Faith and Wisdom… where is the line?
31 03 2008There was a disturbing story that came out of Wausau, Wisconsin. (two days in a row with stories from Wausau hmm.) A
couple let their 11year old child die of type 1 diabetes. The doctors and nurses said that there would have been very visible signs of sickness for 30 days before the disease killed her. They also said that it is something easily treated, and is treated all of the time. However in this case the family decided not to take her to get help, instead they believed that their faith would save the girl. They believed that God was going to heal her, and consistently refused to take their dying child to the hospital, and resorted to praying over her instead. In the end the 11 year old girl died. (The story here)
Who’s to blame here? God or the parents?
I submit to you that the parents neglected their God given charge to take care of that human life they had been given. There is a line, however fine, between walking in faith and using our God given brains to walk in wisdom. There are many people in the church that preach that we should live in the spiritual realm more than we live in the natural realm. This is false. We have been placed by God in the natural realm. How we walk out our assignment in this life affects how we live in the age to come. The spirit realm we walk in isn’t an outside reality, but an inward one. At salvation we are given the spirit of the living God to dwell within us. We walk in this life communing with the spirit of God living within us, directing us in all that we do. But we do not forsake the daily vanity that is life. We continue to cast our bread on the waters though it returns to us. (Eccl 11)
These parents have scripture to back their claims that God could’ve healed their daughter. Mark 16:18 in particular, “These signs follow those who believe… they will lay their hands on the sick and they will be healed.” We know from Isaiah 53, and Psalms 103, that the blood of Jesus not only saves us from sin, but heals us from our diseases. There are many verses that declare physical healing. Paul was a man who walked in signs and wonders, and saw many healings, yet when Timothy takes ill with a stomach problem he tells Timothy to drink some wine to help with the illness; thus the fine line.
I have dealt with this balance often in my short time in ministry. A year ago I was teaching my weekly class for the Fire in the Night internship. It was during the opening Q and A that I noticed some of the interns were missing. Finally the missing five came in the back carrying a girl who had sprained her ankle on her way over to class. The girl was wincing and gasping in pain. They asked if she could sit in the back with her ankle propped up. I quickly told them to just take her home, or if needed to the hospital, but not to worry about missing class. The girls were turning to carry her back out as a couple of guys were outraged at me. They were new believers and had just discovered the Mark 16:18 verse during their studies. (We have the interns read 10 chapters of the N.T. a day so they read the whole thing each month.) They cried out, “You didn’t even have us pray!? She could be healed right now!” I told him that class had to move on, and he could pray from his seat. He and his buddy were furious and began to ridicule me from their seats. I don’t have many prophetic moments, but this was one. While continuing to teach I paused internally and asked the Lord what He thought of my decision. Without giving it any thought I pointed at the two guys still voicing their discontent. I said to them in an almost angry tone, “Paul and Josh! Do not forsake the small things! Faith in my Son doesn’t equal arrogance toward wisdom! Sit down!” I was startled by what I had just said. I stopped the class and began to pray for the two guys who had now begun crying from the weight of the rebuke. I prayed for them and continued class.
I tell that story because I believe the Lord was teaching me something through what I had spoken. We are not to forsake the small things. We are not to forsake the wisdom of simply taking our child who is ill to the doctor for a checkup. Can God heal? Yes, His Word says so. But what if He doesn’t? You do the wisest thing possible, take them to the doctor. John Wimber was an great minister when it came to seeing God move in the area of healing. However John had a rule, he prayed someone once. He didn’t feel anything, he didn’t wonder if his faith was strong. He instead resolved to know that if God willed to heal someone then they would be healed. If he didn’t, then they wouldn’t. So with no hoopla or frills he would walk up to someone lay his hand on them and say, Father Heal them in the name of Jesus. If they were healed he rejoiced, if not he didn’t worry, he just moved on to the next person.
There is a line between when to contend for healing, and when to use the practical methods given us in this life. We contend if there are no other options. However if the power to save that person’s life is before you, i.e. taking them to the hospital for something easily treated. Then you do it. To not and rely on “faith” believe it or not is pride.
Tags : death, faith movement, healing, parenting, signs and wonders, wausau, wisdom
Categories : Bible, Qoheleth, Religion, are you for real, prayer, righteous living, theology
School kid pulled something I would have done in Highschool had I thought of it. He staged a “Kegger” at his house and invited a tone a friends over. The street was lined with cars, music was blaring, Kids were drinking and playing games; only there was only Root Beer in the Kegs. He wanted to prove the over suspicion of the cops in his town. Thinking they had just made the biggest bust I’ve under-age drinking ever, they searched and overturned everything in the house, and issued 90 breathalyser tests, they let the kids go. It was a brilliant caper, and the young man proved his point.
Germany is the first to boycott the Olympics this year. I think the U.S. will follow. It’s lame because I love the Olympics. I grew swimming and diving so watching those has always been my favorite.
So I’m still in bed. What was congestion in my head has now traveled down to my throat. So what’s a man to do when he is home sick and alone? Luckily my beloved roommate Jared went to Blockbuster and got me the Lord of the Rings trilogy. That made me happy. However my blessed finance wont let me leave home so as to get better. I tried to go to a meeting early this morning and she made me stay home. Probably for the best!
forgive all our iniquity, and heals our diseases. Who redeems our life from the pit, who crowns us with loving kindness and mercy! Who satisfies us with good… He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the Heavens are above the Earth so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
I lost my Arizona State hat. I was lucky to find it in the back of my closet yesterday. Go Sun Devils!
people become true followers of Christ. Here is a quote from their own report:
What's being said by you...