Does anyone here believe that taking drug medications is a sin?

[TaylorDonBarret]

Anyone here have a biblical conviction against taking drug medications, for example anti-cholestrol drugs, diabetic drugs, HIV meds, etc (doctor prescribed non-narcotics) ?

 

[Chad]

Nothing in scripture I know of that says it would be a sin. People need it. However, I would always advise a believer to ask God for healing and grace first.

 

[Travis]

I think taking some pharmaceutical drugs definitely can be a sin, especially for a person whom God has given knowledge concerning why they should or shouldn't take this or that. I think it would be amiss of me to make a broad sweeping generalization and say that all medications are sinful to take.

The word for sorcery in the Greek is basically, 'pharmakeia.' That's not totally inconsequential.

 

[Travis]

I think taking some pharmaceutical drugs definitely can be a sin, especially for a person whom God has given knowledge concerning why they should or shouldn't take this or that. I think it would be amiss of me to make a broad sweeping generalization and say that all medications are sinful to take.

The word for sorcery in the Greek is basically, 'pharmakeia.' That's not totally inconsequential.

I posted the above, and then decided I should add a little more. I feel very uncomfortable about taking anti-depressants myself. Not that they are inherently sinful, or that if someone is on them they should just stop taking them cold turkey or something. My conscience just bugs me if and when I run through scenarios in my mind where I would consider taking one.

Blessings,

Travis

 

[TaylorDonBarret]

I have HIV due to my pre-conversion behaviors. I take meds everyday or else i would likely die within a few years. I have a wife, I am only 25 years old, and I evangelize and plan on becoming a Pastor. Sometimes I wish that a bomb would go off so that I could leave this world without having to live any longer in it - how much better it would be to skip this life and go straight on to the next. And sometimes I feel like I should stop taking my medications because of that term "pharmakeia". But other times I feel God wants me to live as long as I can in order to work in his kingdom here on earth. And then theres the issue of leaving my wife behind.

What do you guys think?

 

[ph8th]

I have HIV due to my pre-conversion behaviors. I take meds everyday or else i would likely die within a few years. I have a wife, I am only 25 years old, and I evangelize and plan on becoming a Pastor. Sometimes I wish that a bomb would go off so that I could leave this world without having to live any longer in it - how much better it would be to skip this life and go straight on to the next. And sometimes I feel like I should stop taking my medications because of that term "pharmakeia". But other times I feel God wants me to live as long as I can in order to work in his kingdom here on earth. And then theres the issue of leaving my wife behind.

What do you guys think?

I understand .... I am sorry.... you are in my prayers .......... we are all blessed to have Jesus

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Anyone here have a biblical conviction against taking drug medications, for example anti-cholestrol drugs, diabetic drugs, HIV meds, etc (doctor prescribed non-narcotics) ?

I have HIV due to my pre-conversion behaviors. I take meds everyday or else i would likely die within a few years. I have a wife, I am only 25 years old, and I evangelize and plan on becoming a Pastor....... And sometimes I feel like I should stop taking my medications because of that term "pharmakeia". But other times I feel God wants me to live as long as I can in order to work in his kingdom here on earth. And then theres the issue of leaving my wife behind.

My times are in Thy hand
Psalm 31:15

Greetings @TaylorDonBarret

Praise the Lord for your conversion to Christianity and turning away from homosexuality

I do not believe it is wrong for you to take the required medications for your condition

Likewise let us never forget the healing power and tender mercies of the Lord and keep you in prayer for total healing and deliverance from HIV
Our brother here at Talk Jesus ph8th is a testimony of the healing power of the Lord

Laying on of hands | Talk Jesus

Regarding prescribed medicine in general

They can become an issue if they are abused and /or become addictive.
In some cases they are over prescribed and wrongly prescribed when a much simpler natural alternative could be used

In looking at the word 'pharmakeia' there is much could be discussed about the controlling pharmaceutical mega companies but that would be another thread

 

[Hekuran]

No issue at all. I don't see much relevance in the pharmakeia/pharmacy link either.
God doesn't work only through miracles. I find the analogies with God providing food helpful.

• In the "why worry" section of the sermon on the mount, Jesus talks about God feeding the birds of the air. Does Jesus mean God miraculously feeds the pigeons with food from nowhere? Obviously not. God provides by putting enough seeds on the plants and worms in the ground. There's nothing that would perplex a zoologist, yet Jesus still attributes it to God.
• We say grace before meals - giving thanks to God for providing. Yet we know that our food comes from farmers distributors and retailers. Our food is part of God's general grace.
• My father recently had a very serious illness. He would have died within 24 hours if it had not been for very skilful surgeons working very quickly. And of course, I am giving thanks to God every day that he is alive.

There are plenty of examples of God providing miraculously - in the Bible and out of it. But that is the exception. Most of God's provision is through the ordinary and the natural.
Be sensible about medications. Ask questions such as, what are the side-effects, what are the success rates etc. But I don't see any spiritual justification for avoiding medicine.

 

[William Christopher]

Anyone here have a biblical conviction against taking drug medications, for example anti-cholestrol drugs, diabetic drugs, HIV meds, etc (doctor prescribed non-narcotics) ?

You should be aware that a large number of these conditions don't expressly need medicine to treat them (the specific conditions you listed, with the exception of a variety of diabetes, have all been successfully treated with dramatic changes in diet and exercise). You should also be aware that a large number of these medicines don't actually eliminate these conditions (I don't wish to speculate their purpose but the fact remains that most discontinuing almost any "treatment" regiment can be "dangerous"), they usually just alleviate one symptom and produce and handful of new ones to "treat."

I have experience, albeit limited, seeking psychiatric aid for anxiety and depression. I can tell you that my "treatment" provided no relief, and only served to further aggravate my mental condition. Here's the "healthcare" chain as I see it:

• Patient seeks relief from a condition
• Healthcare provider finds most relevant diagnosis based on symptoms and prescribes drug regiment (generally alongside some fairly positive, although wholly secular, cognitive/physical therapy, depending on the condition)
• Patient follows drug regiment, but is not made whole, because God made the hole and it isn't for drugs to fill, however...
  
• Patient experiences "high" from psychoactive drug, or relief from the symptom the patient sought treatment for has been lessened, and continues regiment because it is "working for them"
  
• Eventually, patient admits a lack of success (High fades/Brain chemistry adversely altered/Side effects too great to ignore), so healthcare provider reassesses diagnosis in light of new data, cycle repeats.

The cycle continues until the patient is either unwilling to continue or they've been made a mindless zombie or walking encyclopedia of side effects, who takes a cocktail of horrific and potent drugs. The fear of the consequences of ceasing their drugs paralyzes them, and Big Pharma is their church and collects the tithes (although if you can't afford your medicine, AstraZenica may be able to help. )

 

[Dovegiven]

In ancient times there were millions of people perhaps compared to billions now. Then, one could take a knife to some willow tree bark, chew the tender inside of it, getting natural aspirin for pain. That is still valid today. It wouldn't be practical for all us billions to whack a willow tree for pain relief, as the willow would be rendered extinct. Now man manufactures aspirin (the same salicytic acid). Knowledge has increased, subject to coming and going among men, all knowledge not condemned by God, but some knowledge is condemned. Perversion of good knowledge is evil. Sorcerers perverted good knowledge to gain power over people, through dubious concoctions and chants. There is good pharmacy, and bad pharmacy. Good pharmacy is like the healing fruit of the Tree of Life which we will taste of in Heaven, which Adam had access to. It's leaves will provide for divine bodily health of natural people on earth (Rev. 22:2). Healing herbs have been in use for millennia. But with the increase in populations and difficulty of distribution of them, good knowledge among men has developed effective alternatives. I take a man made statin drug to keep bad cholesterol in check even though I eat very healthily, divorced from sugar and instant meals, knowing our food isn't as powerful for health as it used to be. I took a natural herb that does the same job, but I lack knowledge of proper dosing of red yeast rice, green tea, and other natural sources. I tried all the sources, resulting in dangerously low good (HDL) cholesterol. Pharmacy got me back on a healthy track.

God made herbs for good reasons, making medicines for health possible. Pharmacy makes them and the essence of them more accessible.

Whatsoever is not of faith is sin, more particularly discussed in the law of Moses, which couldn't possibly address new unthinkable acts of sin people see today. I don't see in the scriptures that spending a significant part of our time on earth employing faith to maintain health pleases God. We are supposed to be about the Lord's business. So take the pills meant for health, live and better yet, thrive another day for the Lord's work, thanking God for blessing all helps we can find and use for health and well being. Learn to eat right, such as following the Mediterranean diet as closely as practical, not fearing departures from that, thanking God for every portion he provides.

 

[Brother Paul]

Did Paul not say to Timothy "drink a little wine for your stomachs sake" and the Lord Himself tell Isaiah to make "a plaster" out of figs? Sin? No

 

[Chad]

Did Paul not say to Timothy "drink a little wine for your stomachs sake" and the Lord Himself tell Isaiah to make "a plaster" out of figs? Sin? No

This is irrelevant to the original question, below. He's referring to prescription drugs not wine.

Anyone here have a biblical conviction against taking drug medications, for example anti-cholestrol drugs, diabetic drugs, HIV meds, etc (doctor prescribed non-narcotics) ?

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

Patient follows drug regiment, but is not made whole, because God made the hole and it isn't for drugs to fill, however...

Well,theres the problem right there.
Or
Is depression a problem or a blessing waiting to be redeemed.
Depression is a drill sergeant that forces you to go through more than any enemy could think to do.
He is your best friend who is making you perfect.
In the last sentence Jesus said to Judas he called him friend.
Lost lamb rescue training is not for the novice.
These lambs get themselves stuck in trees and bushes and ditches and just all manner of predicaments.


Do whatever it takes to stay alive long enough for your training to be complete and perfect.
Keep your eyes on the author of your faith training because he is faithful to complete
that good work he began in each one and in the body as a whole.
All things work together for good so it turns out that your trials are
only there to serve you and God to bring you to perfection.

Each of us will beat that depression into a bloody pulp.
Because we are trained by a guy who got beat to a bloody pulp,died and rose to live and tell about it.

Praise God
the beatings will continue until moral improves
.

 

[Brother Paul]

This is irrelevant to the original question, below. He's referring to prescription drugs not wine.

I disagree Chad. I think it speaks to a principle which is that mankind is allowed to use their knowledge to do good (prescription or homeopathic). I view modern medicine as a combination of wonderful miracles that God has gifted man to discover and awful profit based efforts to meaninglessly help with issues that often lead to other symptomatic problems. But I believe we both would agree there is nothing wrong with actual medications (like anti-biotics and such). Be blessed....

 

[nickbunch1987]

His power is made Perfect in weakness, after times of suffering I always found whether I knew it or not and most the time not but God was teaching my Spirit a truth which was revealed after seeking/meditating/praying, and he has never brought me hardship without me becoming closer to him afterwards. Medicine is useful and endless in variety, if medicine changes your natural Spirit at all then it should be avoided if possible but to sooth anxiety/depression i just cried to Jesus and asked him to help me over and over, and one day I just woke up free and you are much stronger I promise. Just be honest with God about your needs and he is faithful to continue his good works started within you. Just endure and his light will penetrate all darkness, stay strong, you are stronger than ANYTHING with God Almighty on your side, and us your family always root and pray for your faith to not waived. Holy is the Lamb

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

Nothing in scripture I know of that says it would be a sin. People need it. However, I would always advise a believer to ask God for healing and grace first.

I agree Chad and my pastor once said that we should go to God first and if nothing else take the medicine by Faith and pray over it and thanking God that it does what it is supposed to do.
God Bless
Jim

 

[Peter]

There are cases where taking medication for personal desires (self-exploitation), where the dosage was either abused and/or deceptively gained from the prescribe (e.g. MD).
Such as seeking mind altering medications, Valium, codeine laced medication, etc.
However, this may lead into another ethical question, is an addiction to medication, or any other chemicals, a sin.
I am not wishing to start a branch-off here, but it does cover deceptive uses of medication.

 

[c_scherer123]

I am thankful that God has blessed me with good health. I very rarely get sick.

I have had a couple of problems healed up by prayer (one was an odd problem I had since I was young, I was simply unable to sit still for more than 5min, I am quite glad that one is gone). Other times the prayer is left unanswered (at least for now).
I still take medication for a low thyroid and even 6 years later the doctor's can't even figure out why my shoulder hurts so bad. I keep praying that God will heal it, or guide the doctors and specialists so that they can help.

 

[DHC]

I have HIV due to my pre-conversion behaviors. I take meds everyday or else i would likely die within a few years. I have a wife, I am only 25 years old, and I evangelize and plan on becoming a Pastor. Sometimes I wish that a bomb would go off so that I could leave this world without having to live any longer in it - how much better it would be to skip this life and go straight on to the next. And sometimes I feel like I should stop taking my medications because of that term "pharmakeia". But other times I feel God wants me to live as long as I can in order to work in his kingdom here on earth. And then theres the issue of leaving my wife behind.

What do you guys think?

Hello TaylorDonBarret.

I do not see any problem with taking the medication. If I have a toothache I promptly go to the dentist. I also will happily
consent to any anesthetic whatsoever, before the dental treatment. If the dentist prescribed antibiotics, then I would take
them also.

I have known certain individuals that had to take medication due to mental issues, mental disorders such as bipolar and schizophrenia.
Not sure that anyone would argue against these folk taking their medication.

 

[Disneyfan30]

I am on medication for my epilepsy so I can't say I am against it as it a need I wouldn't take a tablet just for a headache though preyer is the best medical for small troubles