Is Medicine Biblical?

Started by Hiruko Kagetane
3efdb816df3c53b20fed57ee9b4779f0?s=128&d=mm

Hiruko Kagetane

I thought the title of this one would grab your attention. :P Anyway, I've been wondering: can we really "prolong our lives"? You hear a lot about eating healthy to "extend your lifetime", or that debilitating diseases will "cut down your lifespan", but are these Biblically accurate? Hebrews 9:27 says:

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment."

So we know that God appoints a time for us to die. There have been stories of people falling from heights, or being run over by heavy machinery, and coming out unscathed. Is it then unbiblical to believe that eating unhealthy foods will contribute to your death, or that you can help prolong your death in any way?

Discuss!

C28bde243ab1957d69d6429cdf8b5e8e?s=128&d=mm

biblebee

Well, obviously we can't prolong our life any way. Because God knows exactly when we will die and we can't change that. I don't think that we should just throw ourselves away…by to much unhealthy food, doing ridiculous things that can kill us, etc… I think we should be careful with how we eat, what we do, etc… I don't think though that we should be so consumed in doing everything just right…eating extremely healthy, etc… But I do believe that God gave us medicine and things like that for a reason and I do think that we can use it. I, for one am extremely thankful for medicine and doctors and such…my dad had to have extreme heart surgery and if we didn't have the medicine we have today he wouldn't be here still.

D7e51a6e027780a48295eb2d73bc059f?s=128&d=mm

2 Corinthians 5:17

Well, obviously we can't prolong our life any way. Because God knows exactly when we will die and we can't change that. I don't think that we should just throw ourselves away...by to much unhealthy food, doing ridiculous things that can kill us, etc... I think we should be careful with how we eat, what we do, etc... I don't think though that we should be so consumed in doing everything just right...eating extremely healthy, etc... But I do believe that God gave us medicine and things like that for a reason and I do think that we can use it. I, for one am extremely thankful for medicine and doctors and such...my dad had to have extreme heart surgery and if we didn't have the medicine we have today he wouldn't be here still.

Ditto!

8388965b5b42478a0d5d39809fbc8365?s=128&d=mm

MilesChristiSum

God created all the physical laws of the universe which dictate our health, so if we willfully violate those laws (e.g. eating junk food, smoking, drinking. etc.) what can we expect but trouble? Our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, we need to show the world that we are good stewards of what God has given us. God is still in control, whether he use natural or supernatural means, his purposes will be accomplished.

Ddd5aeff0d37e8c2aa9782a6316c57a8?s=128&d=mm

Sarah B.

Do you believe it's right to go to "doctors" or the hospital at all? The medical system is very corrupt… but I'm talking about "trusting God." If you were really sick would you got to the doctor, or trust God through it?

edit: Sorry, I'm asking this question to everyone not just MCS… :) probably should have directed it at Carissa more… jk

C28bde243ab1957d69d6429cdf8b5e8e?s=128&d=mm

biblebee

Why should you have directed it more towards me?????
In answer to your question thiugh. I think going to the docters when you are very ill is fine. But you don't have to. You're going to die one day but I don't think you should just throw your life away. God has give us amazing medicine these days and I think it is fine to use it.

E5087f5fb557e06a32d4e2602a926c07?s=128&d=mm

Margaret Eddy

There is also an element of trusting God in taking the "amazing medicine", so I don't think that taking it reflects badly on your faith in God to take care of you.

D7e51a6e027780a48295eb2d73bc059f?s=128&d=mm

2 Corinthians 5:17

I believe there is a time and place to go to the doctor and take medicine. Recently, my mother and baby brother (who she was pregnant with at the time) would have died, if they had not of had medical attention. I'm very grateful they're still with us, and for the medicine and doctors that helped her!!!

8388965b5b42478a0d5d39809fbc8365?s=128&d=mm

MilesChristiSum

I would say that we should not completely stay away from doctors etc., especially when there is a serious situation. Trust God, yes! but I think He will often provide for us through perhaps not so miraculous means, like with doctors hospitals and medicine. There is no guarantee however, that either way we will receive our desired outcome, unless it is to be wholly conformed to God's perfect will in the situation.

If we say that we are simply trusting God, and will not go to the doctor, It may be a situation, in which we are actually asking God to do something when we aren't willing to do what it takes ourselves. I think this would be sort of like this:

Matthew 4:5-7 ESV [5]Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple [6]and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” [7]Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’

We need to trust God at all times, and going to the doctor most times makes sound biblical and practical sense.

Proverbs 3:5-6 [5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
[6] In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

Even while we go to a doctor, we trust God, because He is ultimately in control, and the doctors are finite humans.

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

I like what you said about asking God to do something we aren’t willing to do ourselves. That is a very interesting thought.

Sometimes I feel we have more to trust God for when we go to the doctor then when we don’t… but then I’m talking from my perspective. It is not always that way, I have known some very good and helpful doctors and nurses myself.

5ab872cc6945ba580e254303192f0d15?s=128&d=mm

Courtney M.

YES!!! The medical system is corrupt, but that doesn't mean everything it does is bad. My little brother had RSV early last year, and if we hadn't taken him to the hospital and gotten him on the respirator, he probably wouldn't be here with us today. It does cause a big headache though. My dad is still praying they won't bother him again about the huge bills. :P :)

286888233c5dde0f582534c3ff54d7c3?s=128&d=mm

Christine Daaé (Dani the Older)

I have friends who never go to the doctor EVER! They do home remedies and trust God.

Most of the professional medical stuff nowadays is junk- they just want you to depend on the experts so that they can make money off of you. We made the mistake once of going into the hospital when my Dad stabbed his hand really bad. All they did was clean it and bandage it. It took about five minutes, yet they charged him $2000!

And most of the complicated illnesses now are our own fault or the fault of our parents and grandparents. Diabetes is rampant now, yet it was hardly known 100 years ago! Autism skyrocketed when genetically modified food was introduced.

5ab872cc6945ba580e254303192f0d15?s=128&d=mm

Courtney M.

But you wouldn't say that everything the doctors and hospitals do nowadays is junk - they save lives, and that's a noble calling! People in today's day and age depend on them a little too much, that's all.

Of course, they do charge a ridiculously high amount. Taylor was in the hospital for 17 days - just 17 days, and they charged somewhere around what our house cost, just for keeping him in the hospital! (Not medicine or anything - not doctor visits, just being there in the hospital.)

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

No that is not all. Doctors work on people's ignorance and get rich off of it! More little babie die at birth in the American Hospitals these days then anywhere else in the world.

3efdb816df3c53b20fed57ee9b4779f0?s=128&d=mm

Hiruko Kagetane

Did you, or did you not read any of the stories on this thread on how doctors have saved people? And, more people are saved by doctors in America than in any other country!

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

I'm afraid that's not true. More people are killed by the American medical system then are saved these days. It is sad! That's what really inspired me to do what I do with babies.

9a84cdcb9baaf33d3e7a7c012b3b2456?s=128&d=mm

Sir Walter (Jimmy)

Hi, lady Elusive! May I ask from what source you are getting these statistics from, and do they take into account that the U.S. has a very large population, thus making it easier to have higher numbers (that is, is percent casualties, the actual deciding factor, highest in the world)? I am just asking for clarification. :)

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

I’m sorry, that’s not true! It’s that more lives are lost in American hospitals then are in other countries.

I have read lots of books on the subject of births in the hospital. One of those was Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First. It is a book that shows a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in hospitals across the country.
Hospitals do save lives! I agree that there are things that we cannot and should not do outside of the hospital… There is a place for the hospital, but they should not control our lives. They do control people’s lives!

After this post I think I am going to step out of this conversation, just because of who I am, and my job. :)

5ab872cc6945ba580e254303192f0d15?s=128&d=mm

Courtney M.

OK, I phrased that wrong. We depend upon doctors and hospitals way too much nowadays. Sound better? :) But - that doesn't mean they don't have a place in society.

Yes, I agree with you - we shouldn't let them control our lives. People nowadays go to the doctor with every little health complaint, and that is not wise. What you were saying about the maternity part: there is a way to fix that. My seven (eight, Lord willing) younger siblings have been born at home, and my mom loves it! Plus, I love it, because I get to witness the births. :D

No, please stay! I am learning some new things here. I'm curious - what do you do with babies?

E5087f5fb557e06a32d4e2602a926c07?s=128&d=mm

Margaret Eddy

TMI! TMI! Shut the discussion down!

All ten of us were born at home to but NO BIRTH STORIES WILL EVER PASS MY LIPS. NOT EVEN MINE. Granted, I don't remember my birth…

5ab872cc6945ba580e254303192f0d15?s=128&d=mm

Courtney M.

Why not? I can remember all seven of my younger siblings births (I almost wish I was the oldest so I could remember when all of my siblings were born), and (most) of them are great memories!

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

Well, dear Stefani, your mother may not feel the results of being cut open yesterday… but that doesn’t mean it didn’t affect her. Now I’m not going to argue with you but I truly believe that your mother would have felt a lot better if she had done it naturally. God didn’t make women to be cut open. Birth is not a surgical operation like doctors would like us all to think. It’s not a disease! God made us to give birth! Woman have given birth with out doctors for hundreds of years.

93fcb35bede1ac128cb83b71e8060885?s=128&d=mm

SavedByGrace

Duh. He didn't make women to have pain in childbirth either! But it's an effect of the Curse. If she had tried to do it naturally, perhaps she could've died or gotten seriously hurt! They don't cut open for no reason, y'know.

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

Woman have given birth with out doctors for hundreds of years. Some woman do need more help… but that is not the norm. It shouldn't be!

93fcb35bede1ac128cb83b71e8060885?s=128&d=mm

SavedByGrace

Yes, and many of them have died. It isn't the norm, true, and it shouldn't happen as much as it does, granted, but it sometimes–even often–is necessary.

5ab872cc6945ba580e254303192f0d15?s=128&d=mm

Courtney M.

I agree with Sarah. C-sections are not the normal way to give birth. Hospitals aren't either, for that matter. They did have midwives though (Exodus 1).

Then again, Nicolas has it right that there will always be cases where C-sections are necessary, and then we should be thankful for technology and that we know enough to be able to do stuff like that safely.

C28bde243ab1957d69d6429cdf8b5e8e?s=128&d=mm

biblebee

Though I think it would be best for women to give birth naturally I also think that c-sectins are very helpful.

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

What do you mean by helpful? If you knew how the cut of a C-section destroys the muscular construction God created, you might not think that way. It takes a woman a lot longer to recover from being cut open, then opening naturally the way God designed, obviously!

3efdb816df3c53b20fed57ee9b4779f0?s=128&d=mm

Hiruko Kagetane

Woman have given birth with out doctors for hundreds of years.

Prove this. Please. Because, of all that I've known, that's untrue. There were even midwives in ancient Egypt, as evidenced by the Book of Exodus.

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

Midwifes do not perform major surgery, nor are they required to. They are present at births to give advice and help. They know about womanly functions so that they can perform the minimal amount of assistance as it is needed, and recognize problems as they arise. This is the kind of midwifes that are talked about in Exodus. Do you have evidence otherwise?
I'm not recalling off hand when it was that birth became a part of a doctor's profession, I will look that up and get back to you on that subject.

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

I'm certainly thankful--my mom now needs C-sections to give birth properly, and I'm glad she can. :)

I’m out of this conversation now. This is not Theology. After all when it comes to birth everyone should have there own choice, and I am in no way trying to prevent a woman who decides she is safer in the hospital to do what she believes is right. ^but that doesn’t mean I necessarily agree.^

Sam I will give you an answer to your question on my IY page if you are still interested. .

9a84cdcb9baaf33d3e7a7c012b3b2456?s=128&d=mm

Sir Walter (Jimmy)

@Carissa and Lady Elusive: I would agree with your statements overall. It is generally better to give birth naturally. However, I would also like to point out that (to my knowledge) very very few women would choose a c-section over normal birth if the chances for the baby's health were equal. I would venture to say that all women would prefer to not have surgery, but they have c-sections solely for safety reasons. Just a thought. :)

3efdb816df3c53b20fed57ee9b4779f0?s=128&d=mm

Hiruko Kagetane

@Carissa and Lady Elusive: I would agree with your statements overall. It is generally better to give birth naturally. However, I would also like to point out that (to my knowledge) very very few women would choose a c-section over normal birth if the chances for the baby's health were equal. I would venture to say that all women would prefer to not have surgery, but they have c-sections solely for safety reasons. Just a thought. :)

I agree. Also, C-Sections can also be for the mother's health as well.

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

C-sections can be a life saver to some women and children, but for the most part (in a normal setting) a c-section is more dangers. Like I was saying more babies die in the US Hospitals then they do over in other countries where the hospitals encourage natural births.

5ab872cc6945ba580e254303192f0d15?s=128&d=mm

Courtney M.

We're not disagreeing with you that C-sections are not the best way! Nevertheless, they are helpful. What if a woman was injured during a natural birth? She would need immediate assistance, and that could be a C-section. Then afterwards, should she not have any more children because she couldn't have a natural birth? A C-section is more dangerous, but useful in it's place.

266cde1033d31d718cd424406e1da504?s=128&d=mm

Rebeka B.

We're not disagreeing with you that C-sections are not the best way! *Nevertheless*, they are helpful. What if a woman was injured during a natural birth? She would need immediate assistance, and that could be a C-section. Then afterwards, should she not have any more children because she couldn't have a natural birth? A C-section is more dangerous, but useful in it's place.

I agree completely with what you just said!

9a84cdcb9baaf33d3e7a7c012b3b2456?s=128&d=mm

Sir Walter (Jimmy)

Again, I agree. I was just trying to make sure that you were not saying that women purposefully (and, in your view, wrongfully) choose C-sections over natural births if they have a choice without real up-front health risks. Sorry if that sounded confusing. :)

Ec6e71cb0a7e37acc5ff473bfd26bff2?s=128&d=mm

Nathan Wright: Impersonator Hunter

What kind of medicines are we talking about here?

If we have taken the things God has made and, through our study and knowledge, made treatments out of them, then it is absolutely Biblical. And furthermore, if medicine is the only way to keep someone from dying, it would be sinful not to give it to them; and it would be sinful on their part to refuse to take it, because that would be suicide. Don't believe me? Check out this verse:
+Proverbs 24:11-12:+ If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

However, certainly not all treatments are Biblical.
There is a story by Edgar Allan Poe in which someone hypnotized a dying man, thinking that the trance would keep him alive. I don't think that kind of stuff is appropriate.
(In the story, what happened is: the man did die, but the trance kept the soul in the body, preserving it. Because of the trance, when the body was asked what condition it was in, it replied that it was dead. Seven months later, the hypnotist took the body out of the trance and it rotted away in less than a minute. I would think this is possible if I thought God would allow it.)

Trans