Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: vm0t+@andrew.cmu.edu (Vincent Paul Mulhern) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Two kinds of faith Message-ID: Date: 4 Dec 90 05:47:58 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 59 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu > Excerpts from netnews.soc.religion.christian: 1-Dec-90 Re: Two kinds of > faith Gary Hipp@crash.cts.com (2886) > Allen, the context of these verses have absolutely nothing to do with > physical healing. In actuallity the Isaiah passage says just the > opposite. (referring to Isaiah 53:4-5) If Allen's taking this out of context, then so did Matthew. Check out Matthew 8:14-17. vs 17 says the PHYSICAL healings Jesus was working (in the PHYSICAL bodies of ALL the sick) were fulfilling that passage from Isaiah. It does refer to physical sickness and physical healing. > IPet.2:21 states, "For you have been called for this purpose, since > Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in > His steps,." And IPet.4:1, "Therefore, since Christhas suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose,..." Where is sickness mentioned or implied in either of these passages? 2:21 is talking about persecution at the hands of evil men. (Read the preceding verse.) Jesus said that Christians would endure persecution at the hands of others. He never said that sickness was to be endured or even tolerated. In the same breath that He sent Christians to preach the gospel, He told them to HEAL the sick, not join them. (Mark 16:15-18). And this from the same man (/God) that said a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Isn't it a contradiction that God wants people to be healed of the instrument he allegedly uses to teach and perfect them? Jesus NEVER implied that sickness was EVER good. Not ONCE. Even when He was in Nazareth and nobody would listen to Him, He healed the sick. It says He was unable to do any miracles there EXCEPT lay hands on a few sick people and HEAL THEM. (Mark 6:1-5). It seems that if there's ONE THING that we can be SURE of the will of God about, it's that He opposes sickness and disease absolutely. We ought to check up on who it is that wants us sick. Lastly, a quick comment about Paul's thorn. (II Cor 12:7-10) Why is it that people blindly ignore the fact that PAUL HIMSELF SAID it was a messenger of satan sent to torment him? And when he listed the problems he was encountering in verse 10, why isn't "sickness" or "disease" in there? A couple of questions for consideration: 1. When did Jesus EVER say to somebody who sought healing from him, "It's not my will to heal you?" 2. When did Jesus say, "God allowed you to have this sickness so you can develop perserverance and develop your faith." 3. When did Jesus ever allow or condone sickness? Jesus said he came to DO the will of the Father. What did He DO? Heal the sick, and tell others to do the same. (among other things). Then what's the will of the Father regarding sickness? Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today, and FOREVER. (Heb. 13:8) Well, then, His attitude towards sickness hasn't changed. Jesus is Lord! Vince Mulhern