Church bus accidents and church dinner sicknesses

I work in a food manufacturing plant and one of the things the lab department does is put posters of incidents in which people got sick because of not cooking food properly and/improper hygiene. I found several of them to be in church dinners and I have asked myself why do no avail. I think back when I got sick after a church dinner. I came home and threw up and I was find afterwards.
Is there any spiritual significance to these scenarios? Most churches usually praying a blessing over the food but in reality what does that 'blessing' really do?

Also, I have seen some stories of church vans flipping over because of a blown tire. How should that be address? I saw on the news tonight that a church van flipped over because of a blown tire and 2 people were killed as a result. I am left scratching my head. Am I trying to spiritualize it too much?

John

I have to agree with Greg, "when it's offered by true christians." And I will add those who "hear" His voice. I have an 80 year old friend (prayer warrior) and she went to a church dinner two months ago and as someone was praying over the meal, the Holy Spirit spoke to her and told her to pray again over her food. She was the only one who did not get sick and she ate the same food!

Praise the Lord!

John,
A few years back, I was using my table saw and almost cut off my thumb. praise God I did not lose it, but it is numb and misshapen. I might ask God why it happened, but I already know the answer. I made a foolish mistake in what I did. On the other hand, I have been believing God for my health now for quite a few years. I work on a public school and as such have contact with everything that is going around. Yet, I have been ill only a handful of days on t hree years and have missed only two days work in three years. I believe that because I have entrusted that area to Him, and have sought His protection that He has been faithful and has protected me from sickness.

My point is that I know myself. I don't know what is on the heart of another. I believe God to protect me and sanctify my food, but I also try to be careful that I cook it sufficiently and don't let it sit our to long. I believe God for safe travel, but I also make sure my vehicle is sound. perhaps we don't see the faith or lack thereof in another. Perhaps we don't know the circumstances that lead to an accident. Let's face it, lack of maintenance is not something you typically overcome with faith.

What I do know is that I cannot judge the faithfulness of God by the circumstances of another man. Good is faithful no matter what others experience.

Church dinners - food poisonings...

Not near all of food poisonings occur at church functions. I suspect the reason these people post these alerts about church groups in your business is that if they would reveal that restaurants fed their customers tainted food they may face loss of business and revenue. And... churches will likely not sue for defamation.

Just this winter I was a victim of food poisoning...I was so dreadfully sick - never been so sick in my life. I was sick ALL over plus I hurt ALL over. It happened within 24 hours of eating at my favorite Mexican restaurant - had eaten there many times before. It was so bad I was about to ask my husband to take me to the emergency room - now you have to know it was really bad if I even begin to consider that because I rarely go to doctors. I had my husband pray for me at my worse point...I fell asleep and awoke feeling fine! God healed me!

At the same time a business owner from our church attended a business meeting in Chicago, ate their catered food and after he came home was dreadfully sick.

Did this make the news? Not that I am aware of. Did I contact the restaurant? No. Why? Because they would likely not owe up to it and I am not asking for any monetary compensation, either.

Such is life. Believers are not spared from the results of carelessness.

I know this is off topic, but as I was reading the title to the thread, I said to myself, "this was started by Deadn". Sure, enough it was. You know I've been here too long when I can tell who authored a post. :-)

What made you think that I started this posting? Is there a character to my titles?

John

Now remember. my posting is about food poisoning at churches but also car accidents with church buses and van to the extend that some have been killed.

Greg, I have mulled over your comments and one of the things I wondered if if you are calling those people who got sick or injured non Christians?

As far as me doubting the Bible and God's Word. I think I believe it to an extent but as I have said in some previous postings I don't see the Power of God enough around me to cause me to reach out in more faith because sometimes nothing seems to happen. SO I tend to find myself on that balance beam at times just hanging on.

John

Church dinners - food poisonings...

Not near all of food poisonings occur at church functions. I suspect the reason these people post these alerts about church groups in your business is that if they would reveal that restaurants fed their customers tainted food they may face loss of business and revenue. And... churches will likely not sue for defamation.

Just this winter I was a victim of food poisoning...I was so dreadfully sick - never been so sick in my life. I was sick ALL over plus I hurt ALL over. It happened within 24 hours of eating at my favorite Mexican restaurant - had eaten there many times before. It was so bad I was about to ask my husband to take me to the emergency room - now you have to know it was really bad if I even begin to consider that because I rarely go to doctors. I had my husband pray for me at my worse point...I fell asleep and awoke feeling fine! God healed me!

At the same time a business owner from our church attended a business meeting in Chicago, ate their catered food and after he came home was dreadfully sick.

Did this make the news? Not that I am aware of. Did I contact the restaurant? No. Why? Because they would likely not owe up to it and I am not asking for any monetary compensation, either.

Such is life. Believers are not spared from the results of carelessness.

In my only experience of getting sick after a church dinner I came home and in 30 minutes I suddenly threw up. I didn't feel sick but suddenly it came and gone and I was fine before and after. It is one of those freak things that has always stayed with me wondering about the Power of God in such a situation. Maybe I am looking at it too hard. I don't know.

According to Greg's post it seems that true Christians should not be getting sick. This is what I am gathering but is that really true?

John

Many churches still use 9 passenger vans which are essentially deathtraps. Statistics are overwhelming that these types of vehicles are very top heavy and prone to roll but many organizations continue to use them, including churches.

It has nothing to do with God but everything to do with the laws of physics, which God created.

If you eat tainted food you get sick (God's remedy) and if you turn sharply in a 9 passenger van, you will roll.

hey john you said:As far as me doubting the Bible and God's Word. I think I believe it to an extent but as I have said in some previous postings I don't see the Power of God enough around me to cause me to reach out in more faith because sometimes nothing seems to happen. SO I tend to find myself on that balance beam at times just hanging on.--

as i read this i thought about Thomas, if you remember he was the one who doubted the others and said he would not believe. Sometimes your posts remind me a lot of Thomas. I realize you said you do struggle with faith because nothing is happening around you? after reading that i thought i would share this verse with you. remember what Jesus said to Thomas? maybe its time to stop doubting and believe. remember God does not have to prove Himself to any of us
rdg

John 20:24-29
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

hey john you said:As far as me doubting the Bible and God's Word. I think I believe it to an extent but as I have said in some previous postings I don't see the Power of God enough around me to cause me to reach out in more faith because sometimes nothing seems to happen. SO I tend to find myself on that balance beam at times just hanging on.--

as i read this i thought about Thomas, if you remember he was the one who doubted the others and said he would not believe. Sometimes your posts remind me a lot of Thomas. I realize you said you do struggle with faith because nothing is happening around you? after reading that i thought i would share this verse with you. remember what Jesus said to Thomas? maybe its time to stop doubting and believe. remember God does not have to prove Himself to any of us
rdg

John 20:24-29
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!”

Thank you for this post!

hey john i am glad the verse helped. i have struggled at times too in the past. will pray for you.

take care
rdg

I am part of a church in which we have food served after every meeting. I have never seen myself or anyone including little babies who eat with us getting sick due to the food. In smaller churches like in US each family will take turns to cook food. But here in India we brothers come early in the morning to cook for 200 people and then the meeting starts on time.

To me it is more than the prayer, god looks into the intention of the food. For us the intention is to have a time of fellowship while eating together, serve better food to the poor brothers among us. We do not collect money forcefully by passing offering bucket for the purpose of serving food. Food is served at the expense of church or individual brothers who do it with intention to serve god. Hence I believe god has blessed our fellowship lunch all the time.

I have observed that I get stressed when I continuously work with less sleep, will get stress related headache. But I never got one when I worked for church conference. We used to work 3 to 4 days with very less sleep to organise a conference. But I never even once got any problem. I attribute this to God who strengthens me to be energetic to do his work.

Remember that I posted 2 different incidents in the post. One dealing with food and prayer before food while the other one dealt with church buses and vans that get into accidents.

"But here in India we brothers come early in the morning to cook for 200 people and then the meeting starts on time. "

This is a very wonderful idea!

Americans should incorporate this into their church services ..lovely..

The bible does say sickness can happen among a body of believers because of disobedience or something like that--such as the Corinthian people were dying and getting sick because of the way in which they took the Lord's supper (1 Corinthians 11). Now it is clear in that context that the weakness, sickness, and death happening in that Church was discipline from the Lord. 11:32 says, "But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world".

But not only that, many bad things can happen to us just because of the fallen nature of the world or flesh, and it is definitely within the context of the will of God. Believing that people get sick after church dinners and because church vans get into tragic accidents because they are not true believers is EXACTLY the same thinking the pharisees had whenever bad stuff happened to people. It is exactly the same thinking that Job's "friends" had concerning his suffering. And we know that God did not agree in either situation.

We are promised eternal life, brothers and sisters, not freedom from suffering or bad things happening to us. I tell you, many Christians have died strange deaths. They do not all die peacefully or as glorious martyrs. Trophimus, Paul's companion, was left sick in Miletus. Was he an unbeliever or a bad Christian? It does not say so, and it is not safe to assume so. Unless the Holy Spirit specifically says, "Those people are sick because of their disobedience" or "Those people died in a wreck because they were only pretending to be Christians" it is NOT safe nor good practice to assume THAT is the reason, lest you malign the righteous along with the unrighteous.

*****

Edited

On the heels of the first response to this post what the same answer be the answer to this situation. Probably not true believer's or just a freak accident? Does this happen to be with a bad luck thing or do we assume there is a silent cause going on there that way may never know about such as God doing something that isn't going to be broadcast except for the disaster event that just looks bad?

Most people see this and ask how can this happen? Naturally it seems something was physically wrong with the floor. Does this have a supernatural cause and if not how would you interpret it if you were in their shoes.
How do you answer someone who wonders why situations like this happen? Is there an answer?

http://www.charismanews.com/us/42862-mississippi-church-floor-collapses-mid-service-sending-70-students-falling