Complimentary Story
In some Christian circles, there is the thought that seeking medical advice is showing a lack of faith in God. There are some who would go so far as to say that consulting a doctor shows a lack of faith that will actually prevent God from healing you. Let’s take a look at this concept a little closer. Just as an example. If your car breaks down, do you take it to a mechanic or wait for God to perform a miracle and heal your car? If the plumbing in your house starts leaking, do you wait for God to plug the leak, or do you call a plumber? It’s not that God is incapable of repairing a car or fixing the plumbing, but the fact that a miracle is not the only option for a repair because man has the ability to fix these things without a miracle from God.
Just as when our bodies are ailing, many times physicians have medicines and skills that help our bodies to heal. God has given to us, right in creation itself, the cures for many diseases and sicknesses and we can be sure that many are yet to be discovered. God has also provided our bodies with natural disease fighting and healing abilities as well.
In Genesis 1:29 we read, “And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.’”
The fact that God can and does perform miracles of healing does not mean we should always expect a miracle every time we have a health issue; when there are available individuals who possess the knowledge and skill to help our bodies heal.
Physician/Doctors are referred to about a dozen times in the Bible. The only verse that could be taken out of context to teach that one should not go to physicians would be 2 Chronicles 16:12. “In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.” The problem was not so much that Asa went to a Doctor, but that “he did not seek the Lord's help as well.” Even when visiting a doctor, our ultimate faith must be placed in God, not the doctor and medicines alone.
There are many verses that speak of using “medical treatments.” The Bible mentions the “balm of Gilead.” Jeremiah 8:22 --“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” There is mention of applying bandages in Isaiah 1:6, .... “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” James 5:14 mentions annointing the sick with oil -- “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” In Luke 10:34 the Good Samaritan story tells us this: “...and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” Ezekiel 47:12 tells of the use of certain leaves for healing. “And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” And 1 Timothy 5:23 tells of wine for medicinal purposes: “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.”
The Apostle Paul gave Luke (who was a doctor) a beautiful compliment in Colossians 4:14.... “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.” But on the other side of the coin we read in Mark 5:25-30 the story of a woman who had trouble with a bleeding problem that the physicians could not heal, even though she had been to many of them and had spent all of her money. Coming to Jesus, she thought that if she but touched the hem of His garment, she would be healed; she did touch His hem, and she was healed. Jesus even made reference to going to Doctors in Matthew 9:12.... “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”
So what have we learned so far? Physicians are not God. They can often help, but there will be other times when even the most expensive treatments do little to help; seeking a doctor’s advice and using “earthly” medicines and treatments are not condemned in Scripture but are viewed favorably. But most importantly, God’s help in any physical difficulty should be sought as we read in James 5:13..... “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.”
God doesn’t promise that we will always get the answer we want to hear. Romans 8:27 tells us this: “And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” And Psalm 145:8-9 says above all that God in His wisdom is Good. “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.”
So, should Christians go to doctors? God created us with the ability to think, the ability to create medicines and the ability to learn how to repair our broken bodies. There is nothing wrong with applying this knowledge and ability towards physical healing. Doctors are just another one of God’s ways to help bring healing and recovery. But at the same time, our faith and trust needs to be placed in God, not in medical profession alone. James 1:5 tells us this: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” As with any tough decisions, we should look to God, who promises to give us wisdom when we ask for it.