HEALTH CARE TRACK
Dr. Hugo Morales Facilitator
The word of God is health to a man's whole body (Prov. 4:20-22)
By definition, a Christian who is a healthcare provider is a Marketplace Minister, and much more because many of them are directly dealing with one of the greatest interests of the devil, which is human suffering. The principles of Prayer Evangelism (Luke 10) could not be more applicable than for physicians, nurses and the like providing care for the sick.
If we are commanded to disciple Nations for Christ one good way is by providing health support to those in need, contributing in this way to Nation Transformation. A coordinated effort between different Christian Ministries would be very effective including Biblical healthcare education and attending to the needs of deprived Nations. The tangible evidence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the elimination of both systemic poverty and disease. Healthcare in the US consumes up to 15% of the nation’s GDP.
The first man, Adam, brought poverty and disease (Gen. 3:17-19); the second man, Christ, redeemed us from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13), we have been justified by his blood (Rom 5:9); and by his wounds we have been healed (1 Peter 2:24). He was anointed to preach the Good news to the poor and to heal the brokenhearted. (Luke 4:18). We have given the same anointing!
Since sin and disease are similar for God - “Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? “(Matthew 9:5) - the mission of a healthcare provider should not be different to the mission of every Christian; “that none should perish” (2 Peter 3:9).This means salvation for the Christian and healing for the physician and both healing and salvation for Christian physicians and Christian patients. The wages of sin is spiritual death; the wages of disease is physical death
God wants all people to come to the knowledge of His Son Jesus (1 Tim 2:4); this includes both salvation and healing. After salvation, by the power of the Holy Spirit we go through the process of sanctification that changes us from a carnal person to a spiritual person. Since sin and disease are the same we could say that sanctification is to sin what preventive medicine is to disease.
The provision of healing must be appropriated through confession and repentance of sin, sanctification, prayer and ministry. Just as each individual must appropriate salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, so each individual must appropriate their healing provided by Jesus' stripes through faith in Jesus Christ.
We also need to understand that anything we do that endangers the body is disrespectful to Him because our body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Cor 6:19). Although in this passage Paul is referring to sexual immorality, he starts this discussion by saying “everything is permissible for me but not everything is beneficial, adding “I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Cor 6:12). It is clear that if our behavior is mastered by excesses that affect our body we are away from the will of God. In this regard, the “for drunkards and gluttons become poor” and the “Do not be anxious about anything” (Phil 4:6) are also commands from the Lord to avoid sin and hence, disease.
Health promotion and disease prevention includes behavior modification and this means that the spiritual component of our will is involved. Christian education to improve health contributes to the elimination of systemic poverty. Our motivation to change behavior comes from our relationship with God. We are not avoiding sin by following rules; it is our intimacy with the Lord that gives as the “reason” to hate sin (Ps 139: 17-21). The process of sanctification to prevent sin is as hard as the process to preventing disease. We have to take care of God’s creation; He “wonderfully made us” (Ps 139: 14)
When we ask the Father “lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:2-4) is a request to avoid evil that is to avoid sin and disease. The “temptation” that comes to my mind is when in the wilderness the devil asked Jesus standing on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down” because God will protect you. Jesus answered also with the Word of God,”Do not put the Lord your God to the test." (Luke 4:12). Many Christians by their “unhealthy behavior” are putting God to the test. The only time God asked us to test Him was with our tithes (Mal. 3:10).
"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? “(Jer. 8:22)
Yes, there is! Blessed be God--the blood of Jesus and His Good News.
