Dictionary: Cans of worms. n. Informal, pl., A source of unforeseen and troublesome complexity.
Despite the explanation that I had been quote-mined regarding not seeing doctors when we are sick, and that it was evident that I believe the exact opposite, "Froggie" said,
"Ray, 'Therefore you should never take medicine to relieve pain. You should never consult a doctor or go to a hospital for treatment, because you would be interfering with the work of God in your life. If Cancer is the chastening tool of God, then doctors who are fighting cancer are fighting against the work of God. If a preacher or a Christian believes the sickness is a means of chastening, then he should never pray for relief from the sickness, but rather pray that the cancer will continue to grow until the chastening is completed.'The meaning of that is very plain. Rather than continuing to try to weasel out of it, why not just admit you were wrong and say you are sorry? Man up, Ray and admit you were wrong. I am cross posting this to another blog so if you do not allow it, I will expose you as the person of low integrity that you are."
Fortunately for me, there are some reasonable atheists. One such atheist (my friend Raoul Rheits) took the time to scan the entire quote and, then type it out to show the context of the quote:
If Jesus wanted us to be sick he wouldn't have commanded His disciples to heal the sick.
"And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness."
"...And as you go, preach, saying 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand'. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give." - Matthew 10 verse 1, 7 and 8.
Often we use excuses for our unbelief -- excuses such as "God is allowing me to suffer to teach me some truth", and yet whenever suffering is mentioned in Scripture it is in reference to persecution, not to sickness.
"...that we suffer with Him." - Romans 8 verse 17.
Did Jesus suffer sickness or persecution?
"...Moses ... choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God" -- Hebrews 11 verse 25.
"As an example, brethren of suffering and patience, take prophets..." -- James 5 verse 10.
Moses and the prophets suffered, not sickness, but affliction.
"And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." --1 Peter 5 verse 10.
It does not say "after you have been sick and suffered with cancer or arthritis for a while." If this Scripture is in reference to sickness, it would be clear that it is God's will for you to remain in your diseased state, so that He can make you perfect, confirm, strength and establish you. Therefore you should never take any medicine to relieve pain. You should never consult a doctor or go to a hospital for treatment, because you would be interfering with the work of God in your life. If Cancer is the chastening tool of God, then doctors who are fighting cancer are fighting against a work of God. If a preacher or a Christian believes sickness is a means of chastening, then he should never pray for relief from that sickness, but rather pray that the cancer will continue to grow until the chastening is completed.
Every person in the New Testament who cried out to Jesus for healing was healed. In no case did He say "This leprosy, this blindness, is the hand of the Father at work. Be patient and allow your loving Father to deal with you through this disease." No - He rebuked disease! He cast it out!...It is not only foolish to believe that sickness is God's will, but it is anti-Scriptural. Sickness is of Satan. It is his will to kill, steal and destroy, not God's!"
Ray Comfort -- More Than Just Comfort - An Answer To Cancer [written around 1979] (typed from scans)
Sunday, December 13, 2009
