Prayer or medication? - to heal any disease

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Mar 12, 2019
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#1
Is it ok to believe that Jesus will cure any disease without taking medicine.

If medication is the solution:
Do you think medication is against the belief that Jesus carried away our diseases?
Matthew 8:17: ..."He Himself took our infirmities, and carried away our diseases."

James said to pray if anyone is sick.
James 5:14: Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

If prayer is the solution:
Why did Paul suggest Timothy to take medicine (wine), instead of praying to God?
1 Timothy 5:23: No longer drink water [exclusively,] but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Why did Paul leave Trophimus sick?
2 Timothy 4:20: Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.

Tabitha died sick.
Acts 9:36-37: Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha... fell sick and died; ...
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
113
#2
Is it ok to believe that Jesus will cure any disease without taking medicine.

If medication is the solution:
Do you think medication is against the belief that Jesus carried away our diseases?
Matthew 8:17: ..."He Himself took our infirmities, and carried away our diseases."

James said to pray if anyone is sick.
James 5:14: Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

If prayer is the solution:
Why did Paul suggest Timothy to take medicine (wine), instead of praying to God?
1 Timothy 5:23: No longer drink water [exclusively,] but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Why did Paul leave Trophimus sick?
2 Timothy 4:20: Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.

Tabitha died sick.
Acts 9:36-37: Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha... fell sick and died; ...
I know of a case where medicine couldn't help but God healed the person directly. I also know God uses means to heal. I haven't had a doctor since the 1980s or medicine other than over the counter, aspirin, etc. I use a couple of remedies that God provided years ago that knock out sickness before it can take hold. But I don't test the waters in times like these. And keep my distance from people and self-isolate.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,491
13,797
113
#3
Is it ok to believe that Jesus will cure any disease without taking medicine.

If medication is the solution:
Do you think medication is against the belief that Jesus carried away our diseases?
Matthew 8:17: ..."He Himself took our infirmities, and carried away our diseases."

James said to pray if anyone is sick.
James 5:14: Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

If prayer is the solution:
Why did Paul suggest Timothy to take medicine (wine), instead of praying to God?
1 Timothy 5:23: No longer drink water [exclusively,] but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Why did Paul leave Trophimus sick?
2 Timothy 4:20: Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.

Tabitha died sick.
Acts 9:36-37: Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha... fell sick and died; ...
If you (generic, not specific) take an either/or approach, you are engaging in fallacious thinking, and not operating in wisdom. God is the source of medical knowledge as He is the designer of our bodies and knows their inner workings far better than any human doctor. At the same time, the Bible tells us that without faith we can't please God, and to ask for our needs in prayer.

I believe in a combined approach: pray about everything, seek medical help when appropriate. We are not obligated to submit to the medical treatment that may be prescribed, but knowing what is wrong isn't a bad thing.
 

KelbyofGod

Senior Member
Oct 8, 2017
1,881
721
113
#4
Thank-you Jesus for the balanced answers so far!

I recommend doing what King David did when facing each new battle. He would take it to God in prayer and do whatever the Lord told him to do.

If a person is unfamiliar with that concept, it boils down to seeking God until he either speaks to you or gives you settled peace about one option or another.

If you feel you are pressed for time, you may need to simply trust that he's heard the prayer you've had time to put to him thus far, and do the best you can, but I assume you are asking hypothetically at this point.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby