I haven’t known how to say this, and I don’t know how to say it delicately, but I’ve seen it for a long, long time and it’s something much on my heart of late. So, I’m just going to plop it all down right here off the cuff. Please take the time to read all of this or you’ll jump to wrong conclusions of what I’m trying to say. Here we go: We Christians have offered our faith up to doctors and pharmaceuticals and insurance and money—instead of to Jesus Christ.
Even in those churches whose major focus is on healing and on prayer, there’s still so many who give their trust to the medical system more than to God. I’ve personally been in worship services where people go up front for healing in the Spirit, and there’s a lengthy prayer time, but then later as they are heading out the door those same folks are talking about going to the doctor and having all these tests and not being able to figure out what’s wrong or why.
There’s also Christians who get sick and immediately feel the need to go to the doctor just to find out what they have. We say it’s so we can “know”, but to what purpose? Why do we need to “know” what’s wrong? Why do we need to have some expert tell us? We have a cold and we need to “know” if it’s pneumonia or whatever other virus is out and about at the moment. We see signs of an allergy, but we need to “know” for sure. Our hearing is slipping and we need to get tested. Our BP is high and we need to know why.
I’m not saying ‘wanting to know’ is evil and that we shouldn’t go to the doc. I only say all that because the very nature of “faith” means that sometimes we don’t “know” for a time. We need to let that be okay because that’s what Faith entails. It’s knowing God’s got me and the situation, even in my uncertainty and my “not knowing”. It’s knowing God’s love is more than my sickness or medical issue. It’s the willingness to be uncomfortable and even suffer for a time if that’s what it takes to put God first in my illness. It’s knowing I’m not gonna die unless it’s my time because Jesus holds me in the palm of his hand. Faith involves all kinds of spiritual knowings that should supersede the physical thing going on. That’s the axiom of Faith; that’s it’s very strength in our lives.
Now again, I’m not saying there’s never a time to go to the doc to find out what’s wrong. That’s not at all what I’m trying to say. However, I am saying we have insurance and money and have been conditioned through marketing to believe that everything NEEDS to be fixed. And so we live enslaved to our “having to know” and entitled to “it must be fixed.” Now. Right now. We (fearfully and almost snobbishly) look only at the “medical experts,” with all their tests and machines and drugs, believing they’re the only ones who could possibly have any real answers. We somehow believe having their diagnosis is all-important and the only thing that matters.
Yet—what about our Lord?? I mean, as Christians we have the LIVING CHRIST inside us. He’s our Savior; our Refuge, our Strong Tower; our Healer. Why aren’t we going to him? Is it cuz, deep down, we don’t really, truly think God is capable of telling us what the problem is or what we should do? I think we don’t really think he can speak to us. Nor are we patient enough to be able to learn how to hear him. We need to know—now. We need answers—now. We need fixed—now. And we have money and insurance. Because of it, we shun the work of faith and leaning into him and learning to hear him and his thoughts. Which admittedly, often involves WAITING and getting QUIET–which we loathe. So we take the easier, quicker, seemingly less anxiety-ridden path of going to some “expert”.
And…. because everyone does it this way, we think it’s normal. And then we call that easier path “faith”. No wonder God sees this generation as Lukewarm.
Oh, I know we do pray. Earnestly. We don’t want this illness! But then we immediately turn and look to the medical establishment. “God, help the Doctor to know. God, give wisdom to the Doctor. God, help the Doctor have an answer that helps us know what’s wrong.” We somehow believe GOD is aligned with and attached to doctors as an extension of himself. But medical care as healing isn’t automatically attached to Christ’s divinity. He can use it, I’m not disputing, but he DOESN’T want it to be a replacement for HIM in our lives. He doesn’t want our thoughts to be about “what does the doc say?” He wants his children to go to HIM first. To listen to HIM speak, to HEAR HIM. His heart longs for that first love and first place….
I’ll say this, please think about it–it’s only truly Faith, if we’ve heard God speak to us. Romans 10.
Also another to think on: “Cursed is the one who makes mankind his trust.” Jeremiah 17
I ask this gently, but pointed, yes, when was the last time you sorted out—in prayer, with your loving God—what to do about your medical need? And stayed on your face til you heard and felt his peace? When was the last time you heard God say that it was okay to go see that “expert”? When was the last time you actually asked God to speak and to help you hear him? When was the last time that such was the true desire of your heart?
I fully believe Doctors have their place, and know that God can use them. I also know and have seen for myself that it’s very often more about money and insurance and big business and fear than about actual health and healing. And we, in our rich Christianity, have bought into that. We need to examine our hearts, brothers and sisters. Our Faith is more precious than gold–but only if it’s in He who is our Lord and not in other people, no matter how expert they may seem. The time is coming when that clarification will be vital to all who say they love and follow Jesus.
Some verses to look up and think upon:
Revelation 3:20
Matthew 11:28-29
Isaiah 30:18
Matthew 6:33
Isaiah 41:13
Proverbs 3:5-6
Hebrews 11:6
John 15:7
Matthew 7:7
Jeremiah 29:13
Psalm 62:8
Mary Beth Wine, CCAT, NHC
The purpose of Jordan’s Crossing Herbal Connections is to promote the sharing of information about healthy, natural products and dietary supplements. JCHC’s views and opinions are INFORMATIONAL ONLY and are not intended to constitute medical advice. If you are sick, injured or pregnant, please consult a licensed health care professional.
So timely and I won’t bore you with my medical details, but in this season of my life it appears that My Heavenly Father wants me to rest. I have never been so frustrated with medical personnel as I am today due to the covid baloney to say it kindly. Sometimes God forces us to slow down and take an inventory so that we can hear what He has for us next. I don’t think I would have slowed down if all of my issues would not have cropped up. I was doing too much for others and not taking care of myself – mind, body, spirit in a way that is really beneficial. And I have felt guilty about not “producing”, but since it is what it is, I am going to try and just be and let God direct my steps toward wholeness. I appreciate your words. – The medical field is so much about money and not about wellness, it breaks my heart, but it’s out of my control.