Using a physician's help

It has been said by some that the first medical specialty was anesthesiology, that was followed shortly by surgery -- both practiced by the Lord God Himself. "So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man." (Genesis 2:21-22). Jesus compared Himself to a physician who needs to attend to the sick (Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31), rather than the healthy. The gospel writer Luke was also a doctor (Colossians 4:14) and his keen sense of observation and documentation of details come through in his writings (Luke and Acts).

Yet, seeking help from a physician for one's illness is seen by some believers as equating to lack of faith or having little faith. They would ask, if one can pray to God and He can heal you, why should you bother to seek human medical help? Christian Scientisits are infamous for often forgoing medical treatment in favor of prayers only, although their official position is not to condemn medical treatment.

In fact, I have not found any Biblical basis to forgo medical treatment. In II Chronicles 16, we read that King Asa had an ailment in his feet and though the disease was severe, he "did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians." (v 12). It is implied that this was another indication that he was not relying on the Lord. But the problem with Asa was not so much the fact that he sought help from the physicians, but the fact that he sought help ONLY from the physicians, without seeking help from the Lord. We know that Joseph the patriarch had a whole group of physicians working under him (Genesis 50:2). Gilead was known for its balms and physicians (Jeremiah 8:22). With His comparison of His own ministry to that of physicians attending to the sick, Jesus in a way justified the medical profession and its function.

What are we to do as Christians when we become sick? First, of course, we should pray. James specifically admonishes that if anyone is sick, he should call on the elders of the church to pray and anoint oil on him (James 5:14-15). David prayed even when their enemies became ill (Psalm 35:13). God is our Lord and Helper. It is only right and natural that we should seek help from Him, when we are sick.

At the same time, we should also seek appropriate medical help. This may mean, among other things, taking medications, seeing a physician, undergoing a surgery, receiving radiation treatment, and/or, when appropriate, getting non-Western medical modalities such as acupuncture or herbals. The physicians are using God-endowed wisdom and knowledge in applying their learnings to maintenance and restoration of health and treatment of ailments and, as such, are professionals in their trade. They need to be respected as such and their orders and instructions for treatment should be followed. If a physician is instructing you to take two pills of a certain medicine twice a day, it is not ok for you to decide to take only one pill once a day. Without following instructions, your treatment may not only be ineffective, but may even be harmful.

It is not a sign of strong faith to forgo appropriate medical treatment. It may rather be an act of putting the Lord God to the test, which we are not to do (Matthew 4:7). Jesus spoke of signs that will accompany those who believe in Him (Mark 16:15-18). "In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." We note that one of the signs was to pick up snakes without getting harmed and this sign was exemplified with Paul shaking off a viper's bite with no ill effects (Acts 28:3-6). God is able to work that miracle as a sign among believers. But this does not mean that one should go around and pick up vipers and see if he may get hurt -- that would be putting God to the test. That is not a sign of faith. Analogously, when God has made medical help available to us, we need to use it wisely and appropriately. God can certainly heal us without the use of medical help, but can also work through medical care. It is up to Him to decide how He will manifest His mighty works and wisdom in our lives, not up to us to dictate to Him.

God is our Creator and our ultimate Physician. He can heal us physically and spiritually. He has also given some people the profession of being physicians, so that they can help those who may become ill. God's wisdom and authority is beyond measure and I praise Him for that. Praise Him!