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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-10-22, Page 23By Pastor John KuperusBlyth Christian ReformedChurchSome years ago at a teachinghospital in the U.S., Massachusetts General, they had an experiment going on. The experiment was organized by the chaplain’s office when medical staff asked for help. Doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel were being asked spiritual questions about God and suffering and pain and healing and death and prayer. The program was created to help medical personnel deal with their patient’s spiritual concerns. Some patients were even asking doctors and nurses to pray with them, which put the doctors and nurses into a difficult situation. One anesthesiologist told ABC’s Timothy Johnson that after going through the program and becoming a little more comfortable with her own faith, she introduces the subject with her patients as she is getting them ready for surgery. She asks in a non- threatening, unobtrusive way. Some patients do not want to talk about it, while others are not only surprised, but grateful to be able to express themselves religiously to a doctor and many gladly accept the offer to pray for them. As a result, hospitals all over the U.S. are paying attention. According to a sermon called, Wounded Healer by Pastor John Buchanan from the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago where I got this information, one third of all medical schools now include courses on spirituality. Churches are addressing this need with parish nurses. Pastor Buchanan comments that not all doctors or chaplains are enthusiastic about this development. Yet nurses working the night shift on oncology, know the wall between medicine and religion is crumbling. This raises the question, did God intend for there to be a tension between science and the scripture? No, God has given us minds to unlock the secrets of creation through skill and science. When God told Adam to subdue the earth, he was not giving him permission to pollute and ruin the earth (Genesis 1:28). Rather God was saying that one of the ways we discover his provisions for us is through human skill and science. Doctors, nutritionists, trainers and counsellors make mistakes and donot know everything, yet they areintended by God to bless us andpromote our wellbeing.Biblical support for medical profession is observed by Luke is known as “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14). Nothing in scriptures indicates that Jesus wanted Luke to abandon his profession and simply pray for his patients. In addition, Paul instructed Timothy to “use a little wine for your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Timothy 5:23). Although using prayer for healing would also have been appropriate. Paul encouraged Timothy to make use of a substance that, when taken in moderate amounts, can have a healing effect. God is honoured in the discoveries we have in science. On the other hand, patients seeking God’s help makes sense. At the heart of the Christian faith is a healing God who desires wholeness and restoration. God reveals himself to us this way in Exodus 15:26. “I am the Lord who heals you” or in Hebrew “Yahweh-rophe.” (Exodus 15:26). This name for God came about because the Israelites were in a desperate situation. They had travelled for three days in the wilderness. Their water supply had been used up and they came to this place called Marah. They were not able to drink the water because it was bitter. They grumble against Moses, who cried out to the Lord. The Lord shows him a piece of wood, which he throws into the water and the water became sweet. The people were able to drink and be refreshed and strengthened for the journey that was ahead of them. The Lord reveals himself and says, “For I am the Lord who heals you.” (vs. 26).When Jesus comes he reveals thathe is fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah61. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4: 18-19). Jesus begins his public ministry according to Mark by driving out an evil spirit, then he heals Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever, a man with leprosy and many others. Jesus has a reputation of being a healer. Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, heals and brings restoration to the way people are supposed to be. Yahweh-rophe was at work in the ancient times, Jesus Christ revealed God’s kingdom with healings and trained his disciples to continue to do his work. God’s work continues to go forward today through his followers and Jesus commissioned this by saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12). Followers of Jesus Christ are called to be agents of healing in our world. Prayer is important in connecting our broken world to a holy, healing God. According to this text, for God’s healing power to work in our lives, we have to seek help of an elder, who will connect us and our brokenness to an Almighty Healing God by prayer. The oil is not something magical, but it is representative of God’s Spirit. Another important ingredient is faith. Faith is entrusting our hopes, our fears, our needs, and our hurts goGod.Faith says to Jesus, “Jesus, I giveyou permission to go to work on mylife. Fix whatever is broken. Point out to me what I have to do, and show me where my sins are blocking what you want to do. I trust you to do your part. Please teach and empower me to do mine.” Unfortunately sometimes we can seek healing without seeking the healer. Falling in love with the Healer is God’s desired result when we are healed. Seeking and receiving healing without seeking and finding the Healer is settling for much less than is offered. The most important healing anyone can ever have is to be healed spiritually by reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ. God also works healing through the prayers of Christians. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers can be instruments of the Lord. Mark 16: 17-18 says, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons … they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Some people have the spiritual gift of healing.If some people are not healed it’sbecause we limit God to onemethod. God has many ways tobring wholeness to us. If we limit him by insisting he heal us in a particular way, we might block healing from happening. Remember Naaman the Syrian whom the prophet Elisha told to bath THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009. PAGE 23. From the Minister’s Study‘God is honoured when we seek him out’ 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 B l y t h C o m m u n ity Church of God C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS O N , I N D I A N A “The Church is not a building, it is people touching people Sunday School 9:45 a.m. - Christian Education for all ages 11:00 a.m. - Worship Service Mid-week Bible Studies See you Sunday! BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, October 25 Ethel United Church Worship Service and Sunday School - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service and Sunday School - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, October 25 Brussels Public School at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age (mornings only) Childcare provided for infants and toddlers Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact: Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Chris McMichael 519.482.1644 getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women at the Well Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group Evangelical Missionary Church October 25:James 2 “Disposed to Discriminate” EMCC Relief & Development Sunday Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Trinity, Blyth 9:15 a.m. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 October 25 REV. DAVID WOOD 119 John’s Ave.,Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org 9:30 a.m. Sunday School & Small Groups 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Service WEDNESDAY IS FAMILY NIGHT Beginning at 6:30 p.m. there are Bible-based programs and small groups for everyone between the ages of 4 through to 94! Nursery is also available. Continued on page 27 Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Sunday, October 25 Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. Anyone wishing to donate items to the Silent Talent Auction November 21, 2009 please contact Terry Richmond at 519-523-9504.