| Author | Message | ||
| Deb Registered user Username: Deb Post Number: 4 Registered: 3-2008 |
Our church has begun a study on the spiritual roots of disease and I have become concerned because while some of the teaching is Biblical some of it doesn't seem right. This study is based on the ministry of Pastor Henry Wright called "Be in Health". He is the author of a book called "A More Excellent Way. (By the way there is an Adventist pastor by the same name. Not the same person.) I wondered if any of you have heard of his teachings and if so what you think about them. Pastor Wright states that 80% of diseases (even birth defects) are because of sin in our personal lives or in the lives of our parents. While it is true that we can cause some illness by our own sin (for example I understand that by holding bitterness and anger inside it could lead to stress which could lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, or by using drugs some birth defects can occur, etc), however I also believe that many diseases are simply a result of living in a sinful, fallen world. Wright also focuses heavily on the blessings and cursings in Deuteronomy chapter 28 and how we need to be obedient to God or we will receive the diseases mentioned in that chapter. He states in his book, "It's A New Day" that, "If we loved God, we would keep His commandments and we would not need healing. Health is automatically ours if we are a doer of the Word." Yes, I am in total agreement that God has asked us to obey Him (John 15:9-17 is one example of that.) But what I don't see in Scripture is that all believers will automatically be healthy. I have known of godly people who were doers of the Word but yet God allowed them to go through illness and they came through that illness glorifying God whether it ended in healing or in their graduation to heaven. Our pastor and others in our church, who I respect, seem to be in complete agreement with this teaching. I've found myself getting a little confused by this study. If anyone here has studied Scripture on the subject of disease and suffering in a believer's life and the spiritual roots of disease I would appreciate your input. Thank you. Debbie | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 5902 Registered: 9-2006  |
My input is get the heck out of there. | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 1961 Registered: 5-2007  |
Debbie, I agree with River...again! Fearless Phil | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10862 Registered: 12-2003  |
I've heard of Henry Wright, and his principles are "off" for sure. I've known people who subscribed to his ideas and some who have gone to his ministry for help. The diseases I've known they had were not cured--cancer, for instance. He's teaching a mix of magical thinking and old covenant ideas. It's just not true that "obedient" people don't get sick. Colleen | ||
| Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil Post Number: 330 Registered: 4-2007 |
Nasssty theology!! Are you sure this idiot is not SDA? It's so similar to 'you'll be blessed if you obey and keep the Sabbath and 'you'll be blessed if you obey and pay a faithful tithe'-blah blah blah To repeat what others have said: RUN, don't walk to nearest exit John Douglas | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 2329 Registered: 8-2004  |
My biggest problem with Henry Wright (of Be In Health) is that he seems to think everything goes back to works. | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 970 Registered: 10-2008 |
Deb, I'm praying for you. I think the check in your Spirit is for a purpose. You write, "I have become concerned because while some of the teaching is Biblical some of it doesn't seem right." The story in scripture that pops into mind is the man born blind. The disciples ask Jesus if it is because of sin - or the sins of his parents. Jesus responds with neither. Indeed, the man was at the time an unbeliever. But the principle is still the same. Some health issues are and some are not an issue of sin. (John 1:5-9) There are other examples in scripture where ill health WAS a matter of sin. The man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:14) seems to have had an issue with sin ... The blind man, NO. I would be uncomfortable as you are with a pastor doing what you are saying he is doing. I, too, would be uncomfortable as you are. Keri | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 491 Registered: 12-2007 |
Ask the pastor if good works is all it takes to be in good health... what about Job ? | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 699 Registered: 7-2000 |
What is being taught is the 'health and weath' or 'prosperity' gospel. It's a hyperliteral approach to Scripture, taking what's written very much out of context. TBN is a TV network that is full of teachings like this. I very much agree with River that this is something you don't want anything to do with. | ||
| Bskillet Registered user Username: Bskillet Post Number: 650 Registered: 8-2008 |
But Jesus said:
Another "evangelical" who doesn't believe in the evangelion. Paul said in Galatians that we have been freed from the curses of the Law by the crucifixion of Jesus (Gal. 3:13). He said anyone who teaches anything contrary to this has come from Satan (Gal. 1:8,9). Henry Wright is of his father the Devil. It is as simple as that. | ||
| Deb Registered user Username: Deb Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2008 |
Thank you for all your Biblical counsel and prayers on this. I am going to share these Scriptures and some other verses I've found on God and suffering with the lady who is teaching the study and just ask her to study these Scriptures for herself and pray that God will open her eyes and that of our pastor. Our pastor teaches verse by verse through the Bible each week and usually is right with Scripture in context but has obviously gotten off track in this area. I am praying he will see the truth and discard this teaching. Debbie | ||
| Psalm107v2 Registered user Username: Psalm107v2 Post Number: 556 Registered: 10-2008  |
If it smells funny don't eat it---sounds like he's teaching some bad food. Enoch (Message edited by psalm107v2 on January 24, 2010) | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 5912 Registered: 9-2006 |
Debbie, I have been in this church game a while, and I have seen pastors get onto some pet thing, get all fired up and then drift right back to center. You could watch and wait, however, I still think this is a dangerous road to go down. But all you gotta do is keep it between the lines. Keep stable, no matter what the whole bunch of them do. Keep going back to the basics, no matter how many times you need too.If you think you feel yourself being led into confusion here, I tend to worry for you. If anyone jumps from scripture to scripture and talks fast, it generally means he don't want you to look at it too closely,(ol Dougy Botchilism for example) but scripture can stand close examination, so put the magnifying glass of the Holy Spirit on it.I doubt if God will be offended for examining the word, if we seek truth. Back in the early 70's when the health and wealth thing was just getting cranked up, I was a young Christian, but God protected me and sustained me through those years and I didn't get soaked up in it, and he will protect you, just as long as it is in your heart to follow him his way and no one else's way. We have Christians have every right, and obligation to listen carefully and judge what pastors are preaching. Listen to the Holy Spirit as he deals with your heart. No charge for that bit of advice. I may be wrong anyhow. River | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1861 Registered: 4-2000  |
Cults, whether large or small, always put us in a defensive mode. Their intent is to somehow create a spiritual stigma in us with questions such as "What about the Sabbath?" and/or "Are the dead alive and floating around the universe?" A defender in a debate has the disadvantage of having to first explain his stance and then to correct the misconceptions and hyberbole of the opponent. Truly, from a human perspective, it is alot easier to attack, criticize, or question biblical truth than to defend it. A critic is someone who points out how imperfectly other people do what the critic does not do at all. May God continue to grant each of us the right words to say whenever we are placed in an intentional skirmish. Jesus repeatedly used his knowledge of Scripture to debunk heresy and to avoid yielding to temptation. Many live their lives like the high-rise workman who was carelessly walking on an upper beam one day and fell off. As he was falling, a man on the 21st floor cried out, "How are you doing?" The man responded, "So far so good." Dennis Fischer (Message edited by Dennis on January 29, 2010) | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10881 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dennis, that is so true...that "defensiveness" you mention. It's the preferred method for one who wants to defend falsehood because it puts the other person at a disadvantage. It creates a straw-man argument, and to talk about reality, we have to first expose the straw-man and THEN talk about reality. I find this phenomenon to be the defining method of teaching employed by the Sabbath School Quarterly. The lessons sound, on the surface, fairly innocuous often, but, under the surface is a false assumption, and when writing our commentary for it, we have to first expose the unseen assumption and THEN address the lesson. Otherwise, all the misconceptions remain in place. By the way, don't forget to check out www.BibleStudiesforAdventists.com The commentary on the SS Lessons there is good and thought-provoking. Colleen | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1863 Registered: 4-2000 |
Thought to Ponder Did you know that there was a healthcare crisis in Jesus' day? Apparently, obtaining healthcare has always been very expensive. Admittedly, some manuscripts leave out that phrase. Dennis Fischer |
