Cancer and the Christian Culture
Each culture has features that are broadly mandatory and others where there is some flexibility.
In Canada, people often take off their shoes at the entrance of the house. In the US, not so much. If someone from one culture visits the other and does not abide by that norm, it is usually not such a big deal.
On the other hand, if you light up a smoke in a non-smoker’s home, that would probably result in a significant relational rift.
So here is the question. Is faith optional in your Christian culture?
Try this scenario.
Fred, age 42, is diagnosed with cancer. It is shocking since he lives a pretty “clean” lifestyle and would not be considered at risk for cancer. He is married, has kids at home, and is broadly active in the church where they all attend.
After the initial shock wears off, word comes from the family that God has spoken. Psalm 118:17 AV “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.”
Pastor shares the vision. There IS going to be a miracle. Fred will live. God has spoken. AND WE ALL NEED TO WALK IN FAITH FOR THE MIRACLE.
BUT, you have not heard anything from the Lord about Fred’s healing and every time you try to pray into it, your spirit and the Holy Spirit check out and want nothing to do with your prayers.
You try to keep a low profile and stay away from the topic, but eventually, it becomes clear that you are not “all in” on the topic of Fred’s healing.
Word gets around that you don’t have faith. That, initially, is just a minor bump in the road.
But after a few more weeks, the chatter in the church is that Fred is not getting his miracle because of the lack of faith of SOME PEOPLE in the church, and if we DON’T COME TOGETHER IN UNITY, we won’t get the miracle Fred needs, that GOD HAS PROMISED.
Now you have no good options.
- You can play the game, show up at the prayer events and go through the motions when you absolutely don’t believe God has spoken or that Fred is going to be healed. If you do that, you and God both know that you are one big, fat, ridiculous liar. And your faux faith most likely won’t contribute to Fred’s healing anyway, so what is the point of that game?
- You can stand your ground against the massive guilt manipulation, be true to yourself with the simple statement that God has not called you to pray into this problem. Your obstinate “lack of faith and lack of love and lack of unity” will destroy your place in community, and if Fred does indeed die, his death will be pinned on your back for your lack of faith. Such a deal!
- Or you could throw in the towel early on, leave that Christian community where you met your wife, married, and have been raising your family for the last 20 years. But that will not really resolve anything because unless you unfriend Fred and every single other church friend, the Facebook stalkers will pursue you with heart rending appeals to up your faith for Fred’s healing.
To be blunt: when your faith in someone else’s Word from the Lord is a mandatory price of admission to a community, it is not a community.
It is a cult.
Every year I receive at least 500 “God told me” emails, asking for my buy in. I don’t, unless I hear from God that this one is for me.
Many times, there is every reason to believe that they DID hear from the Lord, but that doesn’t mean it is mine to invest in, through prayer or faith or money or time or counsel. As a friend, I can listen to your journey, celebrate the progress and hurt when you fall flat on your face, without sitting in judgment on your “Word” and without buying into supporting your journey.
I can be your friend in the journey without buying into your faith-appeal.
IF you will let me.
In my opinion, 80% of those 500 “Words” are eventually proven bogus. Do the math. That means 20% of them truly ARE of the Lord and are PROVEN valid by their fruit. Which means I was WRONG a bunch of the time.
Regardless of whether your “Word” is genuine or bogus, I hear from God about where I should buy into someone else’s journey and I don’t accept guilt manipulation from others.
Even when someone’s life is a stake.
And I don’t feel guilty if they die (or fail) without my support.
Galatians 6:2ff AV is a fascinating paradox.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.
I bear a LOT of burdens for the Tribe. But not all.
Because we are a community of individuals on unique journeys, not a cult.
Your faith in my Word from the Lord and my project is 100% optional.
Every time.
Always.
Copyright by Arthur Burk
April 2021
All Scripture is from NIV unless noted.
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