On Tuesday Neil Beagley, a 16-year-old boy from a faith-healing family, died after refusing treatment for a medical condition. According to the Associated Press (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,368863,00.html), “’He likely had a congenital condition that constricted his urinary tract where the bladder empties into the urethra, and the condition of his organs indicates he had multiple blockages during his life,’ said Dr. Clifford Nelson, deputy state medical examiner for Clackamas County .” In Oregon anyone 14 years of age or older is allowed to refuse medical treatment. A few months ago a toddler cousin of Beagley’s (Ava Worthington) died when her parents allegedly refused to seek medical treatment for Ava’s “bronchial pneumonia and a blood infection”. The AP reports that both families are members of the Followers of Christ church.
Here is an example, a tragic example, of people who do not understand what Faith means. To ignore medical attention is no more a display of Faith than is standing in the passing lane of major Interstate highway and saying, “God will protect me”. These faith-healers are similar to the sects that handle poisonous snakes to “prove” their faith in God. Not only is this foolish, but it also violates the command Christ gave Satan following the Evil One’s final temptation in the wilderness:
And he brought him to Jerusalem , and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and he said to him: If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself from hence. 10 For it is written, that He hath given his angels charge over thee, that they keep thee. 11 And that in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12 And Jesus answering, said to him: It is said: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Luke 4:9-12)
The faith-healers and the snake handlers are actually guilty of pride. To test the Lord by not treating an illness or by handling poisonous snakes is to treat the Lord as if He is your servant. It is to act as if He is at your beck-and-call. Thus, you are the Lord and not He.
In addition, Catholicism teaches that the human body is the temple of the Spirit. As such, you have a responsibility to take care of it. Life is a gift from God, as are medical advancements. You are to cherish it as a gift. You wouldn’t be happy if through neglect someone destroyed the new car you bought them. It seems logical that the Lord would view your health in the same manner.
Unfortunately, it is too late for Neil Beagley and his 15-month old cousin Ava to learn this.
Donald Tremblay
