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| Bud's
Eyeview You gotta believe OR: Faith must be tested or hope is arrested |
Woebeit my relationship with God is more business than tenuous belief, I'm a living witness that he looks beyond our faults to see our needs. Yeah, you're right, my columns are getting a little preachy lately. Hey, that's a natural dispensation when one is gazing into a setting sun, rather than one that's rising. However, as I've told you in the past, I believe in signs. And I got a sho' muff sign during my church's May 9 "Thursday Word Alive" bible study. We dwelled on "Are Signs and Wonders Valid for Today?" (From Max Anders' "We Believe" series on the "Basics of Christianity"), that we're currently dissecting in spirit and truth. Anders has a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. But what makes him credible is that he's a charter member with Walk Thru the Bible Ministries. Anders, who also was pastor of a mega-church for many years, attempts to simplify the basics of Christianity in his 1995 book, "The Holy Spirit." He deals with the question about signs and wonders from three positions. The "Durative" position, which is the belief that signs and wonders in the New testament have continued throughout church history and still exist today. The "Cessationist" position, that declares that New Testament signs and wonder disappeared with the passing of the apostles and the establishment of the Scriptures and are not intended ever to reappear again. Finally, there's the "Approximation" position that propagates that the miraculous gifts and signs and wonders are not fully operative today, but that a reduced form of the gifts operates today under the apparent blessing of God. Inasmuch as I still believe in divine signs, miracles and mind over matter healing being inherent in humankind, I subscribe to the Durative position, thus I found myself testifying how I kicked cancer in the butt three times without losing a pound or missing a day's work. Hey, I felt no pain whatsoever. In fact I wrote a classic article about my victory over cancer, that the doctor that headed Park Plaza Hospital's radiation department actually adopted to pass out to potential patients. Thus, it was surprising that none of the church members remembered the article and probably didn't believe me any way. However, when I was awakened in the wee of the next morn (with the message from that article searing my cranial system like fire shut up in my bones), I took it as a sign from the good Lord to once again share my test of faith. The first wonder was that Dr. Herman Mabrie, one of the few and busiest Black Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist in Houston was guest on KCOH's Person-to-Person radio talk show when I called in and he immediately detected something was affecting my speech. To make a long story short, Dr. Mabrie found the cancer and straight up told me the odds: Operation and chemo 95 percent chance of cure, as opposed to radiation's 75 percent. Even a very dignified professional like Dr. Mabrie, couldn't help but laugh when I said, "Three to one odds? Hell roll the dice." Okay, lack of space won't accommodate a full explanation of my blessed assurance that God had work for me that required being able to talk my Outer Limits talk, as well as write my Twilight Zone Eyeviews, but suffice it to say, I believed God's grace was sufficient. I don't want to get preachy here, but Jesus' favorite salutation was, "Fear not for I am with you." Well, be assured, faith and fear don't mix. My classic cancer article, expounded on how I considered it an opponent trying to take me out, therefore I went into training as if I was going to fight Mike Tyson. It made sense that I needed to be strong to deal with cell killing radiation. The key, however, was that since fear didn't factor into my decision I wasn't intimidated into taking desperate measures to cure cancer. God's wisdom is simply common sense. Do you believe that? If so, does it make sense to submit to an operation that weakens one to a near death condition and then poison them with toxicants? Is that really the best way to cure cancer? Hey, when has it ever been logical to add by subtracting? Hell, it's a miracle when people survive traditional treatment for most forms of cancer. I could go on and on to debunk most politically-correct medical clichés, but, although God renegotiated my contract in 1995 (when prostate cancer was suspected) and gave me a five-year, no-cut deal, space and time won't allow it. On the other hand, there's absolutely no validation that if you "catch it in time" a cure is more likely. Says who? Doctors have yet to figure out why people are predisposed to cancer, so how can they determine how their bodies will deal with it? Oncologists readily admit that treating each individual's cancer is an experiment. Perish the thought I'm saying don't go to a doctor when you have cancer. What I'm saying is, believers know that your faith is often tested, so that your hope won't be arrested. Hell, if the very thought of having cancer scares you to death, your faith is what's sick. For sure, people who believe God takes care of them don't rush to judgment, or don't question doctor's radical treatment of cancer. Doctors seldom consider people's quality of life, therefore they never consider that they can cure a patient's cancer, but kill their spirit. Second opinions notwithstanding, in this information age we're living in, you can learn as much about cancer as your doctors. Why not research cancer extensively, after you've prayed about it and are waiting on the Lord for a sign? My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. So fear not. Finally, when doctor's diagnosis one with incurable cancer, they're actually saying they can't help you. However, when you deal with miracles and faith healing, you must first believe from a Durative position. Ergo, you fear not, because signs tell you that God still performs miracles and wonders in 2002 America. I wonder if anybody knows where I'm coming from? |
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