Big Business

Big Business

 

          Now that we have sent most of our factories overseas the health industry has become America’s #1 business. TV bombards us constantly with commercials promising to heal everything from an itchy scalp to fungus on our toe nails. We are offered lotions, salves, drops, vitamins, pills, capsules, sprays and we are advised to see our doctor for a prescription. So why aren’t we all glowing with health?

          Have you taken your medicine yet today? What illness are you taking drugs for? How soon do you expect to be cured so that you can quit timing your life around the schedule of your medicine? Not many people can get free. Once they start taking medicine for a condition it becomes a lifelong necessity. But is that the way it has to be?

          Does it bother you that most of the advertised medicine admits that the side effects can be as bad or worse than the original illness that it is supposed to cure? Side effects ranging from a rash, or swelling, up to thoughts of suicide. Not very conducive to confidence when it is the medicine that you have to take. However, we are so convinced that we humans are destined to suffer that we take the pill and hope for the best.

          Statistics tell us that one in ten patients being treated by the doctor are being treated for the wrong ailment. You can see how that can happen because it also claims that the doctor spends an average of ten minutes with each patient. Patients pick up deadly staph infections in the sanitary hospital where the doctor sends us as a last resort to be cured.

          About one hundred thirty three million Americans alone live with at least one chronic disease, and more than one in ten have three or more chronic diseases. On average, people with just one chronic condition see three different physicians and fill seven prescriptions a year. Even with all that care they remain sick, in pain, are stressed and depressed. Modern medicine makes a lot of mistakes for all of the high priced machines that help them make their diagnosis.

          What a sad state of affairs when we run to the medicine cabinet at the first twinge of discomfort.

          Most doctors are intelligent, caring, dedicated, helpful people that want to see you get healthy. A few succumb to the drug company’s bribe to dispense their drug for an incentive or a ‘kick back‘and perks. Don’t blame the doctor. He gets a few extra dollars to promote one drug over a competitor and one brand is pretty much like the next.

          Don’t blame the drug company. They are a business. They can’t stay in business if they don’t make a profit. They can’t make a profit if they can’t sell their product. This is big business and the doctor is just the middle man.

          I blame the church. The church has taken spiritual healing out of the church service and turned all healing over to the material medical profession. WHY?

          There were many years after Jesus left this earth that people flocked to their church for healing of every kind. The healings were swift and permanent. Jesus left His disciples with the order to “Feed my sheep and heal the sick.”

          At one time Jesus sent 70 disciples out on a mission to do just these two duties. All 70 came back successful.

          So, why was the most important part of the church service abandoned???

          Was it the leader’s decision? Perhaps, he felt it took too much time away from the Sunday message and that healing was something that the sick could do for themselves at home? Sure they could and should. But some people need a little more inspiration, a little more encouragement, and a lot more support and help.

          Whatever the reason; whoever decided; it was the wrong conclusion! Modern medicine may be Big Business but it isn’t doing much for the human condition!

          The church needs to bring healing back into the church, so that the sick will know once again that they can depend on the Father for their health and happiness. Let Big Business suffer the consequences.

          It is my opinion that the church is derelict in their duty by ignoring the healing that belongs to the church. You could even say that the church is just another Big Business. In effect the church is saying something like this: ”Thank you for being here. Thank you for your contribution to the building fund. It won’t be long before we will be able to build the beautiful new church where we can worship God in style.”

          It is almost like saying that: “Church is where you come to confess your sins. Here is where you will find salvation and forgiveness. But if you are sick you are on your own. We can’t help.”          

          Is this right? Is this what Jesus had in mind while He hung on the cross? Wouldn’t He be disappointed that the message of healing that He taught has been tossed out of the church and given to the medical profession? Jesus spent His adult life proving that good health is natural and normal.

          If Jesus returned today do you think that He would change His method of healing? Would he dispense pills, give shots, manipulate the body? Would he ask for money for his service? Would he shake his head in pity and tell you there is nothing more that can be done and send you home to wait to die?

          No, Jesus would once again see the perfect man of God’s creating and heal by knowing that no disease is God sent. This is the message that the church needs to return to.

          What better place to find health then in a house of worship?

 

          979 words                                  Loretta Ellen Edwards