Anyone here not surprised that neither Christian Dude nor Kurious_Kathy have answered my question above?
And CD, if Kathy has so many problems, why doesn't she simply pray for healing? After all, in John 14:13-14 we read
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
It's all so simple! Just pray for healing in Jesus' name, and if he doesn't heal you he's broken his promise! Not much of a Messiah then, is he?
Genesius, sorry, we did not mean to ignore anyone. Up until recently, we have been guilty of reading most of the posts very fast and only skimming some because of the large number. We are taking the time to really sit down and read the posts when we do come to the forum now, and answer the best we can, as many as we can, when they are direct responses and questions to one or both of us.
To give a very quick and basic explanation of how Kathy (to my best understanding) and I believe about this subject, and what we think is the proper context of Jesus is saying.
Kathy has prayed for healing. The Lord has chosen not to answer her prayer on that at this time, or the answer is no.
I believe, and I think Kathy is pretty close to the same belief, that all the teachings about having what we pray for, like when we are told that we do not have because we do not ask, and other similar teachings in scripture, like the one you have quoted, it is because it does not line up with the Lord’s will. I believe it is only when our will lines up with the Lord’s will that the prayer is answered in the positive. I believe the Lord answers every prayer, it is just most get answered with a no because what we are asking for is not best for us or the person we are praying for.
I don’t think it means Jesus has broken any promises to us. One of the main and basic principles of hermeneutics is that scripture interprets scripture. So you have to look at all the teachings on a certain subject in scripture and view them in context as a whole.
Here is a basic view of my stance and opinion on this; it is that when viewing all teachings on this together, you come to the conclusion that it is only when our wants line up with God’s will that we get an answer that is a yes. It is that most of the time what we ask for is not what is best for us, or it is not in alignment with what Jesus is trying to do in our lives, or the in people’s lives that we might be praying for. I said something like this in another thread and a lot of people found it outlandish, and stated they didn't want any part of a God that would do what I am about to suggest. The Lord uses pain, suffering, heartache and things as such, to reach out to, to teach, to change and to bring back his children to him. It is to get us to respond to him and look his direction because he is concerned about our eternity way more than our lives here on Earth. That is only my opinion and I know many people very adamantly disagree.
I don't wish ill on Kathy, and am sorry she undergoes so much pain. I know what constant, chronic pain is, and how debilitating, and yes, unfair, it can be.
What I am about to say will sound cruel, yet it is not my cruelty, but the cruelty of belief.
Kathy, having faith, need only pray, and God will heal her body and mend her pain. Why has this not happened? There are a limited number of possible answers.
1. She has not prayed for healing.
2. She has prayed, but it is God's will that she suffer.
3. She has prayed, but she has a flaw she has not mended, and so God cannot heal her until she does so.
4. There is no God, and she is engaging in wishful thinking when she prays.
My experience with chronic pain alone, never mind the rest of my life, leads me to #4.
It is possible she hasn't bothered to pray for healing (#1), but Christians are exhorted to do just that (see verse below). Reaching God through prayer is, in fact, one of the membership benefits of Christianity. It's one of the big selling points...well, that and the whole "redemption from hell" thing.
If it is God's will that she should suffer (#2), I find it insufferably cruel, and also against the bible:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:7-11)”
That says very plainly that God doesn't want his children to suffer, and it says he can and will ease suffering. I see no conditions or requirements to be met, other than simply asking. So why doesn't God keep this promise?
I was often told that the reason God could not/would not heal me was that my faith was lacking (#3). Observe the mustard seed, how infinitesimal it is. I had at least that much faith. Christ said that was all I needed.
Yeah, well....that and a dollar or two can get you a cup of coffee.
I understand not taking certain medicines if to do so puts one at risk for dependency on them. But I don't understand it if one is refusing them simply because they are, in and of themselves, sinful.
If to take them means she will resume an addiciton, that's a good reason not to take them. But if she refuses them because God said it was a sin, then God better get on the stick and heal her himself, or else shut up about sin and let her have the medication. Otherwise, your god is torturing you. Deliberately.
I have great empathy for anyone's suffering. I've done more than my share of it. I'm sorry Kathy hurts. I also understand what it's like to have everything seem to work against you. "I can't take pain pills, because I used to be an addict, and I can't risk re-addiction." I get that; it's a real concern. There are operations that can cut certain nerves and ease pain, but they don't always work, and they're pricey, too. Or she can get the vertebra fused, but maybe she can't afford that: another obstacle she can't help. Maybe she needs to risk the addiction and take the pain pills while under a closely managed system of care? Again, that may not be possible, or affordable.
But the bible says that God can fix all of this.
And I can only ask: if he exists, then why hasn't he?
Hi slingblade, first what you say in your post does not sound cruel at all. To your first four points: I think my response to Genesius answers 1 & 2 to a simple and basic level. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t elaborate further at this time.
Number three of your points is very valid and a real possibility to me, and ties into my belief that Jesus allows a lot of suffering in people’s lives to make changes in them that make a difference for eternity.
I certainly acknowledge that a lot of people believe point number four that you list. And although I am in disagreement with that conclusion, I do respect anyone else who has that conclusion. I know very many nice, loving and generous people who believe that way.
I am also very adamant that lacking faith has nothing to do with not getting healing. I am very angry with so called Christians who say that to people. I do not believe the Bible teaches that in any way when all passages about our faith are viewed together in the correct contex. In my opinion, faith is not a force, that when we correctly learn to manipulate it, that we can use to get Jesus to do anything because of it. Faith is only believing in things unseen and demonstrates our hope in things to come. I believe what Jesus is talking about in the parable of the mustard seed, is that he is saying that any amount of real faith, even the tiniest amount, when it lines up with God’s will, can accomplish great things through him, but only through him. It has nothing to do with us or our power.
Kathy and I do not think any medication or taking of medication is in any way sinful unless a person is abusing them. God did not say the field of medicine or using medication was sin as far a I can see. I believe the Lord chooses to use doctors, surgery and medications for helping and healing people most of the time. I don’t think it is my place to go into the details of why Kathy wants to avoid certain types of medication. I will have to let Kathy go into that if she chooses. We are looking into the things you mention in your last paragraph. Kathy has not made a decision yet though.
Doubt (questioning) has gotten me a direct answer from CD. Thank-you CD for your direct response.
So you two know each other. Hmmm.
1984, quite a few details of how we know each other are found here.
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=1342860#post1342860
I hope my response is adequate enough for now.
. He said "You ask in my name, I'll do it." 
