Aug28

Faith Healing

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I would always hear those stories about a couple whose child died because the child was sick and the couple refused to take their child to the doctor because they believed God would heal their child. They refused to believe that God could bring healing through the doctor or modern medicine, it had to come through a narrow predetermined way they had chosen to believe in and were too narrow-minded or too stubborn or too something to accept that God might just use some other means to bring healing for their child. And because of this, their child had died.

I hated those stories because I felt so powerless. I wanted to be able to go back in time and shake those parents and make them listen. I wanted to save the life of the poor child who had literally suffered to death, but I knew there was nothing I could do to help them.

I grew up in a religious home, but my parents always took us to the doctor when we needed it and gave us medication when the doctor felt is was necessary. I never thought my parents would turn into one of those faith healing fanatics who would risk their own health in their shortsightedness.

However, my dad has turned into one of those people. My dad has type 2 diabetes. My dad believes that God is going to heal him. For whatever reason, that means he can’t manage his diabetes via modern medicine in the meantime because that would be “doubting God will heal him” so he’s stopped testing his blood sugar and stopped taking his insulin. Because of this, he developed an infection in his ankle. Well, naturally, God’s going to heal that too. My dad refuses to see a doctor about it. He refuses to accept that God might heal him of the infection through modern medicine. And as a result, the infection has grown to at least 6 inches long and wraps around his ankle and I am terrified he’s going to need his foot amputated if he lets it go much longer. But still he refuses to see a doctor about it. I’m also afraid the infection is going to go septic and threaten his very life and he’ll still refuse to be seen.

I’m scared for him, and I feel helpless. And I’m mad and frustrated because he won’t take care of himself and he’s putting his wife and me through this.

21 responses »

  2. Sorry to hear about this. Maybe you can share with him the story of the Christian man and the flood.

    Man’s listening to the radio and hears a report saying that the river is going over the banks and is going to flood the valley where his house is and that authorities are urging everyone to save themselves and evacuate. He turns the radio off and says “I’m a Christian, God will save me.”

    Well the valley begins to flood and the waters begin to fill the first story of his house. The sheriff is going through the neighborhood in a boat and calls to him, yelling “The valley is flooding and there’s about to be a break in the dam upstream- I can save you with the boat!”

    The man waves the sheriff off, shouting back “I’m a Christian, God will save me!”

    Eventually the waters rise so high that the man retreats to his roof, and the water is lapping at his feet. Out of the clouds comes a National Guard helicopter and they lower him a ladder, screaming “Your house is going to be washed away! Grab the ladder and we’ll save you!”

    Again the man waves them off saying “I’m a Christian, God will save me!”

    The raging waters eventually destabilize the foundation of the house, and it washes away and the man drowns.

    When he arrives in heaven he demands to speak to God. Granted an audience, he falls to his knees and says “God, I am your humble servant, I pray everyday, I try and lead my life according to Your word, I have faith in you… Why didn’t you save me?”

    God answers “I tried to save you… I sent you a report on the radio, I sent the sheriff in his boat and the National Guard in a helicopter… Why didn’t you let me save you?”

    I hope your father comes around.

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  3. Hello there, my dad has type 2 daibetes too and has been on an insulin pump for over a decade now. I’m sorry to hear about your dad and from the perspective of a med student, he needs to get his foot treated urgently because diabetic pts immune system is slightly low and they tend to heal slowly.
    Now, from the perspective of a friend, maybe you may remind him gently and lovingly that “heaven helps those who help themselves”. And remind him, our body is a gift we are supposed to take care of. Just like we dont leave our akin with dirt but bath in order to cleanse and show appreciation to God of the body he’s given us, so do we also have to see tge doctor to cleanse our internal system. Sorry for making this comment long.

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  6. Sounds to me like perhaps your Dad needs a gentle reminder that the gift of medicine also came from God! And that God gave mankind this gift that we may relieve suffering and heal sickness. – Perhaps it might give your Dad pause for thought if you ask him to try to explain why he feels God would need to make an exception in his case? And maybe point out that surely his faith would be better proved by placing it in those gifts that God has already given, rather than rejecting them and expecting further miracles from God? (A bit reverse psychology maybe, give him a slight change in his perception) 😉

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  7. It sounds like he is in denial about his diagnoses more than anything else. Sometimes it’s hard to accept and easier to fall back on religion as a coping mechanism. I hope he gets the medical interventions he needs because if he doesn’t you are right–worst case scenario is he strokes out best case is he only loses his foot.

    I hope he listens to you!

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  8. So sorry to hear this. Do you think he may be hiding behind the God theory and instead is maybe just terrified of the Doctors and what they might do? Do you really believe him that he thinks God will save him? So upsetting for you, hang in there and keep pestering him.

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  9. I worked in a general surgery clinic for a few years. Unfortunately there were many amputations due to diabetes. Perhaps try taking your father to a hospital so he can visit a few patients. It might make it more real for him.
    And remind him, god helps those who help themselves. Warm wishes to you 🙂

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  11. Its sad to hear about it but just try telling him how doctors are sent by God himself and God too helps those who help themselves. That getting treated by a doctor wouldnt decrease his love for God and he knows that. Just give it a try , I hope this helps in any way.

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  12. As a Catholic, I can’t understand this kind of mentality. I pray that your father will come to see that God will indeed health him through the gifts that he has given to doctors and physicians etc. I feel really bad for you right now feeling so helpless. Huge virtual hugs hun x

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  13. I’m so sorry to hear this. My daughter has type one and it’s so difficult to let the ones we love manage themselves. Don’t get me wrong, she’s pretty good. Your dad’s case seems pretty extreme. But the point I’m trying to make is that there’s nothing we can do to alter their adult life decisions. We can only love them and hope and pray for the best. I hope and pray that your dad will be okay. 💝

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  15. As a therapist is it possible to determine he is not of sound mind and have him hospitalized against his will. I don’t know the laws in his state, but he sounds delusional and unable for self care at this point.

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