'If you don't believe God can heal you, then maybe you do need medical help'

[whobuilttheark]

Hiya, this was said to me on Sunday by someone who I love and respect at my church. It is a view held by the senior members/elders and it was in relation to my ongoing depression/PTSD. I have had therapy before in the past and although it helped I wouldn't say it was healing.

I'm struggling to make the decision to go back to where I had therapy for outpatients or keep going trusting God that he will heal me as having children etc has brought stuff up again. I'm lost and need some objective Christian perspective! Please..?

[Mabelface]

Okay, I'm a non Christian, but I do believe that the remark from the members was a little unkind as depression is a physical illness. You can keep your faith and also use modern medicine, as God is the one who created the ability for man to heal themselves, yes? Use your faith as support, but also use the medical help available for you.

I wish you well.

[AMumInScotland]

I believe that God has helped and encouraged the development of medicine, and that He can lead us to allow others to help us in different ways both within the church and outside of it. I could say I believe that God will not let me starve, but I still go to work to earn money to buy food. Please don't let daft people within the church (and I'm sorry but there are plenty of them as well as the sensible ones) stop you from going to people who can help you with your illness.

By all means pray to God for help and strength, and go to your elders etc for support. But also go to doctors and therapists, and let tem help you in their way too.

[whobuilttheark]

Thanks Madlizzy, no idea why I put Christian perspective! I think you've written what my head is saying. I just don't want them to think my faith is weak etc which I felt was being implied at the weekend. I think I care too much about what they think I generally think too much- therapy done!

[Mabelface]

That implication was unkind. Go and get the help you need. :) Sod the miserable old bugger who was making you doubt yourself.

[whobuilttheark]

You too AMumInScotland! I think I would be feeling a better if I had contacted my old therapist (NHS) a few months ago! I'm feeling a bit more confident about my decision now, although I feel i'm risking alot

[MaryBS]

That comment from that person is sheer poison and has no place in Christian thinking. Personally I believe that God expects us to use medicine and treatments for healing. He will also sometimes do the healing directly. And sometimes, when the reason is not completely obvious, no immediate healing takes place. In all cases, I believe (and its not always easy to) that God has our best interests at heart, and we need to trust in Him.

[Mabelface]

You're not risking your faith, you're putting your faith in the services that God has guided man to facilitate.

[mariamagdalena]

In Jesus' lifetime, physical and psychological illnesses were not distinguished as your elders are doing now. So the bleeding woman, the lepers, the paralysed man, the deaf and dumb person, the epileptic, the people with inner demons were all subject to the same miraculous cure. I don't know if seeking medical help would lead this elder to query the faith of modern day people with these ailments, or if he's artificially trying to separate the mind from the body and only disapproves of psychiatry. Or if he actually meant to be more helpful, something along the lines of, you might need medical help if you believe this isn't a case for a spiritual healing, or be careful that a non-Christian counsellor is aware of and supportive of your faith.

Luke was a physician. As were many of the early Christian saints and martyrs. Not to speak of all the missionary Christian nurses and doctors past and present, the hospice founders and all the healthcare workers who are inspired by their faith. Surely it's possible to believe that ordinary medical cures and miraculous spiritual healings can co-exist. And even that we might well be in need of both, or perhaps neither at this point in time.

[madhairday]

I think it's brilliant that we have wonderful doctors and medical treatment. Depression is a debilitating physical illness and there are doctors who are able to help. I don't think seeking medical help in any way precludes believing in a God of healing. We can both believe in a God who heals and know that God doesn't always, or even often, heal. We don't know why, but we do know that God loves us and holds us in the illness and also gives us intelligence to consult doctors.

Do contact your therapist, and do keep seeking Gods comfort and peace within it. I have a chronic condition and have been prayed for for healing countless times, and had some supremely unhelpful comments such as the one you have recieved. But I have never known God let me down, despite it, and have found a peace in the midst of illness I never thought I would.

All the best :)

[colditz]

If you believe that a god created all, then a god created the doctors to heal you.

[hiddenhome]

Christian monks set up the first hospitals and used herbs to help heal their patients

God exists in my heart as I go to work as a nurse caring for the elderly people.

There's nothing wrong with medical help God is everywhere helping in many different ways.

The person at your church sounds ignorant tbh.