THOUGH this is rarely reported, some young and old HIV patients are giving up their medicine after being told by some shady Pentecostal Church pastors to rely on faith in God instead. Unfortunately, many have lost their lives by following this misguided path.
I have personally lost a friend who was ill-advised by their pastor to stop taking their ARVs.
I really feel sorry for these victims. And it’s easy to think they should have known better, but religion and religious leaders can have powerful control over people, especially when they’re desperate. It’s clear these churches are taking advantage of that desperation.
If indeed there is a conflict between divine healing and medicine then why is it that some people, despite the apparent exercise of faith, do not get healed?
I know someone will say they didn't truly believe. Well, if that is the case then some of the prophets wouldn't have performed some of the miracles recorded in The Holy Book.
Take for instance the story of Elisha and the Shunammite Woman. In 2 Kings 4: 16-17 The Bible reads, "And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life." (KJV).
My question is, how was this Shunammite woman able to conceive though she did not believe in what Elisha prophesied to her?
I can also cite the story of Jesus' friend, Lazarous. Lazarous' sisters, Mary and Martha, made no secret of the fact that they did not believe their brother who had been dead for four days could be brought to life by Jesus. It is actually their unbelief that made Christ weep as recorded in John 11:35.
Lazarous was dead and since the dead know nothing as Ecclesiastes 9:5 confirms, his faith did not count in this instance, yet our Lord was able to resurrect him.
When Christ met a widow at Nain on her way to bury her only son, He never asked her whether she believed in Him or in resurrection. For all we know, this woman could have been a non-believer yet Christ had compassion on her and brought her son back to life.
The point I'm trying to make here is that, if faith is a prerequisite or rather precondition for one to receive a miracle or get healed, then Christ would not have healed the demoniac of Gadarene who we read in Luke.8:26-39 was healed without asking before he was capable of expressing his faith.
When Peter cut of the ear of Malchus as recorded in Luke 2:50-51 and John 18:10 , Jesus healed him without any faith present.
Of the 35 miracles recorded in the Gospel accounts the faith of the recipient is exercise in only 10 of the accounts.
It's my view that it's very wrong for faith leaders to actively encourage their congregations to stop taking their medication.
Moreover, if medicine was in conflict with divine healing the Apostle Paul’s medical advice to his disciple Timothy, “use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments,” would not have found its way in The Bible.
I strongly feel there should be legal repercussions for people who advise a course of action that leads to harm.
Anyone who recommends and encourages a harmful course of behaviour for a sick person should be held responsible for the outcome of their actions. Particularly if the person making this sort of recommendation wears a mantel of social authority.
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