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Courts face new challenges in faith healing cases

By ROSE FRENCH, Associated Press Writer Rose French, Associated Press Writer – Tue Jun 30, 4:20 am ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Though most states have child abuse laws allowing religious exemptions for parents who shun medicine for their sick children, recent cases have raised the thorny legal issues for parents following less-recognized faiths.

Historically, many of the parents addressed by the laws have embraced faiths like Pentecostalism and Christian Science, while others are Jehovah's Witnesses — all established denominations that the law has gradually taken into account.

It's harder for judges to decide cases involving parents who don't belong to a well-known denomination, yet also don't believe in using medicine for their kids. Legal and religious scholars say it's becoming more difficult for courts to decide when to honor the religious beliefs of parents and when to order conventional medical treatment for extremely sick children.

The manslaughter trial of an Oregon couple who claim they were following their religious beliefs in the 2008 pneumonia death of their 1-year-old daughter was to begin Monday. Carl and Raylene Worthington are members of Followers of Christ Church, which has been investigated for past child deaths.

In Tennessee, Jacqueline Crank and her minister Ariel Sherman face child neglect charges in the death of her 15-year-old daughter Jessica, who died in 2002 with a basketball-sized tumor on her shoulder. Prosecutors say based on Sherman's advice, the girl's mother relied on prayer instead of medicine.

Sherman has been accused of being a cult leader whose Universal Life Church is not a legitimate religion. He has denied such charges and says the church is Christian-based and embraces the Bible.

Believers in faith healing point to a Biblical verse in the Epistle of James, which describes how church elders should be called in to pray over the sick. There's no mention of doctors, and literalists interpret it to mean medical treatment should be eschewed over prayer.


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Let us reason together, brothers and sisters. To utilize the wisdom of our minds that Christ has provided for us. There is no doubt that the power of Prayer is undeniable. However, prayer should be a complement to medical treatment, when in regards to the treatment of ailment.

hehe, if individuals will be literalists, then we should also bear in mind with maintaining a broad minded understanding and reading of Scripture.

Christ Our Lord, even mentions the role of the Physician. And the the physician's role in the care of the sick:

We Are Reminded

And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
--Mark 2:17


again,

But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.
--Matthew 9:12



Be open minded, be open to healing, in the body as well as in the spirit. The role of the ministry, and the church is to heal the soul, through the Word of God. But the role of the physician, is to heal the body--to which he has been ordained to heal. By Wisdom that comes not from his own understanding, but by the very Mouth of God.


The Glory of God is Glorified in All Things.
For All the Earth, and All Things are HIS footstools.
Medicine, treatment, etc. All are because of Him. hehe.


God Bless!



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hahaha relax lang, quel!  but really, korek ka dyan!  we have to acknowledge that the doctors can be God-sent to heal and cure the children. 

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My answer to Biblical Literalists who who shewn off the importance of medical care, and prioritize faithful prayer is this:


Amen! Keep the faith, keep on praying. Prayer and Faith does help, Amen! I know the saving power of prayer. But also---one needs to keep in mind what Jesus himself told us:

But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.
--Matthew 9:12

Christ tells us that it is the sick that require the aid and provision of the Physician and the Physician's faculties. Not the healthy. So this is directly telling us that turning to a physician/surgeon for care is, indeed, biblically mandated. Christ Himself, says so in Matthew 9:12, and again in Mark 2:17.  (Just for those who think that God does not require the physician).

===

Speaking as a Medical Student, and one who tries my best to stay true and live by the Word of God, despite my own frailties and weaknesses, I do believe that The Lord Jesus Christ makes himself known and his healing power is seen in the works of doctors, nurses, and all other health care professionals.

For me, to see patients who are critically ill---and then seeing them progress to a state of stability, or see the amazing surgical procedures to remove tumors, the chemotherapeutics to fight off cancer, the thrombolytics that are used to destroy atherosclerotic plaques, the ACE-Inhibitors, the Statins, the Niacins, that are used to treat CHF, RHF, hypertension. Is amazing. You literally see the miracle in progress, and the effects of which is seen and felt not only by the patient recieving the care, but by the physician/surgeon or nurse who is applying the care.


Its a MIRACLE. Amen! Medicine is a Living Miracle.
Remember! Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit!
The Lord God is GLORIFIED through US! Our faith, and our Actions!


So, GLORIFY HIM!
hehehe!



To God be the Glory!

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