ailments as broken bones, head injuries and such. It is foolish for Christinas to avoid a hospital or doctor visit when they need it, and some stories have been told of such people, which ends tragically. But many cannot argue when their tooth is pounding or they get food poisoning from a restaurant. They will go see a doctor or suffer the long-term consequences.

Now many people pray and have the faith that none of these things will come against them during their walk, and to those who have that high level of faith, they are spared from many common illnesses and accidents. This is a blessing. But those who walk in little faith are faced with these things yet have enough faith to see a doctor or take medication enough to let God do the rest of the healing. There is nothing wrong with that.

But there are some gray areas that are shady to many believers; some to a paranoid extent but to others, is not a problem. It is all according to the measure of faith they have from the Lord. Some people are weaker in faith than others so should not be judged by those who are stronger in faith. 

The scripture says, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.” Romans 14:1-3. 

God can heal a person of many illnesses and even some tragic sicknesses such as cancer, psychological and mental problems, bruises, aches and lifelong pains. He knows the natural elixir for all health problems; He made the body. Fruits, fiber, and grains from the earth help a lot of pains and sickness in the human body. The problem is medical science has gotten away from those type remedies. 

The power of prayer with the anointing of oil and a little wine can solve many bodily problems. “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” James 5:14, 15.

Science and medicine are biblical principles. Though much of the medicine in the Bible consisted of herbs, fruits, leaves and even wine, which have been abandoned by modern science, most believers refer back to those type healing methods in eating right and avoiding bad habits such as smoking, drinking, sleeping around and other reckless lifestyles. Even Jesus said, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” Matthew 9:12. He gave his approval to use medical science for needed reasons. He never said refuse help or not to trust science. Luke, the disciple was a physician. 

In fact, the scriptures read: "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:" 1 Timothy 6:20. Paul told Timothy to avoid arguing the oppositions of science because they are a distraction to the Word and an attempt to falsify the teachings of God. Paul and Jesus never said to disbelieve in science, just avoid the conversation.

Vaccines, another recent area Christians have faced in the wake of the COVID 19 virus. When the Covid virus was spreading around the country, the world could see clearly the level of belief and faith from many so-called Christians. Many got on Youtube and deceptively claimed the vaccine being given was the mark of the beast. Others say it was poison meant to harm the population, and still others simply refused to take it because they do not believe in medications at all. We do not know how many people got sick or died because of their refusal, but many people know of some Christians who regretted not taking it.

Understanding basic biological science is a gift of God to those who listen to the Spirit. According to the scriptures, there is nothing that can or should hurt you if you are a true Christian, one who has received the gift of the Holy Ghost. God’s Spirit protects against illnesses and diseases or any deadly thing. Jesus promises, “…and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.” Mark 16:18. This means that those who receive the Spirit cannot be hurt by anything that is meant to hurt you, eating or drinking. But it is not to be used haphazardly or to tempt God.

Furthermore, Jesus said; “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19. This means what it says. If bitten by a poisonous creature or attacked by demonic forces of any kind, nothing will hurt you. Having faith in these words empowers the Spirit inside the believer. Even if a person (or Christian) does not truly believe these words, if they have the Spirit, they will still not be harmed, because God cannot lie.

However, people who claim to be Christians but do not actually have the Holy Ghost will be harmed because they lack the protection of the Spirit. Many professed Christians have forsaken God because they have gotten sick or deathly ill or they or a loved one had a bad experience in a car accident or some other tragic event. They lose faith and walk away. But the problem was not God, it was the fact that they did not possess His Spirit. If they had, they would be protected from the evils of fatal diseases and accidents. The Spirit forewarns against certain lifestyles, spiritual forces and coming events that will compromise a believer’s health. The believer must be able to hear the Spirit when it speaks to warn them.

There was no problem in taking the vaccine, or any vaccines or certain medications to a moderate extent. If the believer has faith, they will not be hurt, but may heal faster with the help of the Spirit. They may incur the normal symptoms of the shot, but they will not die. If there is a story of a Christina dying from the shot, that person did not have the Spirit of God. 

But if they are fearful, the Bible says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving… shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8. No true Christian should fear anything on this earth. They should not fear man who can kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. (Matthew 10:28).