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The ReadingJames 1:5-83

Eric,If a person is diagnosed with any serious sickness, such as Cancer, Leukemia, Crohn's disease, Parkinsons, Etc.Is it a SIN for Christians To seek medical help?I believe that if a sickness comes to you, it is for a reason, and I would not fight the will of God by seeking for medical help. I would just say, Your will be done.What do you think? am I wrong?Explain the question please.

Some Christians are taught that it is a sin to seek medical help when they are ill. Instead, they should stand on the fact that God is perfectly capable of healing them without the assistance of human beings. If they choose to insult God by seeking help from other people or by taking man made medications, then He will respond with harsh discipline. If you are a Christian who has been taught such things, the answer is for youIs it a SIN for Christians To seek medical help?There is no denying the fact that God finds it quite insulting when His people refuse to trust Him in life. Its also true that when we rely on our own human logic and earthly resources to solve our problems, we insult God!

Anytime we embrace the illusion that we can handle life without Him, He is going to feel insulted. That said, it is quite possible to go and see a doctor for medical help, without communicating to God that you think Hes useless and incapable. It is also possible to be fully acknowledging your dependency on God while taking some mainstream medication. When your heart attitude is correct, God can, and still receives all of the glory for healing you, even when other people and drugs were involved.When we teach that it is evil for Christians to seek medical help, and when we insist that certain behaviors can only be engaged in by wicked, rebellious hearts, we are deluding ourselves.

Is it a sin for the person with Cancer to receive chemotherapy?Is it a sin for the person with Leukemia to receive a bone marrow transplant?Is it a sin for a person with heart disease to receive a heart transplant?Is it a sin for a person with kidney disease to receive dialysis?Is it a sin for a person with crohn's disease to receive a colostomy?Do we have the answer in the Bible?What do you all think?Can the Bible answer all of our questions in life?Lets see then!

The issue was not that Asa consulted physicians, but that he did not seek help from the LORD. Even when visiting a doctor, our ultimate faith is to be in God, not the doctor.

2 Chronicles 16:12 (NKJV) 12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians. There are many verses that speak of using medical treatments such as applying bandages (Isaiah 1:6).

Isaiah 1:6 (NKJV) 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment. There are many verses that speak of using medical treatments such as applying oil (James 5:14).

James 5:14 (NKJV) 14 Is anyone among you sick? 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. There are many verses that speak of using medical treatments such as applying oil and wine (Luke 10:34).

Luke 10:34 (NKJV) 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. There are many verses that speak of using medical treatments such as applying leaves (Ezekiel 47:12).

Ezekiel 47:12 (NKJV) 12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine." There are many verses that speak of using medical treatments such as applying wine (1 Timothy 5:23).

1 Timothy 5:23 (NKJV) 23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities. There are many verses that speak of using medical treatments, and salves, particularly the balm of Gilead (Jeremiah 8:22).

Jeremiah 8:22 (NKJV) 22 Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery For the health of the daughter of my people? There are many verses that speak of using medical treatments.Also, Luke, the author of Acts and the Gospel of Luke, is referred to by Paul as the beloved physician (Colossians 4:14).

Colossians 4:14 (NKJV) 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. Mark 5:25-30 relates the story of a woman who had trouble with continual bleeding, a problem that physicians could not heal even though she had been to many of them and had spent all of her money. Coming to Jesus, she thought that if she but touched the hem of His garment, she would be healed; she did touch His garment, and she was healed. Jesus, in answering the Pharisees as to why He spent time with sinners, said to them, (Matthew 9:12). From these verses one might sift out the following principles:

Matthew 9:12 (NKJV) 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Physicians are not God and should not be viewed as such. They can sometimes help, but there will be other times when all they will accomplish is the removal of money.

Seeking physicians and using earthly remedies are not condemned in Scripture. In fact, medical treatments are viewed favorably.

God's intervention in any physical difficulty should be sought (James 4:2; 5:13). He does not promise that He will answer the way we will always want (Isaiah 55:8-9), but we have the assurance that all He does will be done in love and thus in our best interest (Psalm 145:8-9).

James 4:2 (NKJV) 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. James 5:13 (NKJV) 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) 8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Psalm 145:8-9 (NKJV) 8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.

Mental illness has a physical cause just like having the flu does. Neither of these patients is less spiritual for seeking assistance. If your baby or someone elses baby was sick, would you say that the parents, or the babys faith is weak? I would hope not. Take Jesus at His word, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. The sick need a doctor. Jesus didnt accuse the sick of lacking faith. He said they need a doctor, not those who are healthy. It is just plain common sense to go see a doctor when you are sick whatever that sickness is. It is not a lack of morals, not a character flaw, nor is it a lack of faith. The sick need a doctor not more faith. Jesus said that and thats good enough for me. So, should Christians go to doctors? God created us as intelligent beings and gave us the ability to create medicines and learn how to repair our bodies. There is nothing wrong with applying this knowledge and ability towards physical healing. Doctors can be viewed as Gods gift to us, a means through which God brings healing and recovery. At the same time, our ultimate faith and trust is to be in God, not in doctors or medicine. As with all difficult decisions, we should seek God who promises to give us wisdom when we ask for it (James 1:5).

James 1:5 (NKJV) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.