Biblical Perspectives
SPIRITUAL DIAGNOSIS
Georgia Cohen RN says, ‘In my profession as a nurse I’ve had the privilege of assisting many great doctors help patients recovery from illnesses.
‘It’s good to know that many medical professionals believe in God’s healing power or at least are open to the benefits of faith and what is often regarded as “spiritual healing”(See Dan Wooding’s Ask the Doctors –Mind article). Let me share my own thoughts as follows:’
In every conversation we engage in to help troubled sick people, our mind should always be focused on looking for a spiritual diagnosis. When an individual does not know Jesus as Saviour, they are spiritually sick. They need the right medicine to treat their illness.
Jesus is the great physician and has the cure for every spiritual disease and the medicine to cure spiritual sickness is the Bible. Sick people need to meet the great physician, the best diagnostician in the world.
ASK THE DOCTORS – MIND
Question: Why are most medical practitioners wary of Christians talking about faith and healing?
Dan Wooding, ASSIST Ministries Founder (http://www.assistnews.net), can answer this reader’s question positively and encouragingly.
The award winner journalist and author recently attended an outstanding conference in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital city, where some 240 WCDN (World Christian Doctors Network) doctors and medical professionals from 38 countries had gathered to discuss and explore whether miracles still happen today and, if they do, to provide and examine medical data to prove them. (more…)
JESUS CHRIST, THE GREAT GENERAL PRACTITIONER
Question: I often hear Christians emphatically refer to Jesus as their healer, even their GP. Can they be right?
Dr Bernard Shiu, well-known Geelong General Practitioner, responds:
General practitioners such as myself strive to practise a holistic approach. We take into consideration the biological, psychological and social factors relevant to the care of our patients.
Our duties are not limited to specific parts of our body, rather we tend to deal with multiple health and health related issues all at once.
And, as our patients may vary in age, sex, ethnic and educational background, we are trained to treat and communicate at an appropriate level suitable for the individual. (more…)
TODAY’S DIFFERENT GOSPEL
Question: What did Paul mean when he warned about ‘a different gospel’ being taught? Is something not quite right in churches today?
Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, answers:
You’re obviously referring to Galatians where Paul used the term ‘a different gospel.’ He was referring to a Jewish version of Christianity that taught that, in addition to the need of placing one’s faith in Christ to be saved, it was also necessary to follow Jewish rules and regulations.
Actually, Paul was so incensed by this distortion that he wrote, ‘I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!’ (Gal 1:6-8). (more…)
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Dr Ed Delph writes:
Now I may have a doctorate but I’m neither a medical nor a mind doctor; My area, my field, is in ministry and in encouraging leaders.
But as I encourage people to resolve issues in their lives, at times it seems that the area has become an arena, even a minefield or should I say mind-field!
One such ‘mind-field’ involves couples and is not to do with the mind, but also the heart. It’s the matter of managing conflict.
Take for example this true-to-life story of a couple trying to resolve an argument. Let’s call them Fred and Nancy. Fred tells the story… (more…)
FACTS, FAITH AND FEELINGS
Question: Sometimes I feel very close to God and at other times I feel that he is a million miles away. When I don’t feel that he is near, does that mean that I have done something that has offended him?
Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, responds:
This question raises the more fundamental question of how reliable our emotions are in experiencing God’s presence and in sensing his speaking to us.
First of all it has to be said that our capacity to have emotions is a gift from God. When he made us, part of the human package was what we call ‘feelings.’ Some of them make us feel good, such as happiness, love, wonder, and pleasure; other have a negative effect on us – such as, sadness, disappointment, shame, anger and envy. Still others include such feelings as sympathy, compassion and courage. On and on the list goes! It would be hard to imagine life without feelings. Yet… (more…)
Connecting with You! 