Christian Foundations

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ²So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. ⁴Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” --Mark 2:1-5

Many people read this story and wonder why Jesus would address the spiritual needs of this man before his physical needs. Maybe Jesus was teaching the Christians of the day something that Christians in this century need to learn again.

Good health includes the whole of us—body, mind, and spirit. There is a connection between faith and healing. Some of the first hospital visits by first-century Christians were in response to Jesus’ command to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, take in the stranger, and visit the sick and imprisoned (Matthew 25:34-40).

History tells us that in the Middle Ages, priests served as physicians and in the eighteenth century, those who wanted to practice medicine, had to first gain permission from the bishop. As time went on, the connection between faith and health began to disconnect as medicine moved forward in achieving the treatments of illnesses and developed greater understanding of where disease began. With the advances, came the exclusive responsibility of physicians and hospitals to take care of the sick, and the role of spiritual caretaker fell on the church.

Today, there is a renewed interest in faith and health, and how the connection between the two impacts those who are aging. In the Handbook of Religion and Health, the authors show a link between physical health and spiritual welfare. Here are some things to consider: religious people have healthier lifestyles; senior adults with a deep, personal religious faith have a strong sense of life satisfaction; and religious faith appears to protect the elderly from cancer and cardiovascular disease.

So, as a senior adult, stay connected to your church, ask for help or support from those in your church, and read your Bible and pray daily.

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for life, and ask Him to renew you in mind, body, and spirit.