No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Wondering how widespread the teaching AGAINST doctors and medical assistance for children really is.

Do you know of an Apostolic/Pentecostal church within 50 miles of your home where the pastor teaches for the members to refrain from using medical assistance for themselves and their children to the point of death or being disfellowshipped?

No names are needed.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

No but I have no issue with it.

Never heard this alleged doctrine...neither personally or through hearsay.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Nope

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

NO!

My parents joined Pentecost when I was about 6 yrs. old. I believe I remember a few sermons about "Don't Go Down To Egypt for Help" But that didn't last very long. And I don't believe anyone paid any attention to it.

That was about 76 years ago, I haven't heard of any one teaching that since then.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

I do not recall having it heard from the pulpit, but I did know a brother who was really sick, yet he refuse to admit his sickness, he kept on saying he was well when it was obvious he was not. He kept saying that Jesus had healed him, but there was no evidence of that healing.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Nope!

I did not see it in Oneness Pentecost or Trinitarian Pentecost.

You will not get an accurate number here. Those kind of people usually preach against the internet and cherry Chapstick.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Nope

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

I've had apostolics refuse Tylenol and basic stuff like that for religious reasons. I've had apostolics tell me they stopped taking their prescribed meds for religious reasons. All this was over 10 years ago in some of the most rural poor and backward areas you'll find. These people lived about 45 mins of straight highway driving to even get to a Walmart if that says anything.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Sounds like it has nothing to do with being Apostolic and more to do with being backwards socially.

Its the same argument with Muslims beating wives or honor killings. Most of them are about being backwards than being Muslim.

Ironically Seekers anti Apostolic rants mimicked nearly identically his anti Islamic rants. Its called guilt by association

Most of us seem to have no experience with it as Apostolics and have only heard internet rumors that it even exists

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

No, I haven't but if ACA continues down the current road we may all face the 'No Doctors Doctrine'. ��

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Didn't Tom Barnes teach trusting God for healing rather than going to the doctor? Worked for him, lived to a ripe old age.

Use of doctors and medicine is greatly abused in our culture, the human body has much greater ability to heal itself than many give it credit. Matter fact, much of the bodies natural healing ability is destroyed by medicines today.
But if you break a leg, get injured in a car wreck, hopefully a trauma center is close by, medical science does a great job of saving lives.

Most threatens to our health is self imposed by unhealthy habits, in diet and activity. Lose that extra 40 lbs and you will be amazed at how healthy you suddenly are. Not with crazy diets, that don't work, only make you fatter. Get the old book, "Fit for Life" eat the menus in it for two years, and I guarantee you'll feel 10-15 years younger and stronger.

Most people eat garbage, nutrition wise, and expect doctors to fit all their health problems with medicine. Doctors treat the symptoms, that cause side effects, then treat the side effects, all to try to keep folks alive, but it is a losing battle, due to diet and activity!!!

We all know it is true, we just have so much emotional issues we don't have the ability to do what we know.

I am trying, and somewhat succeeding in doing something about it, lost 30 lbs over three years kept 20 of it off, working on another 20. When I follow the "Fit for Life" plan it is easy...and I fill satisfied.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Never heard it preached or taught in any of the six churches I've attended in six states.

I did know a diabetic minister who stupidly went off his insulin after some false prophet claimed his healing. That didn't last long.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

No I dont believe he did. Infact he regularly visited people in hospitals

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Yes, he visited folks in the hospitals, because he prayed for them, he believed deeply in divine healing. Not just in word, but in deed.
I don't believe he preached against doctors, he simply preached divine healing, and he practiced what he preached.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

I personally knew one man who taught the "no doctor" doctrine, in fact his wife died at home, the result of a fall (had fractured pelvis and impacted bowel...died from impacted bowel...extremely horrific way to die) and even he relented and tried to get her to go to the doctor.....she refused because of his past teaching. **He did NOT suggest that it was wrong to take a child to the doctor** What he did teach was to get prayer first and then IF God did not heal, get the medical help the child needed. They saw many miracle healings as a result of their faith/God first belief.

I have known of others, even some who post on this forum.....however NONE of them would ever endanger/abuse a child.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

So then you are agreeing with me?

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

I don't know of any in this area that do teach that or who have ever taught that. There were two situations of which I was personally aware: my own experience at the age of 2, and an adult pastor's daughter who refused medical treatment after childbirth and died a few days later. That occurred over 18 years ago, and I haven't heard of anything similar since in the Apostolic ranks.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

This is what my previous pastor preached, trust God for healing, but if you don't have the faith to the healed, then see a Doctor.

My former pastor also told me of a preachers wife that died of breast cancer because she was trusting God for healing. This was rare. Certainly not the norm for apostolics.

I suspect that if I didn't go for regular cancer screenings, and had not had breast cancer detected early, I might be dead.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

I agree! The Drs. have saved my life a few times, but they also have caused me much misery.

I'm thinking that people that are of an age to have children, should learn how to deliver at home. Also there are many home remedies, that people should be using and studying.
Also I've wondered, when people go up for healing that live on cokes and junk food, will God heal them, for them to continue to destroy there health? Is that one reason that we don't see more healings?

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

The two most famous healing Evangelists of the early Pentecostal Movement preached it was a sin to seek medical help from what I recall.

John G. Lake and Smith Wigglesworth.

Were they merely backwoods bumpkins? According to Pentecostal history thousands were healed under their ministries.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Elder Donald Lance who was from the Chicago area, I think is now in Tennessee told me back in 1982 all his children were born at home. I don't know if he preached AGAINST Doctors but certainly preached TRUSTING God.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

The Pentecostal Mission, a Trinitarian org founded in Sri Lanka in the 1920's teaches absolute trust in God for healing. Two things one coming out for the ministry must agree to.

Never ask for money. Trust God only for healing. To take meds or go to Doctors is counted as a sin.

http://wordwillsave.com/cpm/

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

The first Apostolic church I attended was an independant church.
There was a great emphasis on trusting God for healing, having babies at home. Going to the Doctor was seen as inferior, because you were not having faith to be healed. I don't think it is wise to put this kind of pressure on people, so that they feel that they are failing God if they go to the Doctor.

I know of several women who had babies at home, and did not take them for immunizations.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Herbert Armstrong the founder of The Worldwide Church Of God taught it wrong to use Doctors.

Note: Armstrong was not Pentecostal or Charismatic.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Yes, I also believe, that we should trust God first. He is after all, the real healer. Also, I believe that He put Herbs here for our healing. Very few medicines, heal. Most just mask the symptoms. But herbs do heal.

However, I believe like you, that " I don't think it is wise to put this kind of pressure on people, so that they feel that they are failing God if they go to the Doctor."

Right now, I'm looking for a Naturepatic Dr. Can't find one. I have an Onacologist that does believe in herbs, but doesn't know much about them.

But the reason that I believe that we should educate ourselves on these things, is because I believe the time is near, when you either sign up with the Government, or do without, or go to jail. We might also go to jail, as they will say that we are practicing medicine without a license.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Bro. Lance passed away this past August....a good man!

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

This is pretty much where we're at. It's not a "doctors are of the devil" or even necessarily a "no doctors" doctrine. It's mainly just have faith in God, and trust in Him for your deliverance in everything. It's also a judgement call when it comes to providing medical care for others other than yourself. You may have the faith and is prepared and ready for whatever comes what may regarding your ownself, but the other person probably isn't at the same place as you, and those that you have the charge over, as in children or the elderly, you could be just putting them in an early grave.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

LOL! True!

I don't know of any anywhere that preach this, but I am sure there are some.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

I completely agree with his and people should try to do more for themselves. However, that would be different than a "Don't go to doctors or go to hell" doctrine.

And I am sure that none of them say "Don't go to doctors or go to hell" but they also say standards are not salvational but you supposedly go to hell if you quit doing them so I believe in trusting God for healing, but the custom in the church is more important than the doctrine they teach as far as whether people will fear hell over their choices or not.

I don't even have a problem with people wanting to live standards as principles they believe in. It's the salvational aspect (holiness or hell) whether taught by doctrine or culture or example that I really take issue with.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Thanks to all that posted. Evidently the "doctrine" isn't as prevalent as was portrayed. Thankfully there are preachers that still preach that Jesus is a healer and yet do not tell folks they will go to hell if they do seek medical help.
My feelings have always been, how could a preacher blame church folks that came for prayer and anointing with oil by the elders, but did not get relief and sought medical help. They came to the church FIRST.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Could be, if they really taught it was a sin.

I don't trust Pentecostal history much.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

those aren't the same things

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

How many babies died because of their advice?

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Hope none of them wear eye glasses. :foottap

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Sorry to hear. He was a good man one of the few Apostolic Preachers I looked up to. Taught the post trib rapture. Did you happen to know Elder Delbert Havens in Springfield Ohio?

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

I never heard it preached, but have seen individuals that believed it. Obviously it's best to have faith and trust God for healing. But there are folks that suffer needlessly when a Dr. Could help. It's that commonsense rule!
:smack

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

Well anyone who endures in the Church eventually dies of natural causes. Many are blessed with good health, many are healed by Jesus in their lifetime.

My Pastor related once his little brother bowels came out his rectum. His parents took him to the hospital. They were put out of the Church for 1 year.

He said they were very happy to be able to come back.

Re: No Doctors Doctrine?
 

In the days I was around them the chief apostle in America wore glasses.