Truth Matters Newsletter- Vol. 8 Issue 8 – The Deadly Results of “Divine” Healing
Without a doubt we know that Jesus Christ does heal His people. Yet many people within charismatic extremism have taken a presumptuous view of God by reducing His healing grace to sets of formulas, spiritual laws or principles which will always work when properly applied. Here are just a few cases taken from various reports concerning the tragic results of being presumptuous regarding the grace of God in the area of healing.
The following information was obtained from Cases of Childhood Deaths Due to Parental Religious Objections to Necessary Medical Care. The entire article can be obtained at http://www.masskids.org/jel/jel_6appendix.html?FACTNet.
Faith Tabernacle: The Faith Tabernacle Congregational was founded in 1987 in Philadelphia during a religious revival. The Church doctrine claimed that the Bible opposes “all medical and surgical practice whatever,” Presently, the Church has about 18,000 members, mostly in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Justin Barnhart, age two, died September 1981, in Beaver Valley, Pennsylvania of a Wilm’s tumor which grew larger then a volleyball in the child’s abdomen. The parents, William and Linda Barnhart, withheld medical care from their son because of their religious beliefs. With early medical intervention, this form of childhood cancer has a better then 90 percent cure rate. The parents were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 1982 by the county court.
Five children of the Winterbourne family of suburban Philadelphia died of pneumonia between 1971 and 1980 without receiving medical attention. Roger Winterbourne, the father, stated: “When you believe in something, you have to believe it all the way. If you only believe in it part way, it’s not a true belief.”
In early 1991, six children died in the Philadelphia area of measles. Five of the children’s parents belonged to the Faith Tabernacle and had religious objections to vaccinations. (The sixth child’s parents belongs to the First Century Gospel Church which also objects to medical care.)
End Time Ministries: End Time Ministries, led by Reverend Charles Meade, has been active in South Dakota, Montana, and the Midwest. Several hundred believers have migrated to Lake City, Florida. The sect lost five babies in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, during home deliveries that were not attended by licensed health care providers. Illness is viewed by members as a work of Satan, a member’s lack of faith, or an unconfused sin.
Michael David Boehmer, four days old, died March 15, 1990, in Lake City, Florida, of a pulmonary hemorrhage. The parents did not obtain medical attention for their son, stating that they he believed doctors should be avoided. They relied on prayer to heal their baby.
Church of the First Born: This sect is primarily active in Colorado and Oklahoma. Jason Lockhart, age nine, of Enid Oklahoma, died of a ruptured appendix due to parental religious beliefs. Parents, Dean an Patsy Lockhart, in December 1982, were acquitted of first degree manslaughter because of Oklahoma’s religious exemption law.
Desiree Camren, age three, of Cushing, Oklahoma, died February 1987 after a week’s illness due to lack of medical care. The medical examiner said that medical treatment could have saved the child’s life. Dean and Sheila Camren, the parents, claimed their religious beliefs prevented them from seeking medical help for Desiree. Testimony at the trial indicated that the Camrens knew the child was dying but believed her death was punishment from God because the father had not been attending church. The parents were sentenced to prison in May 1989 for second degree manslaughter.
Jordan Northrup, age four months, died January 1991 in Redding, California, of meningitis and pneumonia. His parents, Earl Joe and Catherine Northrup, attempted to heal their son through prayers alone during his six day illness. On September 19, 1991, they were charged with involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment.
Faith Assembly: The church is active in Ohio and Indiana. According to the research of CHILD, Inc. there have been over 100 unnecessary deaths since 1973 caused by the teachings of the Faith assembly against medical care. The majority of these deaths have been of children or mothers in childbirth. Faith Assembly death rates from 1975-1982 were studied by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Indiana Department of Health. Death rates among Faith Assembly women in childbirth were 870 percent higher then among Indiana women in general; death rates among their infants were 270 percent higher than death rates among their infants were 270 percent higher than the statewide average. This sect was started by Dr. Hobart Freeman, who himself died of an easily treatable leg ulcer. Freeman was a staunch believer in divine healing as taught by the Word of Faith cult.
False doctrine inevitably leads people astray and often into tragic situations. Many times people do seek out medical treatment but by the time they go to the doctor they are beyond medical help. Also, many deaths simply go unreported.
To us it is the height of cruelty and hypocrisy when these “faith-filled” men and women teach one thing, such as “all you need is faith in God, “ and yet seek for themselves the best medical treatment money can buy.
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