Miracles and Medicine

All of us have had illness and poor health at some point of time. Disease and Death prevail all living creature because of fall of man. There are so many views on sickness present among both Christians and others. Some belief systems like Scientology and also some Christian groups believe that going to doctors is a sin and we need to believe in God/higher power to get healed. Steve Jobs, a prominent entrepreneur and the founder of Apple Inc., believed in this theory and did not get treated for his cancer and eventually succumbed to death. Whereas some do not believe in miracles and supernatural healing but rather trusting only on doctors and physicians like people who believe in Cessationism and most of the atheists. So if you are a Christian, believing in the finished work of Christ on the cross, and if you are sick, how should we react? Should we have to go to a doctor or just need to pray to get healed?

Let me address the common misconceptions in each of the headings and try to give a biblical explanation for the same:

Misconception 1: We should not use medicines to get our disease treated

There are ample instances where medicine were used in a positive way all throughout Scripture. There are many verses that speak of using “medical treatments” such as applying bandages (Isaiah 1:6), oil (James5:14), oil and wine (Luke 10:34), leaves (Ezekiel 47:12), wine (1 Timothy5:23), and salves, particularly the “balm of Gilead” (Jeremiah 8:22). Also, Luke, the author of Acts and the Gospel of Luke, is referred to by Paul as “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). Paul explicitly admonishes Timothy in 1Timothy 5:23 to take wine for the sake of his stomach ailments.

The most common verse which is used to support this view is in 2Chro 16:12, “In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians.” But if you look at the passage closely, the reason why Asa sinned against the Lord is not because he took medicines and sought help only from the physicians and not seeking the Lord also in healing of the disease.

We should remember that “For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." (1Co 10:26). There is nothing in this earth which is apart from God. God created everything and He is the one who is sustaining it. Even the medical knowledge which he has given for the physicians is of the Lord and the medicines and treatment which they give is also from the Lord. So ultimately we should trust in the Lord for the healing of our sickness and also use these medical means which He has graciously given us.  

Misconception 2: Miraculous healing does not happen now

Many atheistic people would have such view. Unfortunately even in Christian circles among the affluent and cessationistic group are having such views. Bible have ample number of examples where God has miraculously healed people through supernatural means. Can God heal through miracles now? Jesus has promised to ALL disciples that he would give Spiritual gifts after He is taken up to heaven (Mar 16:16,17). And the first century Christians also proved it. There are no verses in the Bible which says that the miracles and the spiritual gifts would cease to exist rather Paul says to, “earnestly desire spiritual gifts” in 1Cor 14:1. And God gives different spiritual gifts to believers for the sake of common good of church (1Cor 12:7). So we can still expect miraculous supernatural healing in our lives.

Does generational curse exist now? Can someone be sick because of curses? Bible says in many places that God would curse and inflict sickness upon disobedience to His commands (Exodus 20:5). But when we are becoming a Christian, then we are new creation (2Cor 5:17). Bible also says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 8:1). So when we are in Christ we are not cursed rather God has already put all those curses in Christ for the sake of us. So we don’t need to be afraid of generational curses.

Misconception 3:  God will heal all the diseases in our body if we are becoming a Christian:

If we are Christians, would God heal all our sickness? We believe that God is sovereign and all powerful and there is nothing too difficult for him. Yet this does not mean that all our sickness should be healed. God may allow us to go through these trials and diseases to understand His grace and mercy even more. For example, Paul was afflicted with a disease for which he repeatedly prayed to God, yet God chose to not to heal him. Let us see the reaction of Paul for it:

So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2Co 12:7-10)

God used Paul's disease to know more about His grace and mercy that Paul had experienced even though he was suffering with a disease to keep him humble and also to depend on God’s grace only not trusting upon his own health. Thus God may choose use the diseases for the sake of our own spiritual growth so that we would love God even more in such darkest days of our lives.

True Healing:

Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1Ti 4:7-8)

Paul here says that bodily training is of some value. He does not say that there is no use if our body is healthy. If God is calling you to be a missionary to Himalayas, you have to be physically fit to go to that place and minister. But that does not mean that we should spend all our energy in concentrating in our bodies to be fit. Rather we should concentrate more on our spiritual sanctification and try to be more and more holy and blameless so that we would be more close to God. Paul uses the word ‘train’ in godliness because spiritual holiness and righteous living comes with regular practice. If we are holy, that would be a guard rail for most of the sickness. For example, it has been scientifically proven that Smoking and alcohol can itself be a direct cause of many chronic illness in lungs, liver and heart. Gluttons, people who are obsessed with over eating are prone to develop diseases like Stroke, Coronary Artery Diseases and Obesity. There are numerous sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, Syphilis for which the most common cause would be marital unfaithfulness. Even the present Health Minister of India, Dr. Harsh Vardhan acknowledged that. Many psychiatric illness can be traced to sinfulness in the patients.

In conclusion, I would like to leave you with these:

1)     It is biblical to take medicines from a doctor for the sake of our diseases by thanking God and trusting Him that He would heal us through the means of the treatment if it is God’s will.

2)      It is biblical to also believe in miraculous healing through a believer in Christ and God can heal a person through miraculous means if He wills.

3)      We have to concentrate both on our physical and our spiritual health. But top priority should be given for our spiritual health.

So as a Christian and a medical doctor, it is my heartfelt desire that you would grow more and more close to God and grow in holiness and trust in God in everything even in the midst of sickness.

If you have liked this, you can also read Cessationism and Unbelief