HOW TO VIEW MEDICAL TREATMENT

Balanced Christians do not object to medical treatment as long as it does not go against God's Law.  When a member of their family becomes ill, they are eager to seek help to relieve the suffering of the afflicted one. Still, there may be conflicting professional opinions that must be weighed.  Additionally, in recent years new diseases and disorders  have been cropping up, and for many of these , there is no generally accepted method of treatment. Even accurate diagnosis are sometimes difficult  to obtain.  What, then, should a Christian do? 

Although one Bible writer was a physician and the apostle Paul offered helpful medical advice to his friend Timothy, the Scriptures are a moral and spiritual guide, not a medical textbook.  (Colossians 4:14; 1 Timothy 5:23) Hence, in matters of medical treatment, Christian  family heads have to make their own balanced decisions. Perhaps they may feel that they need to obtain more than one professional opinion.  (Compare Proverbs 18:17) They will certainly want the best available  help for their sick family member, and most seek this among regular medical doctors.  Some feel more comfortable with alternative health therapies.  This too is a personal decision. Still, when  handling health problems, Christians do not cease to let God's Word be a lam to their foot and and light to their roadway.' (Psalm 119:105) They continue  to follow the guidelines set out in the Bible.  (Isaiah 55:8,9)  Thus, they shun diagnostic techniques that smack of spiritism, and  they avoid treatments that violate  Bible principles. -Psalm 36:9; Acts 15:28. 29; Revelation 21:8,

Consider the case of a young Asian woman.  A little while after she began to learn about the Bible as a result of studying with one of Jehovah's Witnesses, she gave birth prematurely to a baby girl who weighed only three and a quarter pounds.  The woman was heartbroken when a doctor told her that the baby would be severely retarded and would never be able to walk.  He advised her to surrender the baby to an institution.  Her husband was uncertain about the matter.  To whom could she turn? 

She says: "I remember learning from the Bible that 'sons are an inheritance from Jehovah; the fruitage of the belly is a reward.' " (Psalm 127:3)  (That doesn't mean that you should just stick your baby with strangers, just because you don't want to be bothered. They need the same kind of love as any other child) She decided to take  this "inheritance" home and to care for her.  Things were difficult at first, but with the help of Christian friends in the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, the woman was  able to manage and provide for the child with the special support needed.  Twelve years later, the child was going to meetings at the Kingdom Hall and enjoying the company of the youngsters there. The mother comments: "I am  so grateful that Bible principles moved me to do what is right.  The Bible helped me to maintain a clear conscience before Jehovah God and not to have regrets that would have been with me for the rest of my life." 

Sicknesses will not be with us forever. The prophet Isaiah pointed forward to the time when "no resident will say 'I am sick.' " (Isaiah 33:24) That promise will be fulfilled in the rapidly approaching new world. Until then, however, we have to live with sickness and death.   Happily,m God's Word gives us guidance and help.  The basic rules of conduct that the Bible provides  are lasting, and they transcend the every-changing opinions of imperfect humans.  Hence, a wise  person agrees with the psalmist who wrote: "The law of Jehovah is perfect, bringing back  the soul.  The reminder of Jehovah is trustworthy, making the inexperienced one wise. . .The judicial decisions of Jehovah are true; they have proved altogether righteous. . .In the keeping of them there is a large reward." -Psalm 19:7, 9, 11. 

Next time:  MAINTAIN PEACE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, CHAPTER ELEVEN

From the book: THE SECRET OF FAMILY HAPPINESS, 1996