God answers all prayers. He may choose to
say, ‘yes,’ ‘no’ or ‘wait.’ But every prayer is answered. This is the
fundamental truth in religion if you believe in God. For the true
believer with a strong faith, you know that He knows it all and makes it
all happen. Sometimes, I even wonder why we pray, since our fate is
already pre-ordained. But that itself is not the point of this article.
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many” —Matthew 24:5.
There are many mushroom churches
springing up on every street in Nigeria. On one street alone in Abuja,
there are close to 10 prayer houses: in shops, car garages, even in
living rooms and flats. The pastoral ministry is now big business, as
pastors rake in millions of Naira in untaxed offerings and donations.
Many pastors in Nigeria are previously unemployed people, failed
businessmen and criminals disguising in the pastoral ministry. Some are
wolves in expensive sheep wool with huge bank accounts. I personally do
not care about their business. But, I do care about their interference
in medical issues.
Continue reading after the cut....
What the Bible says
The Bible says, ‘Is anyone among you
sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and
anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in
faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If
they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
“Therefore, confess your sins to each
other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a
righteous person is powerful and effective” —James 5:14.
This is what the Bible says and it is
left open to interpretation. The questions, though, are these: Who is
your righteous person? Who have you entrusted your faith in? Who is the
sinner praying for you? What do you know about your pastor?
Pastors who are pretending and faking
healing miracles are a real menace in the society. They do more harm
than good and are perhaps best suited for Nollywood films.
Unfortunately, they sometimes control the decision-making process for
the patient. Patients have, on occasions, asked me to speak to their
pastors first before treatment, especially before they undergo emergency
surgery. And, if I can convince the pastor, he gives the go-ahead and
assurance to the patient. And if not, or if the pastor decides against
the care: who benefits?
Pastors holding such sway over the lives
and decisions of the patient are a huge societal change that bodes ill
will. Some churches and pastors encourage the sick to come for
‘admission,’ child deliveries, vigil, prayers with olive oil and ‘holy
water’ while stopping their normal medications.
Some patients with stroke have gone to
churches first before presenting to hospital. Did you hear of the HIV
patient told by his pastor that God had cured his disease and he no
longer needed the medications? He died: with his disease. Or the woman
with two previous caesareans: the pastor said she would have a vaginal
delivery and so she insisted against her doctor’s wishes. Well, she
nearly died along with the baby!
Pastors in the wards
As if these were not enough, pastors are
leaving churches and presenting in the wards to offer prayers to the
sick. Not content with ‘healing’ patients on numerous altars in
backwater churches, Nigerian pastors are now coming into hospitals with
white cloths and more olive oil. They touch patients and interfere with
treatment. They constitute a nuisance in the wards with prayers, songs,
chants and exorcising of the devil. These people bring materials, stuff,
their own germs and poisons into the wards to confuse the recovery of
the patient. Some even ask for patients to be moved out of the wards to
the church for ‘special prayers.’
Complicating issues
Some doctors and nurses complicate our
lives with their behaviour and bad practice. Health care professionals
diagnosing spiritual attacks and offering patients to pastors and
spiritualists harm patients and the profession. Some doctors and nurses
also mix medical care and religion in the wards. Praying through loud
worship in the wards does not help the poor patient. When patients are
poorly treated by medical personnel, they lose faith in modern medicine
and seek solace in religion. Proper, diligent care and silent prayers
are much more effective.
In conclusion
Pastors should minister on the spiritual
plane and not the physical. They should pray for you, not play with your
health. Do not allow them to interfere with your treatment. Pastors and
prayer groups coming to hospitals to minister to the sick and cause
confusion are unwelcome guests. Singing, chanting and other religious
activities in our wards are totally unnecessary and risk introduction of
infections to the sick. It is time for this to stop!
Pastors should stay away from the hospital and say prayers in the sanctity of their churches.
Last time I heard, God is omnipresent.
NB: I will need your help next week as
we solicit funds to help some children with scoliosis (bended or wonky
spines). We hope to help them with operations in June 2014.
- Dr. Biodun Ogungbo
Share your thoughts...thanks!
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