Do Christians Consider it a Lack of Faith to Put Trust into Doctors?

Jaedan

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Hi, (this is a poorly constructed question)

I have noticed that a tiny minority of Christians (I'm not trying to make a hasty generalization here) don't really trust their doctors. I have heard some stories (and ongoing stories) about people refusing to go to the doctor, trusting that God will heal them of their sickness (in a divine way). Moreover, I have been kinda worried about these people.

I'm no doctor yet (I'm not even a pre-med student yet). However, I just feel a bit worried about this minority group of Christians. But, I don't know if it is right for me to feel this way.


Do Christians consider it a lack of faith (in regards to God) to put trust into Doctors?
 

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Do Christians Consider it a Lack of Faith to Put Trust into Doctors?
I cannot answer for "all" Christians, but here is mine,

Medicine is a practice.
  1. I generally trust doctors in medical matters where I am clueless, and that is most [medical matters].
  2. My better doctors have brought me up to speed on conditions that I have or had, so (like a medical student) I will be resistant when a subsequent doctor offers a competing theory/diagnosis. At that point, it becomes my responsibility to make an informed decision.
  3. There are some ethical considerations, too; a variation of #2.
As long as #2 & 3 are not issues, I dwell happily in #1.
 
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klutedavid

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Hi, (this is a poorly constructed question)

I have noticed that a tiny minority of Christians (I'm not trying to make a hasty generalization here) don't really trust their doctors. I have heard some stories (and ongoing stories) about people refusing to go to the doctor, trusting that God will heal them of their sickness (in a divine way). Moreover, I have been kinda worried about these people.

I'm no doctor yet (I'm not even a pre-med student yet). However, I just feel a bit worried about this minority group of Christians. But, I don't know if it is right for me to feel this way.


Do Christians consider it a lack of faith (in regards to God) to put trust into Doctors?
Look at it this way. If you had a severe toothache would you pray about it, or would you go straight to the dentist? Seriously, in severe pain would you start praying?

Doctors these days are very skilled exponents at diagnosing and treating physical ailments.

If I came down with severe symptoms from Covid-19, would I kneel or admit myself to hospital?
 
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DiscipleHeLovesToo

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Hi, (this is a poorly constructed question)

I have noticed that a tiny minority of Christians (I'm not trying to make a hasty generalization here) don't really trust their doctors. I have heard some stories (and ongoing stories) about people refusing to go to the doctor, trusting that God will heal them of their sickness (in a divine way). Moreover, I have been kinda worried about these people.

I'm no doctor yet (I'm not even a pre-med student yet). However, I just feel a bit worried about this minority group of Christians. But, I don't know if it is right for me to feel this way.


Do Christians consider it a lack of faith (in regards to God) to put trust into Doctors?

so far, no one has quoted scripture in their responses here; would you accept what the bible says as Truth?
 
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DiscipleHeLovesToo

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shouldn't what the bible says about sickness and physicians be at least a consideration, if not the determining factors for what Christians believe about sickness and physicians?

or is this something that Christians should figure out for themselves, based on non-biblical sources, regardless of what the bible says?
 
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Aussie Pete

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Hi, (this is a poorly constructed question)

I have noticed that a tiny minority of Christians (I'm not trying to make a hasty generalization here) don't really trust their doctors. I have heard some stories (and ongoing stories) about people refusing to go to the doctor, trusting that God will heal them of their sickness (in a divine way). Moreover, I have been kinda worried about these people.

I'm no doctor yet (I'm not even a pre-med student yet). However, I just feel a bit worried about this minority group of Christians. But, I don't know if it is right for me to feel this way.


Do Christians consider it a lack of faith (in regards to God) to put trust into Doctors?
You need wisdom. One doctor gave me a scrip for two weeks of antibiotics. There was a warning not to take them for more than 10 days. The doctor told me to keep taking them. I did and suffered the side effects warned about. He also told me to take 2,000 mg of vitamin C a day. No way. Anything in excess risks kidney stones. He's no longer my doctor.

There is always a reason why we get sick in the first place. There is nothing wrong with trusting God first but also accepting help from the right doctor. We should ask the Lord to show us why we got sick.

I've been instantly healed by prayer at times and others depended on the medical profession. I prefer the instant kind obviously.
 
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klutedavid

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shouldn't what the bible says about sickness and physicians be at least a consideration, if not the determining factors for what Christians believe about sickness and physicians?

or is this something that Christians should figure out for themselves, based on non-biblical sources, regardless of what the bible says?
I strongly believe in the healing ministry in the church. I have been the recipient on one occasion of that ministry.

You can seek healing through the Holy Spirit or go to the doctor. I cannot see a lack of faith if someone visits a doctor. It is a personal choice and not really the business of any church.
 
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klutedavid

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Doctors are human, but we shouldn't write off their expertise.
Highly trained professionals with databanks to access of hundreds of millions of patients. In the last fifty years they have made powerful progress in treating diseases. The speed of the development of the vaccines for Covid-19 are a good example.

Anyone who wants to spend six years at university and a year as an intern at a hospital. Learning about medical practice deserves some attention. Medicine is a complex discipline that is constantly changing over time, and you have to be an academic to even consider becoming a doctor.
 
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Jaedan

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Anyone who wants to spend six years at university and a year as an intern at a hospital. Learning about medical practice deserves some attention. Medicine is a complex discipline that is constantly changing over time, and you have to be an academic to even consider becoming a doctor.

Don't remind me of the long journey I have ahead of me. :D
 
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DiscipleHeLovesToo

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I strongly believe in the healing ministry in the church. I have been the recipient on one occasion of that ministry.

You can seek healing through the Holy Spirit or go to the doctor. I cannot see a lack of faith if someone visits a doctor. It is a personal choice and not really the business of any church.

wouldn't it be better to first seek the Holy Spirit's direction? i know of no scripture that would conflict with the Holy Spirit leading someone to go to a doctor - but should looking to physicians be the first step?

and wouldn't the second witness (to confirm what we think we perceived as His direction) be based on His Word in the Bible?

so shouldn't Christians know what the bible says about sickness and physicians?

ok; i know we shouldn't reply to others in the Advice forum, but i transgressed; and now i repent :)

btw - Praise God for your testimony of His Goodness!!!
 
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Carl Emerson

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No. That is a misguided application of faith. Visiting a doctor is no more of an indictment on one's faith than visiting a grocery store.

Not in every case - George Muller commonly had no money for food and would pray for provision shortly before trucks with food pulled up at the orphanage in Bristol.

Some are genuinely given the faith to wait for healing from God but sadly often this is mimicked by those who have no personal word from God - this puts them in serious danger.
 
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DiscipleHeLovesToo

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What does the bible say?

it's easy to find out - try searching an online KJV bible for the word 'physician'

then so the same for 'sickness'

i don't want to shade how you interpret what you find
 
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Carl Emerson

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Look at it this way. If you had a severe toothache would you pray about it, or would you go straight to the dentist? Seriously, in severe pain would you start praying?

Doctors these days are very skilled exponents at diagnosing and treating physical ailments.

If I came down with severe symptoms from Covid-19, would I kneel or admit myself to hospital?

Both... unless He told me otherwise.
 
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topher694

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Not in every case - George Muller commonly had no money for food and would pray for provision shortly before trucks with food pulled up at the orphanage in Bristol.

Some are genuinely given the faith to wait for healing from God but sadly often this is mimicked by those who have no personal word from God - this puts them in serious danger.
Not really my point at all. If one has the means to go to a doctor or a grocery store that is not mean they lack faith. If you don't have the means, however, that will clearly stretch your faith.
 
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