Thursday, January 25, 2007

God vs. Drugs

I have a sinus infection. I have missed three days of work over the last week because of it (which isn't normal for me by any stretch). I returned today and found that there were some projects I needed to catch up on. I emailed someone back and apologized for my delay in getting stuff to print and all that, and explained that I had been feeling under the weather. She responded with "may God heal you soon".

My first response was "thanks", but it just didn't feel right. Thinking through it, I began to think through what it is I trust in to heal me. Quite frankly, I know and trust without a shadow of a doubt that God is a healer. Not a priest/shaman/druid in WoW, but a real life healer. I truly believe that he is more than able to heal anyone of anything - including death. Scripture backs that up, and it is a huge part of his ministry.

With my particular condition however, I don't feel that I am "relying" on God to supernaturally heal me. I am relying on the medicine that the doctor prescribed. Even in writing this my perspective has shifted a bit from its original intent. I hate when people make things overly spiritual, and beyond distaste for it, I think its problematic. If a parking spot opens up in front, it isn't a sign from God that you should be at the mall. It's a sign that someone is leaving the mall, thus creating an open parking spot.

I guess more than anything, it raised a question in my mind. If, for example, we are taking medicine, should we still pray for healing? Is it OK to "depend" on medicine? Don't get me wrong here, I'm not trying to get all Christian Scientist on ya, I'm just curious as to wear the healthy balance is. Thoughts?

4 comments:

Justin said...

Man, this question haunts me - has for awhile. Superstition vs. sign from God. I don't know. Lets have lunch again, and this can be the subject.

Ryan said...

I'm with Justin. This is something I've thought about as well.

Matt said...

Ya, Ian and I were having an IM conversation about it too. I'd love to have it be a talking point sometime.

Poster said...

Let me tell you fatty -- this question of parking lots and prescription drugs has haunted me as well. It haunts me to no end wondering if God will cure me of my hangover tomorrow morning...