Are You a Christian Scientist or a Scientologist?

In the 1990s, I was a young adult, recently out of the FOC; yet, I didn't have a lot of ways of successfully relating to the world or explaining why I had some very odd attitudes, beliefs, and practices. Why hadn't I ever been to see a doctor? Was a Christian Scientist or a Scientologist? Well, neither.

I hadn't - at that time - even heard of such religions. I barely understood the difference between Judaism and Christianity. I learned not to share my differences with most people because it just led to questions I either couldn't answer, or didn't really want to talk about.

I don't really think about those other religions much - except that they share some practices with the FOC such as shunning ex-members and discouraging medical interventions. Christian Science actually has more in common with the Oregon City branch of the FOC than I would've imagined. Not only are they faith healers, who believe in the Bible - they also do not have ministers, but base their religion off the legacy of their leader's words (in the case of Christian Science, the published work of their leader). Like the FOC, many practitioners, children and adults, have died from medically-preventable ailments. Christian Scientists practice faith healing through consultations (in person or over the phone, where the practitioner / provider argues the illness out of the patient / parishioner. It is the only faith healing practice that qualifies for billing through medical insurance.

Scientology, on the other hand, is not based on the Christian religion. It was started by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer, and was made famous by Tom Cruise. Scientologists believe people are immortal in that the essence of us lives on in nature. I haven't delved too much into researching their beliefs, but from skimming their website, they believe in striving to be the best they can be, spiritual enlightenment, etc. While many may believe that Scientologists practice faith healing; but, according to their website, they do take prescribed medicine and seek medical care with the exception of psychiatric medicine, which they believe to by harmful and sometimes deadly.

While I am no longer a faith healer, I do appreciate the basic belief. I believe in prayer with medicine - that God can heal and God can (and does) use medical doctors and medicine to help us heal. And, while I do not agree with most of the Scientology movement, I do appreciate the idea that psychiatric medicines are overprescribed and often not the best path.

A Little Ugly Truth About My Book and Blog

I started blogging over two years ago and, until this past week, haven't missed a week. It's been two weeks since I posted a blog and that one a guest blog. The week before was a republished article.

The truth is, I'm just not feeling it these days. I finished my book a year ago and haven't touched it since. So, it's not exactly finished-finished. It was finished enough to pass as an MFA thesis. It was approved by much better writers than me. It went through professional edits. But, it isn't in the condition I want it to be.

And all that kind-of stinks because I have an agent waiting to read my book - and I don't want to hand it over. I want to fix dozens of things (yes, I have a list) and add several scenes. But, without the 30 pages/month requirements I once had, writing tends to fall to the bottom of my to-do list.

I'm letting my dreams slip away. It's depressing and overwhelming and even embarrassing.

Most people have long since stopped asking me about my book. So, in case anyone out there is wondering: my book hasn't changed in a year. It's sort-of finished. Good enough to earn a terminal degree and qualify me to teach undergraduates. But not good enough to show the world.

And that ties in with this blog - I won't publish excerpts of my book here because that's a rip off to anyone who eventually reads the book. 

And I'm a bit weary of writing about the Followers. Honestly, they bore me. What's left to say? I'm tired of hearing from community members (and current members) about them sneaking their children (and themselves) to medical clinics. Good for them for doing the right thing. Bad for them for being too chicken to admit it. We're all hypocrites in some way, I suppose.

I'll write something next Sunday. Probably.

What Makes Us Different? #BeingAChristian #FaithHealing

I am called stupid and blind; ignorant and closed-minded for believing that the Bible is true and Jesus is real. And yet I believe. I have faith that God is real. 

When someone is sick or hurting, I pray. I don't know what happens to my prayers. I don't know if they're heard anymore. What has happened to faith healing? Does it happen anymore? I have no doubt that it occurred in the past. What makes us, as believers and followers of Jesus, different?

* * * *

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have I give thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Acts 3:6-8

* * * * *

Dear Readers: have you experienced miraculous faith healing in your life or your family?

Don't Call an Ambulance!

I have been pretty miserable for the past several weeks. First I had a flu that didn’t want to get better, until I dosed up on “Nature’s Flu Shot.” Yuck – that stuff was terrible; but it did give me a few days of respite before the next infection set in.

I have a pretty easy work schedule as a part-time instructor. I teach three classes, back-to-back, on Mondays and Wednesdays. I work from 8:30 until 1:00. Not bad, right? It allows me to volunteer in my kids’ classrooms three days a week. And, I don’t just work the nine hours – although that’s what I’m technically paid for. I spend twenty or more hours every week grading papers and preparing my lectures.

This week, thanks to Martin Luther King, Jr. day, I only had to report to work one day: today. I was feeling terrible and so were my kids. I couldn’t send sick kids to school – but there really isn’t much choice for me. I go to work: there’s no option to stay home. Although, today I wish I had cancelled my classes and stayed in bed.

I made it through the first two classes – in a fog. But, things went smoothly. My third and final class of the day started out okay, but ended in humiliation. It was ten minutes before the end of class and I was talking to the students about the difference between subject pronouns and object pronouns when I smacked the back of my right hand into the corner of the metal eraser tray on the white board. Yeouch! The pain tore through my body. But, I didn’t want to make a scene. Ten minutes to go. I could do it. Or, not.

Within seconds of hitting my hand, my vision was black and I knew I was going down. I stopped the lecture, said, “Class dismissed,” and bolted for the door.

I dashed into the main office heading back for the shared instructor workroom, but ran into unexpected obstacles. I was feeling incredibly dizzy, my vision was blurry-gray, and I knew I was going to pass out any second. Unfortunately, someone had left some boxes in the walkway, and there was a person standing at the copy machine. Swerve, smack, and Suzi hit the ground face first.

I heard someone behind me say, “Call an ambulance.”

That was enough to rouse me. I can’t afford an ambulance. Part-timers (adjunct professors) do not receive health insurance benefits. “Don’t call an ambulance. I don’t have insurance.” I said. And with the sound of water rushing in my left ear, I lost consciousness.

Thankfully, the ambulance was not called. I came to minutes later with my face in a pillow and several of my colleagues standing over me discussing what had happened, what forms needed to be filled out, the color of my complexion, etc. I lifted my head to look behind me and saw a group of students watching from the foyer.

I’m not sure how hitting my hand – it still hurts like heck! – caused me to black out and faint. I think it was partially due to the recurring viral illness. I went home and slept for hours, waking to read to my kids, write this blog, and then return to my comfortable bed.

Someone recently said to me, “Suzi, you’re still a faith healer, aren’t you?” I said, “Yes, I am. I will always rely on faith. But I only avoid hospitals and doctors because I cannot afford to go.”

I believe that faith and medicine are not mutually exclusive. But, until I can afford medical care, I’ll continue to be a faith healer by necessity.

Darren Russell: Why I Choose Not to Use Physicians, Part Two

Last April, Darren Russell shared an article explaining his reasons for faith healing. This is a follow up on the same subject.

* * * * *

Last year I endeavored to give reasons for why I do not use physicians. I fairly strictly confined that article upon scriptural grounds, avoiding the historical, political, and scientific arguments. I had hoped even then for an opportunity to demonstrate that the beliefs some of us hold, of medicine and faith healing, was in fact the overwhelming practice of the early believers. If faith healing was only for the Apostles to perform, then once they vanished from the scene the Church would not have made use of these gifts, and returned to medical intervention.

            The importance of the historical argument has not gone unnoticed by those opposing, supposing that history sides on their part. In 2009, in anticipation of the Worthington trial, a writer for the Oregonian interviewed a professor concerning the history of medical usage in the first centuries after Christ. He claimed, “Christians were no different from the Greeks and the Romans. They used the methods of healing that their neighbors used. They accepted a naturalistic cause of disease. They employed medicine because of its cultural authority. “ He explained    “cultural authority” as  “something that an educated person should know about.” He did admit  that the 2d  century Origen recommended “that those who wanted to rely on God alone should seek healing by prayer and spiritual means. “ And that “there have always been some Christians who did that.” He also unfortunately used the same Origen to claim that most Christians at that time used physicians and  medicine.   (http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2009/06/osu_professor_early_christians.html)

            I say unfortunately because in Origen's works I find he examples the use of physicians  but never claims they were used by the church. In fact he was arguing against the heathen philosopher Celsus on his own terms. For example in one place was written, “IF recovery from disease is to be accomplished by means of the healing art, of necessity the physician is summoned, and it is therefore false to say that "in vain do you call in a physician." We have brought forward all these illustrations on account of the assertion of this learned Celsus.” (Origen, Against Celsus, Book II Chapter 20) In the same work Origen maintained that signs and wonders were still being seen among those that lived by the gospel. (Book I, Ch. 2)

            Origen's life ended near the middle of the 3d century and so I thought I would produce some testimony from those before him, who lived immediately after the age of the Apostles.

Justin Martyr , writing about 140 AD a defense of the Christian way,  explained what drew him to the Christians:

“For I myself, too, when I was delighting in the doctrines of Plato, and heard the Christians slandered, and saw them fearless of death, and of all other-things which are counted fearful, perceived that it was impossible that they could be living in wickedness and pleasure. For what sensual or intemperate man, or who that counts it good to feast on human flesh, could welcome death that he might be deprived of his enjoyments, and would not rather continue always the present life, and attempt to escape the observation of the rulers; and much less would he denounce himself when the consequence would be death?” (1^st Apology) He also confirmed  that the signs still followed the believers at that time. “Many of our Christian men exorcising them[demons] in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, have healed and do heal, rendering helpless and driving the possessing devils out of the men, though they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, and those who used incantations and drugs.”

2^nd Apology, Ch. 6

            His disciple Tatian, in Address to the Greeks c.155 AD gave even clearer depictions of the faith delivered to the saints. He ridicules the philosopher Heraclitus who died of his own cure, despite being a supposed top notch medical doctor (Chap. 3) , and makes pronouncements against medicines. “ How is it becoming to ascribe to matter the relief of the insane, and not to God? For by their art they turn men aside from the pious acknowledgment of God, leading them to place confidence in herbs and roots. But God, if He had prepared these things to effect just what men wish, would be a Producer of evil things; whereas He Himself produced everything which has good qualities, but the profligacy of the demons has made use of the productions of nature for evil purposes, and the appearance of evil which these wear is from them, and not from the perfect God.” (Chap. 17) “But medicine and everything included in it is an invention of the same kind. If any one is healed by matter, through trusting to it, much more will he be healed by having recourse to the power of God. As noxious preparations arc material compounds, so are curatives of the same nature. If, however, we reject the baser matter, some persons often endeavour to heal by a union of one of these bad things with some other, and will make use of the bad to attain the good. But, just as he who dines with a robber, though he may not be a robber himself, partakes of the punishment on account of his intimacy with him, so he who is not bad but associates with the bad, having dealings with them for some supposed good, will be punished by God the Judge for partnership in the same object. Why is he who trusts in the system of matter not willing to trust in God? For what reason do you not approach the more powerful Lord, but rather seek to cure yourself, like the dog with grass, or the stag with a viper, or the hog with river-crabs, or the lion with apes? Why you deify the objects of nature? And why, when you cure your neighbor  are you called a benefactor? Yield to the power of the Logos! “ (Chap. 18)

            Tatian assuringly exhorts his readers “with us there is no desire of vainglory, nor do we indulge in a variety of opinions. For having renounced the popular and earthly, and obeying the commands of God, and following the law of the Father of immortality, we reject everything which rests upon human opinion. Not only do the rich among us pursue our philosophy, but the poor enjoy instruction gratuitously; for the things which come from God surpass the requital of worldly gifts. Thus we admit all who desire to hear, even old women and striplings; and, in short, persons of every age are treated by us with respect, but every kind of licentiousness is kept at a distance. And in speaking we do not utter falsehood. It would be an excellent thing if your continuance in unbelief should receive a check; but, however that may be, let our cause remain confirmed by the judgment pronounced by God.” (Chap. 23)

            Eusebius, who wrote a history of the Church in the early 4th century,  quoted one Irenaeus who was a bishop in the late second century. “ True disciples, receiving grace from him, perform such works in his Name for the benefit of other men, as each has received the gift from him.  For some of them drive out demons effectually and truly, so that those who have been cleansed from evil spirits frequently believe and unite with the Church. Others have a foreknowledge of future events, and visions, and prophetic revelations. Still others heal the sick by the laying on of hands, and restore them to health. And, as we have said, even dead persons have been raised, and remained with us many years.  But why should we say more? It is not possible to recount the number of gifts which the Church, throughout all the world, has received from God in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and exercises every day for the benefit of the heathen, never deceiving any nor doing it for money. For as she has received freely from God, freely also does she minister. “ This Irenaeus was taught by Polycarp who learned the faith at the feet of Apostle John.

Tertullian who lived in the generation after Irenaeus and  of the one preceding Origen gave us some nice examples of healings, and how they were brought about. “All this might be officially brought under your notice, and by the very advocates, who are themselves also under obligations to us, although in court they give their voice as it suits them. The clerk of one of them who was liable to be thrown upon the ground by an evil spirit, was set free from his affliction; and was also the relative of another, and the little boy of a third. How many men of rank (to say nothing of common people) have been delivered from devils, and healed of diseases! Even Severus himself [he was the Roman Emporer who died in 211AD-DR] , the father of Antonine, was graciously mindful of the Christians; for he sought out the Christian Proculus, surnamed Torpacion, the steward of Euodias, and in gratitude for his having once cured him by anointing, he kept him in his palace till the day of his death’(To Scapula, Chap. 5).

There are many other quotes that could be added to these, but I feel the point has been made. History shows that for the first few centuries the Church did not use doctors, but waited faithfully for their healing. They practised it upon unbelievers as well, as a testimony to the goodness of Christ. The professor interviewed by the Oregonian, seems to have been clearly wrong in many of his statements.

The True Followers of Christ: A Group of Fanatics

Thanks to Darren Russell for providing this excerpt of an editorial about the True Followers Church. It is totally the opinions of an outsider looking at the church.

Last April, Mr. Russell wrote an article explaining his reasons for faith healing. Tomorrow, January 18, I will publish a follow up article by him on the same subject.

* * * * *

By R. W. Gilbert

The Sunday State Journal, July 4, 1909, excerpted from Editorial page.

Down near Hutchinson, Kansas, there remains still some of that faith which is the salt of the earth. A group of fanatics dubbing themselves “The True Followers of Christ,” have begun to actually and literally follow the teachings of The New Testament. Of course we all do this so far as is consistent with our business interests, and the welfare of our families, but these people, who are in the strictest sense heretics-that is more religious than their brethren- follow the New Testament to their own and children's undoing. These are the sort of people that are really dangerous to conventional Christianity and ought to be sent to the asylum or burned at the stake or something of the kind.

Among other things requiring splendid courage, truly heroic faith, these people will take a live rattlesnake in their hands “in the name of Christ” and let it bite them, with even greater courage they will hand it to their sons and dear ones and let it also bite them. Think of it! In this cautious, cold, skeptical twentieth century, with it's timid worship of the safe and sane, it's Laodicean faiths and it's still more moderate heterodoxies, there are men and women and children who are voluntarily risking their lives, voluntarily submitting their bodies to torture for the sake of a few words of Jesus Christ. Ignorant, absurd, irrational, criminal? Certainly, so were the prophets before them. Certainly, for their Kingdom is not of this world. Certainly, for they are really religious.

The rattlesnake test? It is not such a bad one after all. The man who endured such a test successfully would be worth something, would be worth a whole conference of ecclesiastical side steppers and stand patters. Such a man would be an excellent addition to the United States Senate just now...he would do what he thought was right in a homely, straightforward way, he would say exactly what he pleased, and he would not give a whoop if the president and both parties and all the crowned heads of Europe were arrayed against him. Simply because he would be religious.

Another reason why the rattlesnake test would be a good one to apply to the modern world is that there are so many things in the modern world worse than rattlesnakes. There are so many deaths in the modern world more dreadful than death from the bite of a serpent. For at the worst a rattlesnake can only make your body swell up and die, but the sins which folks introduce into their houses without the slightest qualms may make their souls swell up and die.

So much for the “Followers of Christ.” They will soon be wiped out, or conform (which is an ignoble method of being wiped out) and go the way of the Doweyites and Doukhobors and such like folks who follow the Bible with a crazy consistency. But the expediently orthodox person and the prudently heretical person will remain with us and keep up their sham battles. They will do no particular harm or good to the young people, as young people want above all to be interested and flabby folk are not wont to be interesting. A narrow minded bigoted zealot will make converts because he believes in something with all his might...but the tolerant preacher and the religious “expert” will make no converts for the simple reason that you can not make something out of nothing. There is not the slightest danger that the professor who is personally unconvinced will “create conviction,” whereas the man of original religious endowment will create conviction whether he wishes to or no. God has made heaven for his saints, and hell for his enemies, but only He knows what fate is reserved for the folks who merely “study religious phenomena.”

…

But men were made to do better than they know how, to be considerably bigger propositions than harmless skeptics. They must be believers, they must be willing to adventure everything on the turn of the die, they must somehow or another drop their anchor into the unseen and cease their drifting and driveling, or be forever not worth mentioning in an obituary or otherwhere . The one thing that matters is belief, the attitude you face life in. If you grasp the rattlesnake boldly, if you face death and pain without flinching, then everything else is of little account. If you dodge and shrink and make objections and slip back into an easy-going self-indulgent life, then who cares how learned or rich or gentlemanly you may be. And the only real dynamic courage and hope and joy that I know of is religion. We praise practicality and efficiency and deplore other worldliness, but the most faith in the Christ of the New Testament.

Does Using Home Remedies Show a Lack of Faith?

I’ve posted on here before about growing up without medical care. I’ve never had immunization shots. I was born in my parents’ bedroom with lay midwives. I never visited a doctor or had any medicine until I left the group at the age of twenty-one.

When I was young, I had a small glass of wine and said the words, In Jesus’ name whenever I felt sick or couldn't sleep. If I had an injury – from a sprained wrist to the time a boy shot a staple into my eye using an industrial stapler – my parents (or sometimes an old guy from church) rubbed extra virgin olive oil onto the affected area while saying, In Jesus’ name.

When folks from church asked for prayer, we prayed for them (silently). If someone was dangerously sick, we sometimes fasted while praying for them.

I still practice faith healing.  When my children are sick or injured, prayer is my go to. I use bandages and children’s Tylenol as needed. And, if the situation calls for it, I take them to doctors’ offices and the occasional hospital. I also pray for friends, family, and anyone else who requests it.

I still rely on God for my health and well-being. Well, full disclosure, I also use home remedies. I would occasionally check in with a medical professional if I could afford health insurance – but adjuncts do not get benefits.

Nine days ago, I came home from my MFA graduation in New Hampshire with a gift from the East coast = a terrible flu. Last week, the first week of the term, I pretty much sleep-walked through all my lectures. I had a huge stack of essays that needed grading, but kept hoping all week that I’d wake up the next day feeling better. By Sunday night – day seven – I was still feeling like death. I had seen the recipe below being passed around Facebook and hadn’t tried it out because I didn’t feel well enough to make it to a grocery store.

But it was Sunday and I had a lot of stuff to catch up on before Monday morning, so I called my parents (who live a mile away) and talked my dad into picking up the ingredients and delivering them to me. In my desperation, I never considered how that stuff would taste – horrible! But, I started feeling better within an hour. I continued drinking doses until my original batch was gone, and it made a huge difference.

So, here’s my question: is that faith or medicine? What about drinking wine? When I was a teenager, a girl from church instructed me to eat pineapple for cramps. I also ate soup when I was sick. And honey for a sore throat – and I gargled with salt water.

What’s the difference between “natural remedies” and medicine?

No Immunizations

A note of clarification: this is my personal story of how my parents' decision to abstain from medical care for themselves and their children affected me. I am not advocating for anyone to avoid immunizations for their children. In fact, my own children have had all of their shots, and I have no second thoughts or regrets about raising them with regular medical care and all of the recommended immunizations.

* * * * *

I've never had an immunization shot. I think it has benefited me in some ways. Yes, I did get some bad diseases that could have been prevented and were potentially fatal, but my immune system is much stronger for having gone through those illnesses.

When I was four years old, my oldest brother caught Whooping Cough from a schoolmate who’d had a live pertussis (whooping cough) shot. I think most of the things I came down with (maybe all) were caused from the medical interventions of others. My case of whooping cough was particularly bad and my parents were seriously worried. I was given small doses of red wine and anointed with olive oil while my parents prayed for my recovery. I think they suffered as much as I did – maybe more – they had five kids down with whooping cough! I remember those days, maybe weeks, when my then five-year-old brother and I slept in our parents’ bed and stayed in bed most of the days. I spent hours staring at the popcorn ceiling and imagining different objects, animals, and shapes moving around. They had a Japanese painting hanging over their bed of a sailboat on a moonlit night, but I kept imaging that the sailboat was really an evil witch.

I will never forget my first day of ninth grade. I woke up feeling off and assumed it was first day of school jitters. I couldn't stomach the thought of eating my normal breakfast of cheerios (the breakfast I have eaten nearly every day of my life from the age of four until now), and decided that Ramen noodles would be just the thing. I had Spanish second period and I remember sitting in my plastic chair feeling like the teacher was speaking from miles away. My head was spinning and I was sweating. I couldn't get her attention to ask to leave the room, but I was so ill, that I left anyway. I walked into the school office and asked to call home, but the secretary just waved me off and said it was just nerves. She told me to sit down and went back to her work. I immediately began vomiting in the metal wastepaper basket. By time all of my undigested noodles were out, the secretary had my mom on the phone.

It was disappointing to miss the first two weeks of school. I had planned to take school seriously when I got to high school. I always heard that grades don’t really count until high school, and here I was out sick. My teachers sent work home, but I was in no position to focus on anything. I had a bad case of the mumps. Even when I returned to school, I had swollen glands and a misshapen face.

In eleventh grade, I came down with German Measles. That knocked me out of school for nearly three weeks.  Whenever an outbreak of German Measles came about, the women at church who were pregnant, might be pregnant, or might get pregnant had to stay away from church and the public, in general – unless they’d already had German measles. I guess I also had Chicken Pox when I was a toddler, but I don’t remember it.

I don’t get sick much now. I have traveled in twenty countries and on four continents  and have never had to get inoculations. My immune system is strong. Last summer, I got a notice from my graduate school adviser stating that I needed a current physical and a record of shots. Although, it is no longer against my religion to get immunizations, I didn't feel that it was a necessary procedure, so I requested (and was granted) an exception. I have natural immunity to most infectious diseases, so why have extra chemicals forced into my system?

Keepsakes From the F.O.C.

I have a lot of good memories from my childhood and young adulthood with the Followers. I also have several momentos of this time in my life - mostly in the form of photographs, which would upset far too many folks if I published them. So, here are some objects I've held onto throughout the years:

Medical Abstinence Alert Bracelet:
"Suzanne M. Shumaker, Route 2 Box 380, Beavercreek, Oregon
632-6736, FOLLOWERS, Kin - Alton C"

In 1986, when church services were reduced to the singing of 10 hymns, church women got together to craft these lovely personalized song book covers.

I wasn't supposed to decorate my book...

A Song Book without a cover

Mom wrote down the key Bible verses that our church followed and other "worldly" churches disregarded, that White pointed out - such as the Holy Kiss and the Signs of the True Believer

 

My favorite souvenirs - church cookbooks. There are some delicious recipes in these two books - love the chicken pot pie from the 1989 book "Recipes from Friends." 

What Is A Worldly Person?

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

In the Followers, we defined anyone who was not one of us as a “worldly person.” That included all other religions and denominations. They were worldly churches and worldly preachers.

But the term worldly person is used outside of the FOC. In most secular contexts, it is actually a compliment. It is someone who is wise in the ways of the world. An educated, well-travelled person.

Here is how dictionary.com defines worldly:

world·ly

[wurld-lee]  Show IPA adjective,world·li·er, world·li·est, adverb

adjective
1.of or pertaining to this world  as contrasted with heaven,spiritual life, etc.; earthy; 
   mundane.
2.experienced; knowing; sophisticated: the benefits of hisworldly wisdom.
3.devoted to, directed toward, or connected with the affairs,interests, or pleasures of this
   world.
4.of or pertaining to the people or laity; secular; neither ecclesiastical  nor religious
5.Obsolete . of, pertaining to, or existing on earth.

Churches outside of the FOC also use the term worldly person to refer to someone who dresses in fashionable clothes, has stylish hair, wears a lot of make-up, listens to popular, secular music, and is overly involved in the relevant popular culture.

I have recently heard some reports (yes, gossip) about how Shannon Hickman is getting along in prison. Because her case was high profile and covered in the news media and newspapers, the women prisoners had preconceived notions of how she would be when she arrived among their ranks. The thing that surprised the other prisoners the most was how “worldly” she was. What do you mean by worldly I asked.

“Well, she is into popular music, movies, and TV shows.” So, apparently the other prisoners were expecting someone who did not watch television or listen to music. Maybe they had in mind an Amish woman.

Despite their criticism of her, Shannon has made a lot of friends in prison, but she was a bit unsure at first. Her counselor, realizing that she wasn’t a hardened criminal had advised her to watch out for the other inmates saying, “If a woman comes to you and says she has your back, it means she wants to sleep with you.” Well, imagine her response when a friendly inmate said just that to her, with no intention of sleeping with her.

The inmates at Coffee Creek are required to work full-time jobs for very little pay. They usually receive $100-$200 per month for the full time work. Out of that money, they are required to purchase their own uniforms, shoes, make-up, haircuts, and personal items. Shannon’s chosen job is in the prison chapel. She is a clerk for the religious library.

So what makes someone a “worldly person” to you? Is it someone who gets medical care? Goes to a “worldly church/chapel services”? Is it a positive thing – an educated, world traveler and life-long learner? Is it someone who cares too much about worldly possessions? Or something else?

Kelly Stone Gamble: Wiley Cash's A Land More Kind Than Home

Kelly Stone Gamble is a freelance writer and personal friend. I asked her to review Wiley Cash's novel, A Land More Kind Than Home, for this forum as the subject of the novel brought back memories of my own childhood.

* * * * *

I’ve been reading Suzi’s blog from day one and although I don’t agree with a lot of the ideas that the FOC promotes, I do understand, to a certain extent, how those that have been surrounded by and immersed in a religious environment become trapped in a world of belief.   There is one thing, however, that I just can’t understand, or maybe just can’t accept.  That is the suffering that some children are forced to endure because of their parents’ choices. 

I recently read “A Land More Kind Than Home” by Wiley Cash, which is the story of two young boys, Jess and Christopher Hall, both of whom become victims of their mothers belief.  The story is told by three narrators: the church matriarch, the town sheriff and Jess Hall.  Christopher is autistic and during a church service he is killed as the preacher, Carson Chambliss, and other members of the church attempt to ‘cure’ him.  This is an oversimplified description of the book, but it is enough for me to explain what really haunts me about this story.  Even after her oldest son is killed, Julie Hall continues to follow Chambliss, forsaking the welfare of her younger son, Jess.    

Julie was raised to believe, and in this case, to believe in the words of one man who hides behind the cloak of religion.  She is a victim, too, and when her son is killed, the reader is sympathetic.  Julie is unaware that Christopher saw her and Carson Chambliss, the church’s leader, in bed.  But Chambliss does know, and decides it is time to free the demons that are the cause of Christopher’s autism.  Julie allows Chambliss to try to heal her son, and it leads to his death. 

It is not necessarily Julie’s blind following of Carson Chambliss that bothers me.  As I said, I understand how those that are raised in a religious environment can become sheep-like.  However, when one child is killed, isn’t that enough for a mother to say ‘Stop’?  Isn’t that enough to open a woman’s eyes and realize that her children, her gifts from God, are her responsibility and she must do what is best for them, regardless of what her church deems right?  At what point does providing for the safety and welfare of ones children become paramount in the lives of those that follow a religion that clearly puts those lives in danger? 

I realize that ‘A Land More Kind Than Home’ is a work of fiction, however, the incidence of parents allowing the beliefs of their church to interfere with their own responsibility to their children is not fictitious at all.  It happens too frequently and at times results in unnecessary illness and death.  As a mother, this is what I can’t accept.  God blessed us with children and it is our responsibility to care for them.  Because in the end, it is not the Carson Chamblisses of this world who will answer for the abuses of the children.  It is the Julie Halls.  

Wiley Cash, Kelly Stone Gamble, and Suzi Shumaker - June 16, 2012

What The Neighbors Think

The passage below was sent in an email to me. The author requested to remain anonymous to protect her position within the Oregon City community. I will publish another blog by a local resident on Wednesday.

* * * * *

Those of us who attended school from 1945 - 1957, have seen many changes in the attitude of the FOC.  In elementary school, their children seemed quite normal.  One of our classmates was best friends with a "Kisser" who came to birthday parties.  When we were in Junior High, she would not have anything to do with the rest of us.  We were all shocked to find out, in the eighth grade, that another one, T---, was dropping out of school to get married! Who would marry a child of that age?

As adults there were some followers who played cards with a group of us and belonged to the same archery club.  I didn't shoot field archery, so I would watch their baby while they were on the range.  One follower friend offered to watch my children when a group of us were in Salem lobbying for a law to inoculate all children. There was a minor outbreak of meningitis that killed a couple of their children and it made us realize that having their children in the public schools endangered our own loved ones.

One of our dear friends is not only a follower - she is a true Christian. She does not shun anyone; she embraces those who are true friends.  We giggle at one memory: She had very serious medical problems after the birth of a baby.  She was anointed and prayed for and came home in bad condition.  Another friend sneaked some pain pills through her bedroom window and she heard the women say, "Oh, look how peaceful she is resting, our prayers are being heard!"  When her husband went hunting, she would come to our parties occasionally, but she never drank liquor, she just had fun.

A young woman on our street went into labor and FOC parked any way they wanted.  The police were called, so neighbors could have access to their own driveways.  That is one of our peeves about them.  They don't care who they inconvenience, as long as they get their way. By the way, the baby died.

One of the problems that has progressed over time is the FOC teenage boys are acting ruder and more gang like than they were years ago.  This [group] has no true guidance, the children have never been taught any of the fascinating stories that are hidden from them by false prophets who started and controlled a group of people.  Their parents are totally ignorant of what Christianity means.

Open your doors, open your hearts, open your minds.  THERE IS A WONDERFUL FREE WORLD OUT HERE!

Jerry Patton: Medicine & Faith

Jerry Patton, a former member of the Oregon City Followers of Christ, and the grandson of an FOC preacher, agreed to write about his beliefs in regards to faith healing and the role of medicine in a believer's life.

* * * * *

 

It’s been a long time since I thought about being forbidden to use a doctor.  I can remember learning about that belief and knowing that it was something somehow I had to accept.   It’s not something that seems too menacing until pain, fear, and all kinds of thoughts are up in your face.  I did my best to embrace it, but it was that young age, probably around the age of 10, it didn’t seem to make much sense.  I could go to the dentist; he was doctor; he used drugs to deaden the pain, but that was alright.  It was there I began to realize this inconsistency.  Is this really the way faith is?  Sometimes it’s relevant – it matters - and then at other times it doesn’t?  Life hits you that way as you grow up.  Everyone gets to experience it and the crazy bewilderment it brings.

I think my experiences in being sick and injured are pretty common for the time period I grew up in: a busted lip, sprained ankle, colds, etc.  Very few folks took their children to the doctor the way they do now when all they have is a sniffle.  Even with my own kids, they were very healthy and occasionally visited the doctor when they couldn’t seem to get on top of a cold or infection.  We did make a few trips to the emergency room for stitches, an outpatient surgery for tonsil removal, but most of the time they were treated at home.  When our youngest was eight years old, my wife Paula graduated from Wichita State University with her bachelor’s degree in nursing and became a registered nurse.  I must say, I was thankful having her looking after us and so were all our nieces, nephews, and family, the church kids, the neighbor kids, and new mothers and fathers asking questions about a new one on the way.  She is always helping someone by looking at something or answering a question.

Sometimes, however, things are more serious.  I can tell you if we had not sought medical help, my father would be gone, my brother would be gone, and even perhaps a son would be.  I can simply find no place in the Old or New Testament that prohibits people from getting well.  The only time seeking care was considered wrong was if someone was using a medium or some kind of charm.  It was wrong because it was wrong to be with a medium in the first place and as for the charms, they were silly superstition, the same as idols.  Putting your faith in something like that is disrespectful to God.  At the church where I worship and fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ, we have many that are sick or injured.  We lift them up constantly through prayer chains, Wednesday night hour of prayer, house churches, and whenever we meet.  We also lay hands on them and invite anyone to come join us as we pray over them.   We are very aware that medicine is useless without the blessing of God, and we believe medicine to be a blessing from God.  But God is sovereign and we respect his wisdom as he works out everything for the good.

We all know that wonderful passage from the Hebrew writer at the beginning of chapter 11 defining faith for us:

¹Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. ³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Why would the writer bring up faith?  Not that it’s written all over the Bible, both Old and New Covenant, but it is the language by which we commune with the Creator.  God belongs to the spiritual world where our bodily senses cannot reach and it requires faith for us to reach out to him.  He reached out to us first, where his plan would eventually merge heaven and earth and those who put their faith in Him would live with him there forever.   Through this plan he showed us we need a savior and he provided one:  the Lord Jesus Christ.  Through the life of Christ, his death on a cross, his burial, his resurrection from the dead on the third day, his appearance to many:  We have been rescued from darkness.  Those who put their faith in Christ Jesus have been claimed as “the holy ones” (the saints) of God.  

Faith and obedience are intertwined.  You can’t have one without the other.  They feed on each other.  Faith is built on obedience and obedience depends on faith.  But obedience to what?  This is going to sound funny, but, the answer is:  Loving one another as Christ loved us.  When you boil it all down, that’s where it is.  It requires an enormous amount of faith.  Jesus talks about it again and again.  His disciples, his apprentices are to practice loving others.  In order to do this, you have to set your entitlements, agendas, and needs aside in order to look out for those around you – even the ones that don’t think the way you do or the ones who don’t like you; especially them.  Who looks after my needs?  You do – through the power of Jesus Christ.  That’s where faith comes in, eh? 

When I decided to follow Jesus, all my claims of wrongs done me, all my entitlements bestowed on me by whatever means, are nailed to the cross.  It wasn’t very fair that Jesus, an innocent man, died on a cross:  what claim could I possibly have to anything?  Nailing them to the cross takes great faith, the kind of faith that makes us brothers and sisters to the One and Only King of Kings, Lord of Lords.  For me, this looking out for one another in love and compassion is what is meant by “walking in the Spirit”.

Galatians 5:16-26

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Did Paul really say that?  “Against such there is no law.”  When we walk in the Spirit and that lovely fruit is produced in us, there is no need for law, no need for rules.  Everything is fulfilled; especially us and we become what we were created to be:  Real human beings.  Now you can be someone who wants to focus on rules and about the only thing you’ll discover is how big a rule breaker you are.  And rules don’t change us, at least not in the direction we would want to go.  Paul says in the letter to the Galatians and elsewhere:  the law is death and if the Law of Moses is viewed this way then any law that man comes up with is certainly not any better and leads to the same things.

Law-keeping is focused on the mundane and diverts our eyes from taking care and looking after one another.   It gets us all wrapped around the axle in thinking about how we look, for the law shows what a righteous person looks like on the outside, but it does not have means to change us.  This is why we need the Spirit and walk with him faithfully as he trains us in his ways and over time he transforms us into the sons and daughters of The Most High.

Luke 10:25-37 NKJV

²⁵ And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

²⁷ So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁸ And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” ²⁹ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰ Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹ Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³² Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. ³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. ³⁴ So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ ³⁶ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

³⁷ And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Don’t tell me there wasn’t some doctoring going on here.  The man received the best care he could have had in his day and age.  You wouldn’t receive much better care in an emergency room from a doctor and nurses.  Sure, we now have more modern ways to nourish him, and more effective techniques to bandage and treat his wounds but the outcome is the same.  Is there something wrong here?  Is it wrong to do good, even though you used some bactine, Neosporin, or alcohol? 

And then there’s that nagging question again - one of the things that has always puzzled me:   when does something rise to the point that it is wrong to seek out a trained professional, someone who has exhibited the God-given talent and gifts for healing?  Where is that line?  And who decides where that line is?  Men?  Bad idea.  I believe God has blessed us with incredible minds.  Do we do evil with them?  Sadly, yes.  But we can do good with them also and serving someone’s needs through healing is something that is right and good. 

Did the good Samaritan love this man even though he didn’t know him?  Of course.  Did it cost him anything?  Of course.  The good Samaritan’s actions may have delayed the business he was on and cost him a customer, but he put his faith in what is good even though the injured man had nothing to return.  In this act I see love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  

Love is so much better and yet, so much harder than law.  Is that why rules are chosen over love?  With law you know where you stand.  With love, you may never know, for the good you do may not come to fruition until you are long gone.  Loving others will consume our lives just like it consumed the life of Jesus.  But when you’re going to live forever, what does it matter?  Or do we really believe that?  There’s a saying I like:  “He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Words are so insufficient to communicate the wonder that God did through Christ.  God’s wonder continues in all the wonderful things he wants to do through you and me.  That’s what grace is.  Technically, it’s defined as “unmerited favor,” and because of the unmerited favor granted to those who put their faith in Christ, He reaches down and changes us through our love for one another.    There are basically four types of love: eros, phileos, storge, and agape.  Agape is the love that God has for us.  It is the type of love that reaches out and blesses even when the recipient has nothing to offer.   This is agape love:

I Corinthians 13:1-13  NKJV

¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

With agape love, God raises the bar all the way to the top.  This is what God expects of his holy ones.  It’s the way he loves us and it’s the way he changes us.  Since we are made in the image of God, he has bestowed on us the ability to create and like him we can create something out of nothing if we choose.  Creative goodness; that’s what love is and God wants to teach us and train us into those who do it just like him.  Faith is required.  He has written an epic story to us revealing his plans.   He has saved us and given us a wonderful example in Christ Jesus our Savior.  He has given us a great teacher-coach-counselor in the Holy Spirit.  There is no doubt – He has held nothing back - He loves us more than we can imagine.

All the things I have written down here are just a very small trickle of the great river of truth and love that is Jesus.   I could go on and on.  I want to leave you with a story I heard that is so convicting.  There was once a group of preachers that would get together every now and then and share with one another the different things that were going on in each of their parishes.  One of the preachers had a bit of a cranky attitude at times.  At one of their get-togethers, he was being grouchy and so one of the preachers that was fixing the refreshments filled his tea glass all the way to the brim and then as he served it to him, he bumped into him quite abruptly spilling the tea.  The grouchy preacher started to huff and puff and as he did the offending preacher said, “You know, that’s just the way it is in life.  When you’re bumped into whatever it is that fills you is what spills out.” 

Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth:

Set up your kingdom in our midst.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God:

Have mercy on me, a sinner.

Holy Spirit, breath of the living God:

Renew me and all the world.

May the Lord of All be with you and bless you

and may Jesus Christ our Lord come quickly. 

Amen.