I thought you would be interested in this story I found
on news.msn.com:
Measles cases put Texas megachurch under scrutiny.
Did Eagle Mountain
International Church have a culture in which getting vaccinated was seen as a
sign of doubt in God?
Jamie Stengle of Associated Press
NEWARK, Texas — The teachings of television evangelist
Kenneth Copeland and his family focusing on the virtues of trusting God to keep
healthy are under scrutiny after a cluster of measles cases linked to his
family's North Texas megachurch revealed many congregants hadn't been
vaccinated against the highly contagious disease.
Kenneth Copeland Ministries has won supporters worldwide
through television programs, crusades, conferences and prayer request networks.
He was a pioneer of the prosperity gospel, which holds that believers are
destined to flourish spiritually, physically and financially.
Although church officials were quick to act after the
outbreak — including hosting clinics in August at which 220 people received
immunization shots — and have denied they are against medical care or
vaccinations, people familiar with the ministry say there is a pervasive
culture that says believers should rely on God, not modern medicine, to keep
them well.
"To get a vaccine would have been viewed by me and my
friends and my peers as an act of fear — that you doubted God would keep you
safe, you doubted God would keep you healthy. We simply didn't do it,"
former church member Amy Arden said.
Health officials say 21 people were sickened with the measles after a person who
contracted the virus overseas visited the 1,500-member Eagle Mountain
International Church located on the grounds of Kenneth Copeland Ministries in
Newark, about 20 miles north of Fort Worth.
Of the 21 people who contracted measles linked to the
church, 16 were unvaccinated. The others may have had at least one vaccination,
but had no documentation.
Symptoms of the measles, which is spread by coughing,
sneezing and close personal contact with infected people, include a fever,
cough and rash. Those infected are contagious from about four days before
breaking out into the rash to four days after.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends that children get two doses of the combined vaccine for measles,
mumps and rubella, called the MMR. The first dose should be given when the
child is 12 to 15 months old and the second at 4 to 6 years old.
During a broadcast in August 2010, Copeland expressed shock
at the number of vaccinations recommended for his great-grandchild.
"I got to looking into that and some of it is criminal.
... You're not putting — what is it, Hepatitis B? — in an infant! That's crazy.
That is a shot for a sexually transmitted disease. What? In a baby?" he
said. "You don't take the word of the guy that's trying to give the shot
about what's good and what isn't. You better go read the can or read the thing
— find out what's going on there and get the information on there, because I'm
telling you, it's very dangerous the things that are happening around us all
the time."
His wife, Gloria, bragged during a conference that she and
her husband don't need prescription drugs, adding that the Lord heals all
diseases.
Robert Hayes, risk manager for the ministries, denied that
the church's teachings ever have advised against immunizations and noted the
facility includes a medical clinic staffed with a physician.
Ole Anthony, president of the Dallas-based religious
watchdog group Trinity Foundation, said that although there might not be specific
guidance on topics such as vaccinations, the views of the leadership are clear.
"The whole atmosphere is to encourage them to have
faith, and it's no faith if they go to the doctor — that's the bottom
line," Anthony said.
In a sermon posted online after the outbreak, Copeland's
daughter, Terri Pearsons, who is a senior pastor at Eagle Mountain along with
her husband, encouraged those who hadn't been vaccinated to have it done, but
added that if "you've got this covered in your household by faith and it
crosses your heart of faith, then don't go do it."
In a statement denying that she opposes vaccinations, she
added the concerns they had had were "primarily with very young children
who have a family history of autism and with bundling too many immunizations at
one time."
A fear of the MMR vaccine can be traced to a now-discredited
paper published in 1998 by British researcher Andrew Wakefield and colleagues
that suggested a link between autism and the combined childhood vaccine for
MMR. Repeated studies since have shown no connection, the paper eventually was
rejected by the journal that published it and Britain's top medical board
stripped Wakefield of the right to practice medicine.
"We do know how to effectively prevent measles. We do
know that, and so a choice not to do that, to put a child at risk, is just an
unsupportable, an unconscionable choice. And in addition, you put others at
risk," said Dr. Paul Offit, chief of infectious diseases at the Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia.
Arden, who attended church at Eagle Mountain from 1997 to
2003 and worked at the ministries for three years, said the distrust of
vaccines was so pervasive that her daughter, who as an 11-month-old was up to
date on her immunizations when they joined the church, didn't get any others
until they left.
"We were terrified to have any sort of fear. And
anything that wasn't faith in God was fear," said Arden, 35, who now lives
in New York City.
Kristy Beach, 41, said that because of the ministry's
teachings, her mother, Bonnie Parker, refused to see a doctor, even as her
cancer advanced rapidly. After Parker died in 2004 at age 59, Beach found her
mother's diaries, which detailed the words of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland she'd
heard on television in her home in Winnsboro, La.
"If she went to a doctor, it was a sin," Beach
said. "You didn't believe enough if you did. She just wrote: 'God heal me.
God heal me. God heal me.'"
Consider the Biblical Reality: All quotations taken from the Common
English Bible (CEB)
Genesis 20:17—Abraham prayed to God; and God restored
Abimelech, his wife, and his women servants to health, and they were able to
have children.
Genesis 50:2—Joseph then ordered the physicians in his
service to embalm his father, and the physicians embalmed Israel.
Exodus 21:19—if he recovers and is able to walk around
outside with a cane, then the one who hit him shouldn’t be punished, except to
pay for the loss of time from work and to pay for his full recovery.
Leviticus 13:37—But if the priest sees that the scabies has
remained the same, and black hair has grown in it, the scabies has healed. The
person is clean, and the priest will declare them to be so.
Leviticus 14:3-5 & 48—he will go outside the camp. If
the priest sees that the person afflicted with skin disease has been healed of
the infection, 4 the priest will order that two birds—wild and clean—and
cedarwood, crimson yarn, and hyssop be brought for the person who needs
purification. 5 The priest will order that one bird be slaughtered over fresh
water in a pottery jar. 48 But if the priest arrives and finds that the
infection has not spread after the house was replastered, the priest will
declare the house clean because the infection has been healed.
Numbers 12:10-13—When the cloud went away from over the
tent, Miriam suddenly developed a skin disease flaky like snow. Aaron turned
toward Miriam and saw her skin disease. 11 Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my
master, please don’t punish us for the sin that we foolishly committed. 12
Please don’t let her be like the stillborn, whose flesh is half eaten as it
comes out of the mother’s womb.” 13 So Moses cried to the Lord, “God, please
heal her!”
Deuteronomy 28:22, 27-29 & 35—The Lord will strike you
with consumption, fever, and inflammation; with scorching heat and drought; with
destruction and disease for your crops. These things will chase you until you
are dead and gone. 27 The Lord will afflict you with Egyptian inflammation,
hemorrhoids, rash, and itch. You will be untreatable. 28 The Lord will make you
go crazy, make you blind, make your mind confused. 29 You will fumble around at
high noon as blind people fumble around in darkness. Your plans won’t prosper.
Instead, you will be constantly oppressed and taken advantage of without any
savior. 35 The Lord will strike you with horrible inflammation in your knees
and legs, from the sole of your foot to the top of your head. You will be
untreatable.
Deuteronomy 32:39—Now, look here: I myself, I’m the one;
there are no other gods with me. I’m the one who deals death and gives life;
I’m the one who wounded, but now I will heal. There’s no escaping my hand.
2 Kings 2:20-22—He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put some
salt in it.” They did so. 21 Elisha then went out and threw salt into the
spring. He said, “This is what the Lord has said: I have purified this water.
It will no longer cause death and miscarriage.” 22 The water has stayed pure
right up to this very day, in agreement with the word that Elisha spoke.
2 Kings 20:5-8—Turn around. Say to Hezekiah, my people’s
leader: This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have
heard your prayer and have seen your tears. So now I’m going to heal you. Three
days from now you will be able to go up to the Lord’s temple. 6 I will add fifteen
years to your life. I will rescue you and this city from the power of the
Assyian king. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my
servant David. 7 Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a bandage made of figs.” They did
so and put it on the swelling, at which point Hezekiah started getting better.
8 Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that the Lord will heal me and
that I’ll be able to go up to the Lord’s temple in three days?”
2 Chronicles 7:14—if my people who belong to me will humbly
pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 16:12—In the thirty-ninth year of his rule, Asa
developed a severe foot disease. But even in his illness he refused to seek the
Lord and consulted doctors instead.
Job 5:18—He injures, but he binds up; he strikes, but his
hands heal.
Psalm 30:2—Lord, my God, I cried out to you for help, and
you healed me.
Psalm 103:3—how God forgives all your sins, heals all your
sickness,
Psalm 107:19-20—So they cried out to the Lord in their
distress, and God saved them from their desperate circumstances. 20 God gave
the order and healed them; he rescued them from their pit.
Psalm 119:71—My suffering was good for me, because through
it I learned your statutes.
Proverbs 16:24—Pleasant words are flowing honey, sweet to
the taste and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 17:22—A joyful heart helps healing, but a broken
spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 23:29—Who is suffering? Who is uneasy? Who has arguments?
Who has complaints? Who has unnecessary wounds? Who has glazed eyes?—
Isaiah 1:6—From head to toe, none are well—only bruises,
cuts, and raw wounds, not treated, not bandaged, not soothed with oil.
Isaiah 30:26—The light of the moon will be like the light of
the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter—like the light
of seven days—on the day that the Lord bandages the people’s brokenness and
heals the wounds inflicted by his blows.
Isaiah 38:21—Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a salve made from
figs, put it on the swelling, and he’ll get better.”
Isaiah 53:5—He was pierced because of our rebellions and
crushed because of our crimes. He bore the punishment that made us whole; by
his wounds we are healed.
Jeremiah 3:22—Return, rebellious children, and I will heal
your rebellion. “Here we are; we come to you, for you are the Lord our God.
Jeremiah 8:22—Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no
physician there? Why then have my people not been restored to health?
Jeremiah 15:18—Why am I always in pain? Why is my wound
incurable, so far beyond healing? You have become for me as unreliable as a
spring gone dry!
Jeremiah 30:13 & 17—No one comes to your aid; no one
attends to your wound; your disease is incurable. 17 I will restore your
health, and I will heal your wounds, declares the Lord, because you were
labeled an outcast, “Zion, the lost cause.”
Jeremiah 46:11—Go up to Gilead and seek balm, virgin
Daughter Egypt. You search out remedies in vain, for your disease is incurable.
Jeremiah 51:8—But suddenly Babylon fell and shattered into
pieces. Wail for her! Bring medicine for her pain; perhaps she will recover.
Ezekiel 34:4—You don’t strengthen the weak, heal the sick,
bind up the injured, bring back the strays, or seek out the lost; but instead
you use force to rule them with injustice.
Ezekiel 47:12—but on both banks of the river will grow up
all kinds of fruit-bearing trees. Their leaves won’t wither, and their
fruitfulness won’t wane. They will produce fruit in every month, because their
water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for eating, their leaves
for healing.”
Hosea 6:1—“Come, let’s return to the Lord; for it is he who
has injured us and will heal us; he has struck us down, but he will bind us up.
Hosea 14:4—I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them
freely, for my anger has turned from them.
Matthew 4:23—Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in
their synagogues. He announced the good news of the kingdom and healed every
disease and sickness among the people.
Matthew 9:12—When Jesus heard it, he said, “Healthy people
don’t need a doctor, but sick people do.
Matthew 10:1 & 8—He called his twelve disciples and gave
them authority over unclean spirits to throw them out and to heal every disease
and every sickness. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin
diseases, and throw out demons. You received without having to pay. Therefore,
give without demanding payment.
Matthew 13:58—He was unable to do many miracles there
because of their disbelief.
Mark 5:24-29—So Jesus went with him. A swarm of people were
following Jesus, crowding in on him. 25 A woman was there who had been bleeding
for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a lot under the care of many doctors, and
had spent everything she had without getting any better. In fact, she had
gotten worse. 27 Because she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in
the crowd and touched his clothes. 28 She was thinking, If I can just touch his
clothes, I’ll be healed. 29 Her bleeding stopped immediately, and she sensed in
her body that her illness had been healed.
Luke 4:18—The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the
Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to
proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to
liberate the oppressed,
Luke 10:9 & 34—Heal the sick who are there, and say to
them, ‘God’s kingdom has come upon you.’ 34
The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil
and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn,
and took care of him.
Luke 13:12-13—When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and
said, “Woman, you are set free from your sickness.” 13 He placed his hands on
her and she straightened up at once and praised God.
John 4:47—When he heard that Jesus was coming from Judea to
Galilee, he went out to meet him and asked Jesus if he would come and heal his
son, for his son was about to die.
Acts 4:16—“What should we do with these men? Everyone living
in Jerusalem is aware of the sign performed through them. It’s obvious to
everyone and we can’t deny it.
1 Corinthians 12:9—faith to still another by the same
Spirit, gifts of healing to another in the one Spirit,
2 Corinthians 12:9—He said to me, “My grace is enough for
you, because power is made perfect in weakness.” So I’ll gladly spend my time
bragging about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power can rest on me.
1 Timothy 5:23—Don’t drink water anymore, but use a little
wine because of your stomach problems and your frequent illnesses.
Hebrews 11:1—Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the
proof of what we don’t see.
James 5:14-16—If any of you are sick, they should call for
the elders of the church, and the elders should pray over them, anointing them
with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Prayer that comes from faith will heal the
sick, for the Lord will restore them to health. And if they have sinned, they
will be forgiven. 16 For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray
for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is
powerful in what it can achieve.
1 Peter 2:24—He carried in his own body on the cross the
sins we committed. He did this so that we might live in righteousness, having
nothing to do with sin. By his wounds you were healed.
3 John 1:2—Dear friend, I’m praying that all is well with
you and that you enjoy good health in the same way that you prosper
spiritually.
Revelation 22:2—through the
middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river is the tree of
life, which produces twelve crops of fruit, bearing its fruit each month. The tree’s
leaves are for the healing of the nations.
In Summary:
It is evident from the above Bible texts that both
"faith healings" and "medical intervention" are permissible
either separately or concurrently. There is no objection by God within Old and
New Testament teachings to a sick person seeking medical assistance, inclusive
of the application of herbs, oils, balms and ointments as remedies and
treatments for various forms of illnesses. What is most noticeable from the
aforementioned texts is God’s desire to develop a relationship with humanity
based on faith and mutual love. Whether one expresses faith in God for
miraculous healing or faith in the efficacy of medical intervention or both,
there can be no denying, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for…"
(Heb. 11:1).
Medical science is truly that, 'science', that is, the
systematic organization and application of testable knowledge, which can lead
to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Thus, where medical
science has a solution such should be welcomed, since one would not need to
seek a miracle where a solution is already provided. Conversely, where no
medical solution is found the miraculous may prove most effective.
Alternatively, some cases may be afforded neither a medical nor a miraculous
solution and the immediate reasons offered by both scientific and religious
councils may prove lacking. Notwithstanding the seeming hopelessness of the
case, a greater outcome beyond physical healing may have more beneficial and
far-reaching results. For example, the strengthening of relationships between
family and friends may be an unexpected but welcomed outcome. In addition, the
sick person may experience an inward transformation of the mind with renewed or
newfound faith in God, life’s possibilities, the discovery of good in
everything and or the cultivation of inner peace. This being the best-case
scenario in the absence of healing.
As Shakespeare, through the priestly role of Duke Senior,
sermonized in his epic pastoral play, As
You Like It,
Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile,Hath not old custom made this life more sweetThan that of painted pomp? Are not these woodsMore free from peril than the envious court?Here feel we not the penalty of Adam,The seasons’ difference, as the icy fangAnd churlish chiding of the winter’s wind,Which when it bites and blows upon my bodyEven till I shrink with cold, I smile, and say’This is no flattery. These are counsellorsThat feelingly persuade me what I am.’Sweet are the uses of adversityWhich, like the toad, ugly and venomous,Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;And this our life, exempt from public haunt,Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,Sermons in stones, and good in everything.(II.i.1–17)
As an Elizabethan Christian, the playwright no doubt learned
his craft from his intimate knowledge of the long established biblical moorings
of his sociocultural setting. Thus, his writing reflects his agreement with
certain biblical truths pertaining to the potential benefits of sickness. Consider,
Job 33:19-24—Or a person may be disciplined by pain while in
bed, bones ever aching 20 until a person loathes food, an appetite rejects a
delicacy; 21 the flesh wastes away, no longer visible; the bones, once hidden,
protrude. 22 A life approaches the pit; its very being draws near the death
dealers. 23 Surely there’s a messenger for this person, a mediator, one out of
a thousand to declare one’s integrity to another 24 so that God has compassion
on that person and says, “Rescue this one from going down to the pit; I have
found a ransom.”
Psalm 30:5—His anger lasts for only a second, but his favor
lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay all night, but by morning, joy!
The 19th century Victorian 'Apostle', poet Alfred Lord
Tennyson concurs with the Psalmist, noting in his pastoral elegy "In
Memoriam": "the dark night of the soul’s despair will eventually give
way to the glorious morn of hope, prosperity and liberty."
Psalm 35:13—But when they were sick, I wore clothes for
grieving, and I kept a strict fast. When my prayer came back unanswered,
Psalm 41:3—The Lord will strengthen them when they are lying
in bed, sick. You will completely transform the place where they lie ill.
Psalm 107:17-21—Some of the redeemed were fools because of
their sinful ways. They suffered because of their wickedness. 18 They had
absolutely no appetite for food; they had arrived at death’s gates. 19 So they
cried out to the Lord in their distress, and God saved them from their
desperate circumstances. 20 God gave the order and healed them; he rescued them
from their pit. 21 Let them thank the Lord for his faithful love and his
wondrous works for all people.
Psalm 119:67—Before I suffered, I took the wrong way, but
now I do what you say.
Isaiah 38:17—Look, he indeed exchanged my bitterness for
wholeness. You yourself have spared my whole being from the pit of destruction,
because you have cast all my sins behind your back.
John 9:1-5—As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who was
blind from birth. 2 Jesus’ disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned so that he was
born blind, this man or his parents?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his
parents. This happened so that God’s mighty works might be displayed in him. 4
While it’s daytime, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming
when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Romans 5:3-5—But not only that! We even take pride in our
problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4 endurance produces
character, and character produces hope. 5 This hope doesn’t put us to shame,
because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy
Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 8:18—I believe that the present suffering is nothing
compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us.
2 Corinthians 1:4—He’s the one who comforts us in all our
trouble so that we can comfort other people who are in every kind of trouble.
We offer the same comfort that we ourselves received from God.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10—I was given a thorn in my body because
of the outstanding revelations I’ve received so that I wouldn’t be conceited.
It’s a messenger from Satan sent to torment me so that I wouldn’t be conceited.
8 I pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me alone. 9 He said to
me, “My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness.” So
I’ll gladly spend my time bragging about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power
can rest on me. 10 Therefore, I’m all right with weaknesses, insults,
disasters, harassments, and stressful situations for the sake of Christ,
because when I’m weak, then I’m strong.
Philippians 1:12-26—Brothers and sisters, I want you to
know that the things that have happened to me have actually advanced the
gospel. 13 The whole Praetorian Guard and everyone else knows that I’m in
prison for Christ. 14 Most of the brothers and sisters have had more confidence
through the Lord to speak the word boldly and bravely because of my jail time.
15 Some certainly preach Christ with jealous and competitive motives, but
others preach with good motives. 16 They are motivated by love, because they
know that I’m put here to give a defense of the gospel; 17 the others preach
Christ because of their selfish ambition. They are insincere, hoping to cause
me more pain while I’m in prison. 18 What do I think about this? Just this:
since Christ is proclaimed in every possible way, whether from dishonest or
true motives, I’m glad and I’ll continue to be glad. 19 I’m glad because I know
that this will result in my release through your prayers and the help of the
Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 It is my expectation and hope that I won’t be put to
shame in anything. Rather, I hope with daring courage that Christ’s greatness
will be seen in my body, now as always, whether I live or die. 21 Because for
me, living serves Christ and dying is even better. 22 If I continue to live in
this world, I get results from my work. 23 But I don’t know what I prefer. I’m
torn between the two because I want to leave this life and be with Christ,
which is far better. 24 However, it’s more important for me to stay in this
world for your sake. 25 I’m sure of this: I will stay alive and remain with all
of you to help your progress and the joy of your faith, 26 and to increase your
pride in Christ Jesus through my presence when I visit you again.
James 1:2-8—My brothers and sisters, think of the various
tests you encounter as occasions for joy. 3 After all, you know that the testing of
your faith produces endurance. 4 Let this endurance complete its work so that
you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing. 5 But anyone who
needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to everyone without a
second thought, without keeping score. Wisdom will certainly be given to those
who ask. 6 Whoever asks shouldn’t hesitate. They should ask in faith, without
doubting. Whoever doubts is like the surf of the sea, tossed and turned by the
wind. 7 People like that should never imagine that they will receive anything
from the Lord. 8 They are double-minded, unstable in all their ways.
1 Peter 1:6-9—You now rejoice in this hope, even if it’s
necessary for you to be distressed for a short time by various trials. 7 This
is necessary so that your faith may be found genuine. (Your faith is more
valuable than gold, which will be destroyed even though it is itself tested by
fire.) Your genuine faith will result in praise, glory, and honor for you when
Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you’ve never seen him, you love him. Even
though you don’t see him now, you trust him and so rejoice with a glorious joy
that is too much for words. 9 You are receiving the goal of your faith: your
salvation.
1 Peter 5:10—After you have suffered for a little while, the
God of all grace, the one who called you into his eternal glory in Christ
Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you.
____________________________
A final word:
In the New Testament, Luke was a beloved medical doctor,
missionary, historian (chronicler of Acts)
and gospel writer (Lk 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-5; Col 4:14). Each of us should
praise God for trained and dedicated doctors. Doctors and medical sciences
should not be viewed as threats to faith but rather aids to the divine work of
caring for and healing the sick. While it seems improbable to many, sickness
can be an open door to spiritual triumph.
OOW
2013
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