Is there not a cause? Should our faith not spill over into every area of our life? Is health care exempt?
I am asking these questions, not as a sinless person. I have been guilty of adopting worldly practices and thought processes. I have failed at keeping God's best more than I have succeeded. Many people with holier lives than I have also violated Gods principles. We all fail, at times. So I throw no stones. I am offering foundations of decision making in this radically complex world of health care.
Three major principles are “my” most frequently applied principles and Scriptures that are used almost daily in my decision making process. This is by no means an exhaustive list.
I am asking these questions, not as a sinless person. I have been guilty of adopting worldly practices and thought processes. I have failed at keeping God's best more than I have succeeded. Many people with holier lives than I have also violated Gods principles. We all fail, at times. So I throw no stones. I am offering foundations of decision making in this radically complex world of health care.
Three major principles are “my” most frequently applied principles and Scriptures that are used almost daily in my decision making process. This is by no means an exhaustive list.
Principle One: We are created.
As a Christian, I believe that life begins at conception and ends at natural death. Personally, I apply it two ways. I don’t believe the body is making random decisions or choices, but rather God designed it to respond intelligently. So if the “medical professionals” don’t have an answer, it means they just don’t know, not that there isn’t an answer. My health issues are not surprising God. If He wants me to know, the answer will be found.
Since God created each life, they are all precious: born and unborn. My life is not more valuable than that of anyone else, born or unborn. This excludes me from any health practice founded on abortion. (I have absolutely participated in funding organizations and products that support this wicked practice- my eyes have been opened there.)
The Scriptures say that God knows us even before we are conceived.
Since God created each life, they are all precious: born and unborn. My life is not more valuable than that of anyone else, born or unborn. This excludes me from any health practice founded on abortion. (I have absolutely participated in funding organizations and products that support this wicked practice- my eyes have been opened there.)
The Scriptures say that God knows us even before we are conceived.
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.Jeremiah 1:4-5
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.Jeremiah 1:4-5
Principle Two: We are to be good stewards of our body.
My flesh is whiny, lazy and bent toward sin. I have to tell myself, no, you can’t do that and yes, you must do this. My body fights rational thought.
My body was intricately created and designed by God to glorify Him and His purpose for me. I am solely responsible for taking care of my bodily temple by allowing only that which glorifies and pleases Him to enter it. We are to be faithful stewards of our bodies and "living sacrifices" as Christians:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.Romans 12:1-3
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.1 Corinthians 4:2
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.1 Corinthians 6:19-20
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.2 Corinthians 5:10
Principle Three: When the vail of the temple was rent in two, we can now go directly to God.
I am grateful my pastor takes Biblical stands, but if he wouldn’t, I am still accountable to God for MY choices.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.1 Peter 2:5,9
Isn’t perspective everything?
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.John 10:10
So many things are propagated as good health choices. God's Word has wisdom and opinions of how we should choose. In a day when evil is called good and good is called evil, it’s hard to navigate. Thankfully, we have an anchor.
(yup, your welcome, you will be singing that song today 🙂
Joyfully serving her Saviour in her blessed position of wife and mother, Dr. Michelle Zarrillo has a unique perspective on health related issues. As a working chiropractor and an avid reader, she has many opportunities to practice that which she learns. Educating her children at home and discovering their special needs has further challenged her to examine the connection between the physical, mental and spiritual realms of the human nature. Her passion for healthier living and her quest for the Creator’s ways of healing keep her pressing forward in search of truth.
Read Michelle’s salvation testimony here and her articles here.