“I believe that God really has dived down into the bottom of creation, and has come up bringing the whole redeemed nature on His shoulder.” (CS Lewis, God in the Dock, p.87). LINK
 

 

 

Storm Clouds-freefoto.com

 

 

I plan to look at the complex issue of faith healing. I apologize for beginning with my personal experience. However, I believe that my situation offers some insight into the matter and also shows my empathy for those struggling with medical issues.
 

Nineteen years ago, at the age of three, my daughter was diagnosed with a large, malignant brain tumor. (For those who interested in this stuff, it was a juvenile pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma- the pleo part makes a normally benign astrocytoma malignant). At the time, there were only about 12 cases of this tumor documented in the literature and the prognosis was really, really poor.  I was also 7 months pregnant at the time and newly arrived in Dallas where we had no family.

 

She proceeded to require two very long neurosurgeries within 5 months because the tumor reoccurred after the first surgery. She was also bleeding very badly during the first surgery, which was an ominous sign. Brains don’t bleed which mean the tumor had developed an extensive blood flow to keep it alive. Also, after her second surgery, the margins taken during surgery, which read clear, were found to have malignant cells several days later. (This is not uncommon). However, while waiting for the results, the neurosurgeon kept removing small amounts of tissue. Unfortunately, the postoperative MRI appeared to show residual tumor.
 

Now, comes the hard part (yep- it can always get worse). The radiologists and oncologists wanted to radiate her brain. Being medical people, my husband and I knew that such radiation would guarantee that she would become profoundly mentally retarded. She was so young that her nerves were not myelinated. Children's nerves are damaged by radiation. We asked a lot of questions, and with the support of a neurologist friend and our daughter’s lead pediatric neurosurgeon, we decided to refuse the proffered radiation. The burden of this decision would weigh on us for a number of years as we waited to see what would happen. It was the most agonizing, painful times of our lives.
 

Two factors influenced our decision. The tumor was in an area relatively accessible and we felt one more attempt could be made to resect the tumor if it began to grow again. (You know life is really going downhill when a 10 hour neurosurgery looks like a good option). Secondly, we accepted that her chances of survival were not good, even with radiation. We did not want to make her last days with us complicated by severe nausea and confusion.
 

This decision proved to be controversial. Most of the brain tumor board (all children with tumors are overseen by a multispecialty group of experts from all fields) felt we should proceed immediately with radiation. We received calls at home from doctors who disagreed with our decision. One doctor, bless her heart, said, “I want your daughter to lived a long life.” What pray tell, did she think that I wanted?

 

There were those who questioned whether we made the decision based on a religious belief that “God would heal her.” They wondered whether or not we believed in faith healing and if that was our reason for refusing surgery.
 

As I told her pediatrician, who asked to see me right away, “I have profound doubts that she will survive but I am trying to give her the best life possible.” Thankfully, she decided to support our decision as well and the three doctors together told the rest of the team to lay off.
 

Being weak and scared, I did something I had never done before. In fact, I had always believed that we should not “test God.” But, frankly, I was in no condition to be theologically rational and I think God met me where I was. I asked God for a sign that we had made the right decision. However, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get an answer. He surprised me as He often does.
 

Shortly after, we happened to have an appointment at the neuro-oncolgy clinic when there were visiting pediatric neurosurgeons from around the country observing the first class care offered by Dallas Children’s Medical Center. Being somewhat proactive, I joined them while they were discussing my daughter. As the lead resident explained that the “parents had refused radiation,” a tall doctor leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Under no circumstances radiate your daughter. You are doing the right thing.” An answer was received and from that point on we stayed the course.
 

To make a long story short, her residual tumor never grew and she was declared a cure after 10 years. I still remember the radiation oncologist visiting us at her last visit before we moved. She said she believed that my daughter had been saved for a purpose. All of the team commented that our decision was not only correct but provided some valuable information in the treatment of such tumors. Ah, the benefit of hindsight…
 

She went on to school, and except for some minor difficulty with quick memorization and higher foreign language abilities, she graduated last week with her BS in Nursing. Had we radiated her, she still would have survived but her quality of life would have been sadly different.
 

So why am I telling this story? I want to look at the issue of faith healing and the church. The cases I am focusing on are the children who have died because of parents who have refused health care. Instead they have chosen faith healing. I want the readers to understand that I, too, have experienced God’s mercy in my life when. I have a profound empathy for those who have sick children. However, I believe that there are way too many mistaken beliefs in the area of miraculous healings and hope to focus on some of them while at the same time showing compassion for those who suffer.
 

In the May, 2011, edition of Christianity Today,(P. 22), a new Oregon law was posed for discussion.

 

“Prompted by the deaths of two children in the last two years whose parents relied on faith healing measures rather than medical intervention, the Oregon House unanimously approved a bill that removes legal protection from homicide charges for parents who choose faith healing rather than medical care for their children.”
 

Their online discussion, LINK, added

“Previously, Oregon parents choosing faith healing were protected from some homicide charges.”

 

Here is a brief history of this issue.

At Rick Ross. com LINK , there is a broad overview of relevant cases in the United States. I have listed only a few and urge the reader to explore the well thought out progression of history as presented at that site. The Ross Institute Internet Archives for the Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements has a lot of information on various subjects. Be careful when you visit this site. You may lose track of time.
 

There is an article posted on the site called, “Healing or Homicide? The use of prayer to treat sick children” which was written by Shawn Doherty and appeared in the Capital Times, Wisconsin on August 13, 2008.

“1901: The clash of religion, law and child welfare begins in America when two children of J. Luther Pierson die after the New York railroad clerk treats their illnesses with prayer. A benchmark ruling finds Pierson guilty of withholding medical care and creates the legal doctrine that parents, whatever their religious beliefs, have a legal duty to provide adequate medical treatment to their children.

 

1944: In Prince v. Massachusetts, a case involving the Jehovah's Witnesses, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty does not give parents blanket authority: "Parents may be free to become martyrs themselves. But it does not follow that they are free, in identical circumstances, to make martyrs of their children …"

 

1967: A Massachusetts court convicts Dorothy Sheriden of involuntary manslaughter after she treats her daughter Lisa's pneumonia with prayer. Sheriden's Christian Scientist Church lobbies successfully to change guidelines for federally funded child protection programs to require states to add religious exemptions to statutes concerning child abuse and neglect. Over the next decades, confusion reigns as more than 40 states — including Wisconsin — add religious exemptions to laws while other states repeal them.

 

1980: Natali Joy Mudd, 4, dies in Indiana from a malignant tumor near her eye. Investigators discover smears of blood along the walls of her home where the little girl, blinded by a tumor as big as a second head, leaned and groped her way around. Outrage over this case and nearly three dozen other preventable deaths among children of Faith Assembly church lead to successful criminal prosecutions of parents and ministers, and reform of Indiana's confusing spiritual healing law.

 

1998: A study of religion-based medical neglect in the journal Pediatrics documents 172 child fatalities over 20 years among 23 religious denominations in 34 states. Faith Assembly in the Midwest leads, with 64 deaths. The Christian Science Church is second, with 28. The study calls the cases the "tip of the iceberg," since many are never reported. The vast majority of these deaths were avoidable.

 

1998: Bo Philips, 11, dies in Oregon state from diabetes. A detective finds members of the Followers of Christ praying over the dead child, who is underweight and clad in an adult diaper. A local newspaper investigates his case and the deaths of more than 60 other children buried in the Follower's Cemetery since 1955. More than half died before age 1, at least a third died from treatable illnesses, and none of the deaths resulted in charges being filed against parents. Authorities cite exemptions for spiritual healing as one reason why. Oregon reforms the statutes.

 

2003: Terrance "Junior" Cotrell, 4, suffocates in Milwaukee's Faith Assembly church during an exorcism. Minister Ray Hemphill attempts to "release the demons" and lays on top of the boy while Junior's mother prevents the boy from moving. When Hemphill gets off Junior two hours later, the minister is drenched with sweat, and the child is dead. Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann charges Hemphill with felony child abuse, fearing the more serious charge of murder won't stick because of spiritual healing protections in Wisconsin state law.”

 

Frankly, reading about these children was almost more than I could bear. It is difficult to comprehend that there are many, many more of these suffering and dead children out there. Having gone through the pain of having a terribly sick child, I understand the wish that God will swoop down and cure things immediately. But, that is not the usual case.

 

I remember one family whose teenaged son was diagnosed with a terrible form of lymphoma. I was asked by some family members to go visit with the mom and dad in the hospital because they felt I could be of help. Apparently, the family had rejected many supportive services from the medical staff. I still remember the dad telling me that God was going to heal their son so quickly that the staff at the medical center would be shocked and come to Christ. He said all of the family’s friends and family would need to pray, believing that he would be healed.
 

I tried to comfort him and explained how I was not sure that God would heal my own child and yet it happened. He then said I was unfaithful and someone else must have believed in her healing and that is why God healed her. He then said he didn’t want to hear any negativity. He proceeded to hang up signs around the room, saying everyone had to believe his son was going to be healed and anyone who was unsure should not visit. They lost their son to lymphoma within the year even after accepting chemotherapy.
 

Can you imagine the pain and guilt the parents feel? They were taught that they had to believe without any doubts and their child would live. How do they cope with this now that he has died? Do they blame themselves or blame others for not believing hard enough?

 

I believe that many faith healers are faith charlatans who have used this lie to put burdens on those who are suffering. If the person who goes to a faith healer is not healed, it is the praying person’s fault, not the lying, thieving faith healer. (Whoa-I am a bit strong, aren’t I?)

 

Here is a lesson that I learned through my ordeal. I wanted my daughter to live with my whole heart and soul. However, I also know that God usually allows children and adults with serious illnesses, such as malignant brain tumors, to die. So I prayed for her healing, prepared myself for her dying, and asked God to let me walk the path well. And in the midst of it, I experienced the embrace of God, as did my daughter. But that story is for another day.
 

I still remember the day my daughter’s neurosurgeon said to me that it was time to start hoping. He told me that he usually had to tell evangelical types to prepare themselves for the possibility of their child’s death. He said that I was different and that, surprisingly, after about 3 years, he could tell me to start hoping. Although she was not out of the woods, he told me that she was “doing things differently.” I think that means “not too bad” in neurosurgeonese.

 

I am here to encourage you that you don’t have to pray and believe perfectly, do the name and claim game, or whatever. Just go to God, tell Him what you want and ask Him to walk you through it. In the end, it is in His capable hands. He understands better than you can imagine.
 

I will continue the discussion tomorrow as Christian leaders respond to this question at Christianity Today's blog and article on faith healing.

 

Lydia's Corner: Judges 13:1-14:20 John 1:29-51 Psalm 102:1-28 Proverbs 14:15-16