In Theory: Is belief in divine healing a benefit or a detriment?

People who believe in divine healing are less likely to seek treatment or preventative measures, according to a study at the University of Michigan.

And those people who put too much control of their health in divine hands “reported worse health outcomes,” the Washington Post reports.

Faith can help ease anxiety and suffering, especially for those who are dying, researchers said. However, until that time, the study suggests it’s better for religious people to “work together with God by doing their best to find the correct treatment for illnesses and living a healthy life.”

Q. Do you think faith and belief in divine healing is more beneficial or a detriment to a person’s well-being? The study suggests that one course of action would be to have religious leaders emphasize that faith should not “detract from the importance of engaging in positive health behaviors.” What do you suggest?

It’s my opinion that faith and belief in divine healing are tremendously beneficial to a person’s well-being, provided that two things are true of that person.

First, one’s belief must be based on truth. Jesus Christ said “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32). In prayer to the Father, Jesus said, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). One’s beliefs must match exactly what the Bible promises, and must not rely upon anything the Bible does not promise. Belief in falsehood or fantasy will always, and only, disappoint, possibly with deadly consequences.

Second, we must not expect God to do things that He has made to be our responsibility. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). So the person who refuses to ask, seek and knock should not expect to be given to, to find and or to have the way opened to him. We must use every prayerful and practical method available to treat our health problems. God invented common sense and He expects us to use it. It is not anti-faith to work hard and to do everything in our power to solve our problems. In fact, it is the very heart of faith to take positive action even in the face of impossible odds. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” says James 1:17, and that includes medicine and medical professionals.

Pastor Jon Barta
Burbank

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I think that our mental state has a powerful effect upon our health, whether or not one believes in the supernatural. In fact my spouse often accuses me, an atheist, of regarding illness as a spiritual and/or moral flaw that one could, and should, overcome merely by deciding to have a better attitude.

Experience has shown me that positive thinking, exercise and a reasonable diet promote good health. My upbringing exerts its influence as well, namely the frequent reminder by our parents that the Lord helps those who help themselves. My idea of a deity is the biology which rules the universe, and we have to help it along with healthy choices.

I have no problem with adults turning over responsibility for their health to a divine force — that is their prerogative — however I draw the line at withholding any necessary medical care from children or others who depend on us. For them we must make rational and attentive decisions.

Roberta Medford
Atheist
Montrose

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The Bible speaks of God as our healer, and in His incarnation, He walked about healing people miraculously, which is why Jesus is called the “Great Physician.” He did not heal everyone, though he healed many. In our time, we know that God has not changed, and He is still able to heal, and by numerous testimonies has done just that. However, nowhere in Scripture does it guarantee healing to anyone. God has set in motion a natural world that mitigates most of our ills, and we can say that He has even divinely given us physicians for our good thriving on this material earth. The Apostle Paul referred to the third Gospel writer, as “Luke, the beloved doctor” (Col 4:14) because he was apparently a medical professional even in the time of Christ.

It’s funny how some will call a mechanic to fix their car, but when their biological inner workings fail, they fear calling the hospital because somehow it’ll reveal their lack of faith. It’s no wonder, as the most “politically” promoted bible teachers on TV promulgate a semi-cultic theology referred to as Word-Faith, Prosperity, or colloquially, “Health and Wealth.” The point of this aberrant teaching is that God is good, illness and poverty are bad, so if we were only spiritually faithful enough to agree about this with Him, we would all be supernaturally “healthy, wealthy, and wise.” It gets really ugly when adherents encounter people with physical limitations or terminal illnesses, because they can only explain it as being an individual’s own fault for lack of faith in God. It’s terrible! And of course there are plenty of non-Christian cults that center their entire existence on similar thinking.

I do tire of placators granting a nice placebo effect of hopeful prayers benefiting those who say them, but it may be that focusing on God does help those who are ailing, and if they are miraculously healed, it was for some unnatural reason known only to God in that particular circumstance. Only God knows when to circumvent Mother Nature, yet insisting that He will heal in every circumstance is as risky as jumping off a cliff and believing He will catch you because He is good and loving, and falling to your death is bad. Please don’t challenge Him on this; He’ll lovingly greet you immediately at Heaven’s gate if you do.

Our bodies are our responsibility on this earth for as long as we have them, and every one of them ultimately wears out. Absolutely no “divine healing” spares anyone from their appointed death. So pray as though it all depends on God, act as though it all depends on you, and somewhere in the middle you will find a modicum of wellness in this fallen world until the day you finally pass through to the place where “pain will be no more” (Rev. 21:4).

Rev. Bryan A. Griem
Tujunga