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The Bible makes many false promises such as healing.
(AP Photo/Joel Fischer)
Christian faith-healer Joe Daugherty died of cancer on November 22, 2009. There will be a memorial service for him at Oral Roberts University, Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 30, 2009, at 1:30pm (CST). Mr. Daugherty was 57 years old.
In October Mr. Daugherty was admitted to the hospital for a viral infection of his throat. However, tests showed he was suffering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Why he sought medical help and did not rely on the Christian teachings which he promoted regarding faith-healing is not clear. One of the statements in his church's Statement of Faith reads, "We believe that deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers. (Isa. 53:4, Matt. 8:16-17, Mark 16:18, John 5:6-14, 1 Peter 2:24)"
The famous, or infamous, quote, "with his stripes we are healed" is found in Isaiah 53:4-5, and is often believed by Christians to be about Jesus. However, this is not the case as Thomas Paine made clear in this essay and as Mr. Daugherty made clear by his illness and death.
The quotes from Matthew and John are simply accounts of the alleged healings that Jesus is said to have performed.
The quote from Mark 16:18 is crystal clear that those "that believe" the gospel will have the power to heal as well as the power to "drink any deadly thing" and it will not hurt them, not to mention the power to cast out devils, to speak in new tongues and the power to "take up serpents". This is also proven false not only by the death of Mr. Daugherty, or by the 10 hours of heart surgery faith-healer and televangelist Pat Robertson had, and also by the 107 people who die every minute on planet earth.
The 1 Peter 2:24 quote is just a reference to the illogical belief that the Isaiah quote was referencing Jesus. It states, regarding Jesus, "by whose stripes ye are healed." Of course, this Bible promise is empty, too.
The fear of death is what created and keeps in business the "revealed" religions. If people embraced the reality of death and of God as Thomas Paine did, the "revealed" religions would soon be out of business. In Paine's The Age of Reason he wrote, "I trouble not myself about the manner of future existence. I content myself with believing, even to positive conviction, that the Power that gave me existence is able to continue it, in any form and manner He pleases, either with our without this body; and it appears more probable to me that I shall continue to exist hereafter, than that I should have had existence, as I now have, before that existence began."
If faith-healing was the cause of only adults dying it would still be bad, but not as bad as it currently is. Currently people who sincerely believe in the Bible as the word of God withhold medical care from their sick and injured children. The sooner people realize that the Bible is not the word of God, that it was written by ancient Jews who were mere superstitious men and whose writings go directly against our God-given reason, the sooner these children and adults who are victims of these ancient myths will be safe and free.
If you or your child or someone in your family or circle of friends is sick or hurt and doesn't have insurance or can't afford medical care and hasn't received a healing from a faith-healer, please click here for a list of free medical clinics across the United States.
Comments
Hi,
You make a huge mistake in thinking that the majority of Charismatic/Pentecostal/Faith healing believing Christians don't believe in medicine. It is only a few cults that think that way. Most Christians believe in 'by His stripes we are healed' and believe that God equips doctors and that medicine is useful.
There are many new agers and those who use herbs and alternative medicine that are just as fringe as Christian cults-shunning traditional medicine.
Many 'faith healers' believe in doctors and medicine- like Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, and Oral Roberts- they have never stated anything against medicine or doctors. Luke (who wrote the Gospel of Luke) was a doctor
A good example is Casey Treat who used prayer and medicine and was healed of Hepatitis C- Also, when you attack 'faith healing' you are really attacking the power of prayer- Most Christians believe in the power of prayer combined with actions taken by the individual- like if you are praying for a job- you pray and go out and look for one- when you land the job, you thank God- if you don't...you keep praying and keep looking- if someone only prayed for a job and never went out and looked for one, they'd be nuts.
It's the same principle- there are nuts in all lots- but you attack the premise of prayer and make false assumptions about Charismatic Christians that aren't accurate
And one more thing I want to say- I am a Christian and believe that faith is subjective to one's prayers being answered. Personally, I have had my prayers answered in ways that border miraculous to the point that my faith has skyrocketed.
However, I believe that people who never have their prayers answered, become hardened of heart and have no faith.
So, I would assume that those who deny God, deny Jesus, deny prayer, and deny healing are those who have never had their prayers answered, or experienced the hand of God in their lives, or have seen a miracle-
Unfortunately for the atheists, there are millions of people who HAVE had their prayers answered, and because of that - their faith will never be quenched by the opinions of unbelievers.
I hope one day you pray and your prayers will be answered- because like I said- I believe faith is subjective to answered prayers
Charisse, it's easy to demolish arguments when they don't actually represent the position embraced by one's opponents. The article above is a textbook case of a strawman beatdown. :)
I used to go to a church where they believed sickness was a result of sin. That is the kind of madness the fictitious bible breeds. Luke was not a Doctor, but a writer of fiction. Luke's Jesus is the straw man. It's interesting to see in the comments that faith AND medicine do the trick. Have a look at the book "Who Wrote The New Testament? The Making of the Christian Myth" by Burton L. Mack. Deism is belief in the Author of the Universe(God)and this Author can write history just fine without our assistance!
I'm sure this guy deserved a painful cancer death. Funny that he didn't use faith healing for himself. Hypocrite!
How many other people died because they put faith in his voodoo faith healing, rather than using this thing called SCIENCE that we use to treat our afflictions?
If I was god, he would serve some time in hell. 30 days for every day of life he tricked someone into losing with his bullshit faith healing.
Faith and medicine are not oposite, the truth of the Good news of Jesus has to be proclaimed, He still heals, saves and bless people that put their faith in his promises. Pastor Daugherty needs not to be defended, He did the right thing proclaiming the Power of Jesus Christ and teaching people to believe for their healing even if that means be accused even after going to be with the beloved Lord Jesus he has preached. For every one that's sick, don't lose your faith because of this article, on the contrary look to Jesus, get inspiration from teh gospels and pray believe and receive.! God Bless You.!
Charisse and elbio, Your Christian "thinking" is filled with contradictions. There is no debate at all, it is science through medicine that has saved millions from an early death and made it possible for most people to live long lives until death in old age. Faith has nothing whatsoever to do with this amazing fact. A matter of historical fact is that churches used to-for example-forbid people from seeking treatment such as smallpox vaccinations which faith-based govenments made illegal in colonial America! When the Enlightenment swept through the colonies many Americans began to have a new faith--in science! The clergy--not wanting to lose control of their tithing flocks--soon reversed itself and began preaching that "God equips doctors and that medicine is useful." The churches keep adapting to scientific advances so they can keep in control of your mind and your money. Go to google and check into DEISM.
This guy SUCKED as a faith healer.
What a sorry piece of drivel this is. I have known Pastor Daugherty for more than 20 years, and have never heard him called a "faith-healer".
Billy Joe Daugherty preached the Word of God, the Bible, and never tried to change the words, or omit them, as many "ministers" do. He lived what he preached, as well.
Regardless of the opinions of men, God is still the "Alpha and the Omega", and His Word is everlasting.
A great man has passed from this earth; and his legacy is that many more will carry on his mission - that is, to help, heal, and lift up all mankind to the higher level of life that God has made available.
If more had even a small percentage of his integrity, this world would be a far better place to live.
I wonder what they will say about you when you die sir! Just because B.J. Daughtery died, does not negate what the WORD of GOD says, HE(Jesus) stills walks among us today, heals and delivers, but we all will die one day, some sooner than others....weigh your words sir, you are influencing many lives...you will be accountable, as we all are. I am a three time cancer survivor, prayer and doctors, and when I go, it surely will not be either God or doctors fault, I will go with JOY and anticipation. In the meantime, I live each day proclaiming the GOOD NEWS that HE IS ALIVE and stills Heals.
I came from a place where we had very few doctors. And if there were, most people did not have the money to go to one. I cannot deny witnessing the healings and miracles that took place in that country, i can't deny people being able to hear after being deaf so long because they believed in Jesus.. I can't deny people beginning to walk after being cripple after believing in Jesus..explain away anyway you want God created science too. Don't think for one minute that wonderful brain of yours that you use to write garbage with created its own self. God heals. God allows doctors. God brings miracles. God allows education. God loves you.. and you don't even know it.
I am saddened to find your writings. You don't have to believe in my God or my Jesus. When the Bible speaks of "healing", it's The "healing" the Bible speaks of is not necessarily of the physical body, although that does happen, but of the soul, the spirit. I was diagnosed of cancer several months ago... my faith and belief in God is not reliant on a complete healing of my physical body... but of His purpose and will for me and my life and what eternal difference I can make in others' lives while here on earth. I am praying, to the God you do not believe in, for you to open your heart to Him that loves you more than you will ever know.
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