tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685528445185226708.post2556766657251477479..comments2023-08-06T04:39:26.904-05:00Comments on Sharing Air: Illness and ShameMartha McLaughlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06436156507579131043noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685528445185226708.post-81912798883373253552012-10-14T21:07:28.366-05:002012-10-14T21:07:28.366-05:00I think a lot of illness theology springs from a s...I think a lot of illness theology springs from a simple desire for control and a wish to avoid suffering. People want to believe they won't ever have to suffer, so it's easy to go from there to "I can control my life and avoid pain if I have enough faith." The corollary to that is "anyone who doesn't avoid suffering doesn't have enough faith or is doing something wrong." I’m not sure people are even consciously aware they believe that sometimes.Martha McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06436156507579131043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685528445185226708.post-53341944091733163702012-10-14T20:07:33.047-05:002012-10-14T20:07:33.047-05:00"Some churches and denominations are very ope..."Some churches and denominations are very open about their theology that full earthly healing of all diseases is available to anyone who requests it and has enough faith. Some churches don't claim to believe that, but church members can manage to communicate that message anyway. Any ill Christian who ever listens to Christian radio, watches Christian television or webcasts, or communicates with other Christians online gets this message."<br /><br />Grrr. I think it is the responsibility of the Church to encourage members to develop their own theodicies -- to struggle individually to reconcile God's love and the existence of suffering. And we should share our theodicies, grow from one another. That is part of Christian community. The Bible has many ways to look at this issue. Doctoral Dissertations abound on the topic. How dare any lone church, denomination or individual treat suffering and illness as a closed matter! At the risk of committing irony, I think that shows a lack of humility. It's definitely a twisted misreading of Holy Spirit. <br /><br />But I may be giving people too much credit. In reality, and I speak here in the privacy of a blog, I think this kind of theology is simply lazy. People want an easy out. They don't want to think that God may be calling them to comfort the suffering, or be the presence of God for those who suffer. Or journey in any way with those who suffer. Why, that's work. They want to be able to say a prayer and wash their hands, and if the suffering continues, well, must be God's will or the sufferer's own fault. Grrrrrr. Bad theology, if you ask me.DebraSYhttp://www.justmaintaining.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685528445185226708.post-81605527404728675142012-10-01T13:15:39.652-05:002012-10-01T13:15:39.652-05:00Amen--SO thankful that this life is not all there ...Amen--SO thankful that this life is not all there is!!! This blog post (Illness & Shame) is SO good!! Thank you!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685528445185226708.post-12732860378625084162012-09-22T11:22:15.856-05:002012-09-22T11:22:15.856-05:00The "roll call of faith" in Hebrews 11 t...The "roll call of faith" in Hebrews 11 talks about people who conquered kingdoms and shut the mouths of lions and others who were tortured, destitute, and mistreated. The scripture specifically says that they were ALL commended for their faith. As much as I would love for there to be a one-to-one correspondence between faith and an easy life on earth, that just isn't what the Bible teaches. I'm so thankful that this life isn't all there is!Martha McLaughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06436156507579131043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6685528445185226708.post-66842971798417110332012-09-22T08:54:23.476-05:002012-09-22T08:54:23.476-05:00Martha! This is so true! I, too, have heard comm...Martha! This is so true! I, too, have heard comments like, "If you had enough faith, you wouldn't have to deal with this illness." People saying things like that have no idea how much faith it takes just to get through the day. God always sees the bigger picture. He chose not to heal Paul for a reason. Healing on this earth would be wonderful, but it is enough just to know that he is beside us and helping us each moment of the day. Perhaps our encouragement, while in the midst of the trial, is exactly what someone else needs!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com