Let me tell you a story. There is a woman, a young woman with kids, who has learned she has breast cancer. The news was not all that surprising, in that both her mom and one of her sisters are breast cancer survivors. Genetically speaking, you could say they drew a bad card. It's a real unfortunate and sad thing, but there is hope, because of the previously mentioned survival of the mom and sister, so there is reason to be optimistic, no?
No. Why?, because this woman is "Spirit-filled," and literally believes that if she goes through with the surgery and chemo/radiation treatments that the doctor tells her will help her beat this disease, she is showing a lack of faith, and that God will not heal her.
Before I go on, let me also tell you that this story is 100% true, and happening right now to a close friend of my wife.
She has been to Lakeland, FL, to the Todd Bentley Revival Show, and she has flown out to California to participate in something called a Healing Room. After returning from California, she went back to the doctor for a checkup, and they confirmed that not only is the cancer still there, it is growing rapidly. She literally had surgery scheduled and then canceled it - on the very day that her mother arrived unannounced to help her through the surgery and recovery time. Needless to say, her parents are livid, and in complete disagreement about this woman's choice not to get treatment, but that's OK to the woman, because they aren't Spirit-filled, so they wouldn't understand. (They are just cancer survivors.)
OK, listen, I am Spirit filled, and I don't understand either. She's just gone back down to Lakeland for another week of playing the healing slots. Hopefully, they'll pay out this time. Here's what's killing me about this situation. Her son (11 years old) has said to his grandparents, "God's going to heal my mommy." So his faith in God essentially rides on this healing. I know it's not that simple, because if there's anything Christians have more of than "true stories of miracles," it's explanations as to why those miracles didn't actually happen to them and their loved ones.
My wife is too close to this woman to ask her any questions that might help convince her to get traditional treatment. She's afraid that this woman's mind is so set, that any advice in this direction would be rejected, and the friendship severed. (Of course, nothing will sever a friendship so completely as dying, but I digress). Here are the things I would ask her, if the opportunity arose:
Why are you willing to believe that God works through certain men or certain rooms, but not through certain doctors? Why do you think God can't love you enough to heal you where you live? What happened to the commandment to honor your father and mother that it might go well with you and that you may have long life? And finally, if it was your 11 year old son with cancer, what would you be doing then?
I told Steph a couple nights ago that a lot is riding on this healing now. Her life, and the quality of the lives of her kids. The faith of this woman's son, husband, and parents. In a way, even my faith is riding on this a little bit. Not faith in God, per se, but definitely faith in signs and wonders.
