One of the best known churches in CA, who teaches the WOF doctrine is a hotbed of lies and deception. The 'Pastor's' wife died of cancer even though the husband believed she could be healed because everyone said so. And still people do not seem to
see the lies and hypocrisy when God demonstrates He is not at their command.
God always has the last word. I'm very sorry about your family members. I personally know of someone who would not take any meds or treatment, was in hospital because of advanced cancer...had 3 children and her husband was a co-pastor...and she passed away and her husband had remarried within a yr and good for him. I am sure he would have much rather she had got herself treatment.
At times, I have posed this question to those who are hard-line believers in
WOF. "If you had been bitten by a dog who had
symptomatic rabies, would you
refuse treatment on the basis that you have been healed
by faith - or would they take the vaccine?
I do not do this very often because I do not want to harden their hearts about it since, after all, rabies is universally known to be
incurable as well as an utterly
horrible way to die. I would likely advise them to go ahead and take the vaccine
as a precautionary measure. This shows the dangers of dogmatically holding to WOF.
Issues relating to what is called Serious Mental Illness are also sometimes difficult to address because of the stigma associated with it and the fact that some
fellow evangelicals believe mental illness is entirely due to
demons. I have actually encountered people who had demons but, while it can RESEMBLE mental illness the demon always gives evidence of being a sentient being. As a Christian Counselor I have to
discern the difference between people with
damaged souls and those who are
inhabited by demons. To tell you the truth, of these two possibilities, dealing with demons is easier.
By experience, I know that Christians can have
mental illness since the brain is a
physical organ which can malfunction just as any other physical organ can. When the brain's emotional/intellectual centers are malfunctioning, our inner spirit is taken for a stormy ride. However, I have learned (also by experience) how to ride out such storms of the soul while
simultaneously feeling the presence and peace of the Holy Spirit. It is like the disciples being tossed about in a storm until Jesus who is in the boat with them says "fear not"