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Originally posted by trecetetodromonmetabia:
My parents say that I am sick because of some terrible thing I have done.
Everyone at my church believes that.

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Look at it this way. Satan wants us dead. Especially if you're causing him trouble by aligning yourself with the Savior.

God wants us well. I fully believe that. I'm not going to quote scriptures [maybe later when I've got more time] but we CAN be healed by God's power.

I think we have to stay tuned in to Him so we know what path to take to get there. Yes, bad things happen to good people. ALL THE TIME.

"And not once only, while circling this road, is our pain renewed : I say pain and ought to say solace."

while Christ said "take up thy cross and follow and me."

in many circles the one who suffers are tempted to think this a proof that they are NEARER to God than those who suffer less. for they have followed the WAY, not because they have sinned or incited blasphemy.

Your suffering is as an existinng individual, betrodden by microbes, not as a religious matyr or example.

I, on the other hand, don't subscribe to a particular religion. I think it's unhealthy to believe that you are sick because you are being punished--and we don't need any excuse to be less healthy than we already are!

I think this is more something you should look within yourself to decide. It is a matter of personal philosophy, which may or may not be based on religion. But it is, in my opinion, wrong for your church members and parents to tell you that you have committed a horrible sin and are being punished. That's not for them to decide.

Besides, isn't God the only one meant to judge our actions?

And you can also say bad things seem to happen to very nice people too.Alot of the very special people in my life have gotten very sick and they were the greatest,like my cousin,who died from ovarian cancer.She did not have a bad bone in her body.

You hold your head up high,be proud of yourself for having gotten where you are today.Just getting the proper diagnosis of lyme is saying something!You are on the right road and have knowledge,which is more than some have about this awful disease.

Take care ,be strong,believe in yourself,you will heal and no, you did not deserve this ,none of us did,that's life.

When will you be 18 and be able to make your own medical decisions?

That dosen't discount the RARE ocassion when God did/does afflict someone with an illness or strike them dead as a penalty for sin. But this is the exception not the rule.

Did I get bit because I was in sin?? or was it because I was trail running in Oyster Bay LI NY where there is the highest population of infected tics in the world?

I KNOW it was and is my faith that saw me through all that I went through. I know it was God that held my family together. I can go on and on about all that God did for me to get me through what Lyme did to me. "yea thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil..."

Somethings God will deliver you from, some He will go with you through all in order to bring about His charater in you.

Lastly it says in 1 John 3:19, 20 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

So please don't let anyone condemn you or make you feel guilty for "getting caught in the rain". But know this that you CAN do all things through Christ and you can and will overcome this and get through this.

Of course you are not sick because of some terrible sin you have committed. Perhaps you have committed a terrible sin, I don't know. However, even if you had, I doubt that is the cause of your illness.

What about serial murderers, child molesters, pedophiles, etc etc etc -surely, they would be VERY VERY sick, if there was any truth in any of what your well-meaning parents or church members say.

I used to be a church member myself, and at some of the worst time in my life healthwise. One of the "elder" church women who acted as a sort of "councellor/prayer warrior/healer" in that church would give me similar messages. If I just had *enough* faith I'd be healed, or that something someone had said had put a curse on me, etc etc.....

Frankly, I don't think these people have a clue about the cause of your illness. In addition, I think it is plain CRUEL to tell you that you're being punished for something terrible you've done. Especially, if you haven't done anything. Because they don't know how to deal with your problem, they are making YOU the problem!!

What about sick animals? Have they also committed some terrible sin in these people's eyes? Physically, we are like an animal and all types get diseases.

Being over-analytical about a cause, other than the simple fact that you have an infection and it's making you ill, is not going to help you to relax and concentrate on getting better.

Find a more understanding church. I know you can't find new parents, but perhaps a little scientific education will help them.

Paul called upon Timothy to "rightly divide" the word of Truth. While some claim that it is simply "right handling", the word used means "to cut", thus to divide. This is completely new with Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles. ((("Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15)))

Check it out for yourself http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/articles/
http://www.biblebelievers.com/scofield/

He had a good message on this a while back. Check the archives.

He has a good message going on right now too but it is not as related as the earlier lesson.

you have an infection caused by a bug...did god send a bug to bite you? come on.....

come here whenever you need support..we can be your new family....you did nothing wrong to get this except look nice and juicy to some hungry tick!

you've been dealing with this stuff for a while now, i remember your's being one of the first posts i replied to when i started coming to lymenet for info.

now, as then, i just feel like scouping you up and giving you a good long hug. i think it would do you very much good to stop worrying about WHY you are sick and concentrate on getting better.

and i will tell you it is my own personal opinion that many, MANY people just plain suck!

personally (i know there are many different beliefs, i am speaking only for mine)

i think Jesus will judge us at the end of our worldly life, based on how we lived it, and our love for Him, etc. "Jesus weigheth the hearts".

thankfully your parents and your church members judgements will not mean much then.

it always makes me angry when i see or hear of people using God to manipulate other people. truth is only divine, anything touched by man is imperfect.

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Yes, we might be sick because some rotten karma we sowed in the past, but that is not to say WE are rotten! We all have the buddha nature,or, from the christian standpoint, "are god's children"! The negative karma in our lives "vanishes like a dew drop in full sunlight" when our faith is strong.
Another possible view that may be helpful: perhaps you are sick because you are living correctly and the "devilish forces" are challenging you. Keep your faith strong and vow to continue to make good causes for the future when you successfully overcame these obstacles.
Then the universe will naturally function to restore healthful harmony; that is, God will hear your prayers and respond.
Remember the people at your church are only human beings; what matters is the strength of your faith[/B]

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