Is going to the doctor or taking medicine a lack of faith?

Hey

I having been praying about some things that were shared on another thread. Some have shared their heart that they feel convicted not to go to the doctor or take medicines. I was wondering about this and praying about it. Does the Bible support the idea that it is sin or lack of faith to seek medical attention? If a christian goes to the doctor does this mean they are lacking in faith or that they are not trusting in God? Would this be in all medical situations, child birth? Cancer? Is there scripture to support this? If so would it then be wrong for a christian to become a medical doctor or nurse? Or a pharmacists? What about going to the dentist for check ups would this apply also? Please know I am not trying to call into question anyone's convictions, I really do want to understand what has brought some to this point in their walk, and what they are seeing. I will share that at this point in my walk I am not seeing going to the doctor or taking medicine as a lack of faith, but I do want to be open to what God is saying on this matter...

your little sis in Him
Elizabeth

No the Bible does not support it is sin to see a doctor. Luke was the beloved physician not an evil, sinful heretic ( Col. 4:14 ). Paul exhorted Timothy to drink some wine for his stomach's sake and frequent infirmities, cutting edge medicine at the time ( 1 Tim. 5:23 ). I believe God has given us doctors and you can still use your faith in God to heal you through them. It's not guaranteed just because you go to the doctor you will be cured, even with all of our medicine. My hope is not in medical technology or doctor skill, but in God working through them.

I would say pray first and be open to hear when to go to the doctor from the Lord should the healing tarry and situation become serious. But don't reach for the tylenol with every headache or rush to the E.R. for every weird pain. Pray.

I am reminded of the man drowning who prayed for God to save him. Three boats came by and the man refused them all waiting for divine deliverance. The man dies, goes to heaven, and asks God why He did not save him. God replies, "I sent three boats, what more did you want." I think that applies in discerning measure with healing. He has given us medical advancements that have the potential to heal us with God's blessing.

I believe the opposite extreme is just as dangerous for Christians. Being so spiritually stubborn/proud almost not to humble themselves to dip in the Jordan seven times by going to see a doctor. If this is your condition, God knows, and won't release healing. He'd be more interested in healing your deformed character and reforming His Son's in you.

Please meditate on this passage. I believe it applies to your question.

1Ti 4:1-7 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

[b]For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer[/b]. If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

No, it doesn't.

Paul instructed Timothy to drink wine for his stomach.

Miracles are, by definition, rare. Jesus could have walked on water, but He usually took a boat.

With care in Christ...

I grew up among people who believed very firmly in trusting God for health as well as for healing. A few preached against going to doctors in a very legalistic sense (as though it was a law that if not kept was sin). Most believed in trusting God out of a genuine heart that longed to put faith in Him for everything, including health and healing.

I do believe that it would be best for us to learn to walk in faith even in this area, but there is no scriptural support for condemning doctors or saying we should not go to them.

I hear someone say this and though it was interesting. God's best would be for us to believe Him for healing and health, but doctors sure do a good job of keeping us alive while our faith matures.

Don't feel condemned to go to a doctor, take medicine, etc. But, start exercising your faith in small things. Begin to believe God for healing from headaches, etc. Make sure you are not acting out of condemnation or out of fear that God will smite you if you go to a doctor. That is not from God. I want to trust God with everything. He is faithful, but the development of my own faith is also necessary.

By the way, God has specifically called many Christians to the field of medicine, and in doing this work they are fulfilling His calling on their lives and touching many many people with the message of the gospel.

Elizabeth,

I read all the posts on this thread and I agree with all of them.

I am not one who will go to a doctor very quickly. I will try everything I know to treat myself before heading in that direction. In doing so, I am healthy, I think. I am also getting to the age where I am reconsidering seriously the value of prolonging life just for its own sake, which is really a completely different issue.

We have used doctors in the past and appreciate their expertise. But we also pray much for our physical ailments and the LORD has been faithful.

God bless..

ginnyrose

Thanks everyone for your replies. I actually had not really thought about this to much before reading the other thread. I have been using allergy medicines and asthma medicine for most of my life and never thought about praying about it before now. I was on these medicines before I was saved and just continued using them after wards. I have really bad allergies as well as asthma(runs in my family). I am going to be praying about this but it really does help knowing that I am not sinning against God by using my inhaler to help me breath. As I said on the other thread there have been times when I have been sick and just prayed and God has healed me, but there has also been times when after waiting several days I have felt a strong leading to go to the doctor. I always have felt this was the Lord answering my prayers.

Thanks again for sharing on this
your little sis in Him
Elizabeth

Is going to the doctor or taking medicine a lack of faith?

"NO"

[b]The man dies, goes to heaven . . .[/b]

Dear wind_blows,

Do not focus on the sin. Focus on the Lord. Ask Him heal you of all of the things that He sees to be wrong with you. Ask Him to show you what it is that you need to adjust.

He has taken away all of my aches and pains. One of the first things that He did with me was to give me an incredible craving for broccoli. Then He led me to find organic apples, which I also consumed in large quantities. I had forgotten what a real apple tasted like. Next He took me off of meat, then dairy, then sugar, then caffeine - this all on the heals of getting me off of alcohol and nicotine. I do not know what was wrong with me, but from the adjustments I assume it was something nasty. I am [b][u]NOT[/u][/b] saying that you need to do these things. Only He knows what you need to adjust.

Next time you need to use your inhaler, pause and ask Him "Lord, what is it that you would have me to do?" "Lord, shut the door on this if it is not what you want and put before me that which you would have me to do." He is faithful, but you must believe. I don't know how many times I prayed and said "Lord I believe, please forgive Thou mine unbelief!" No matter what happened, no matter how confused I became, I would just keep turning back to HIM. Others will mock you and scorn you - but [u]He[/u] will never forsake you - if you will but only believe.

Trust God to do as He wills through His regular appointed means.

Food and prayer for hunger. Exercise and prayer for weak muscles. Study and prayer for knowledge and understanding. Medicines/nutrition and prayer for sickness.

wind_blows wrote:
Hey

...Does the Bible support the idea that it is sin or lack of faith to seek medical attention? If a christian goes to the doctor does this mean they are lacking in faith or that they are not trusting in God? Would this be in all medical situations, child birth? Cancer? Is there scripture to support this? If so would it then be wrong for a christian to become a medical doctor or nurse? Or a pharmacists? What about going to the dentist for check ups would this apply also? Please know I am not trying to call into question anyone's convictions, I really do want to understand what has brought some to this point in their walk, and what they are seeing. I will share that at this point in my walk I am not seeing going to the doctor or taking medicine as a lack of faith, but I do want to be open to what God is saying on this matter...

your little sis in Him
Elizabeth

Wisdom is if you don't get healed, you better go to a doctor!

When you are hungry, do you sit around waiting for God to put food in your stomach, claiming God as your provider and healer? No, you get something to eat. If we do this for food, then why would we not do it for the rest of our health?

When you are hungry, do you sit around waiting for God to put food in your stomach, claiming God as your provider and healer? No, you get something to eat. If we do this for food, then why would we not do it for the rest of our health?

The Lord would not have us to eat something with poison in it so that we would be nourished or healed. His remedy will be pure. But only He knows what that is - that is why we must ask - wait upon Him - pray. He is our Great Protector and Provider. He will keep us just as He has promised - IF we believe - IF we choose HIM.

"But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." Matthew 9:12

In other words, it is the sick who need a doctor.

I like what Taylor said: "[i]Jesus could have walked on water, but He usually took a boat[/i]."

This could be expanded.

Paul and the rest of the apostles could have been translated during their travels (like Phillip after baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch), but most of the time...they walked.

The Lord could easily provide for our needs by allowing manna to fall from the sky just outside of our homes; but, most of the time, God provides a job that brings an income that we use to purchase our food.

God could easily fill our closets with clothing. However, most of the time, He provides most of us with a job that provides the income in which He clothes our families.

God could have easily and immediately annihilated all of the world without sending a flood; however, He still chose to use the ark to save Noah, his family and a select amount of animals.

I certainly believe that God still heals the sick. I also believe that we should pray for the sick and pray for ourselves when we are sick.

God could easily cause the Gospel message to suddenly and clearly appear in every medium (television, internet, books, newspapers, etc...), but He still uses us to present the Good News to this fallen world.

This isn't meant to sound facetious. I pray that God makes us whole before or after an illness. While our hearts and minds are located in Heaven, our earthly temples are still located within the confines of this fallen world. Just like the original Temple of Solomon had to be kept up (and even repaired in II Kings 12:1-8...and reinforced...using the wood from the almug trees brought by the Queen of Sheba in I Kings 10:12), we should do what we can to keep our own earthly temples running properly. This is not a lack of faith, but being a good steward of the things that God has given us.

I like what Taylor said: "Jesus could have walked on water, but He usually took a boat."

The Lord has had people give me free food. He has had people give me free clothing. It has been the perfect thing at just the right time - often it is ahead of time. He continually comes forth with a treasure here, and a treasure there. He is perfectly capable of taking care of us - both in heaven, and on earth.

It is in Him that I put my trust. Not myself.

Hi HeartSong...

The Lord has had people give me free food. He has had people give me free clothing. It has been the perfect thing at just the right time - often it is ahead of time. He continually comes forth with a treasure here, and a treasure there.