DISEASES
There are a multitude of illnesses in the world. A general distinction is made between physical and mental illnesses. The most common illnesses in our society include influenza, high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. These are also referred to as "common diseases." Physical illnesses can have both natural (organic) and mental causes. Natural causes usually depend on various factors. These include a person's genetic predisposition; their personal lifestyle, which includes diet, exercise, and hygiene; and environmental factors such as noise, exhaust fumes, particulate matter, radiation, and much more. There are also so-called psychosomatic illnesses, which are usually the result of mental problems.
With God, everything has its order. This applies to the universe and nature as well as to us humans. This order is intended to enable us to live together peacefully and harmoniously. If we violate God's commandments and orders, everything is thrown off balance. Illness and suffering are the result. The Bible testifies that when God created the earth, it was a paradise free of disease. This only changed with the Fall, when people turned away from God and His orders for life. Since then, life expectancy and human vitality have steadily declined. Wars and industrialization, growing air and environmental pollution, the influence of drugs and medication (especially during pregnancy), unhealthy diets, and permissive sexuality are the main causes of the increasing degeneration of our society. The number of children born with disabilities and other degenerative diseases is steadily increasing worldwide. Some people endanger their health intentionally, others out of ignorance. Many fail to consider the short- and long-term consequences their lifestyles can have. Consumer behavior is strongly influenced by industry and advertising. People living in developing countries affected by extreme poverty, on the other hand, often become ill through no fault of their own due to a lack of food, hygiene, and clean drinking water. Diseases and epidemics spread particularly rapidly in these regions....
Although most people perceive illness and disability as negative, they can also be beneficial to us. Illness can cause a person to think about God and the true meaning of their life. As long as people feel healthy and happy, very few do this. On the other hand, illness can help to break a person's pride, which blocks their path to God, and to become humble. Illness can also serve to strengthen a person's faith, purify their heart, or steer them away from a wrong path that would lead to ruin. Illness makes us aware of the transience of our lives and reminds us that each of us will one day stand before God and give an account of our lives. Furthermore, illness directs our attention to our fellow human beings and gives us the opportunity to show love and compassion for them. Experienced charity, in turn, brings people closer to God and to one another.
In short, everything that happens to us in this world can be a path to God. This also applies to illness and suffering. Knowing God is the goal of this life. A life that falls short of this goal, however, remains meaningless and worthless. Furthermore, God uses illness to keep evil in the world in check. In this respect, illness can also be a punishment for those who are unwilling to turn away from their sins. But first and foremost, God does not use illness to afflict us humans, but for our benefit. At the same time, faith in God gives us the strength to endure illness and pain.
In principle, God possesses the power to heal people from any kind of illness. For God, there are no "incurable" illnesses. Yet God doesn't even rely on doctors or medicine to heal a person. In the Bible, we find numerous examples of people being supernaturally healed of their ailments. Jesus, the Son of God, healed thousands of people every day through the miraculous powers God bestowed upon His Messiah; among them many blind, deaf, and paralyzed people. The first apostles were also able to perform astonishing healing miracles in the name of Jesus, which are also attested to in the Bible. Even today, God glorifies Himself among people through miraculous healings. Countless examples of this could be cited from all over the world. Widespread healings like those of that time, however, are rare these days, which may have various reasons. The claim that believers cannot get sick—as taught primarily in charismatic churches—is fundamentally false. The Bible contains several examples of God-fearing people becoming ill and not being healed. The Bible only partially gives the reasons for this.
The New Testament contains specific instructions on how a believer should behave in the event of illness. As a first step, God calls the affected person to summon the elders of their congregation. Elders or church leaders possess special authority from God. They are to anoint the sick person with oil and pray for them. The congregation can and should also be included in the prayer. For the prayer of a God-fearing person can have a great impact. If the illness is the direct result of sin, the person must confess their deed to God and repent. Once this step has been taken, God can grant healing. Even though God does not forbid seeking medical help, the congregation should always be the first point of contact in the event of illness. After all, God does not give us his instructions for no reason.
In principle, we humans have a responsibility to care for our bodies and keep them healthy. This includes paying attention to a healthy diet and daily exercise, while at the same time avoiding things that are harmful to our bodies. The Bible also recommends the use of natural medicine. This consists of various medicinal herbs such as spikenard, hyssop, lemon balm, myrrh, and mandrake and can be used to treat all kinds of illnesses. Unlike chemical drugs, these are better tolerated by the body and still effective. Health is a precious gift for which we should be grateful every day. The greatest gift, however, that God has in store for us humans is eternal life. God wants to give this life in the world to come to all people who believe in Jesus Christ. In this future world, there will be no more sin and no more sickness.
When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” (...) So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’” Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord on the third day from now?” “It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.” Then the prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.
Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are the one I praise.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[a] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Matthew 4,23-25
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 8,1-4
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
Matthew 9,27-31
On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.