There was a couple we knew who
had given birth to a baby girl. After a few
days at home, she started having seizures. The baby had a rare birth
disorder that had caused her to have the seizures. This was the couple's
first child and they were terrified. They went weeks without much sleep
since they were constantly checking on the child to make sure she wasn't
having a seizure. They were reaching their limits from sleep
deprivation, so we asked if we could help. We thought that if we could come over and watch the baby at their house
during the night, they could get some much needed sleep.
When we arrived to their house,
we were told that the plans had changed. The local elder and his wife
had been over to anoint the baby. When this couple revealed to them that
we were coming over to help, the elder told them that they were
displaying a lack of faith. They told us that we could still stay since
we had driven a distance to get there, but we could not stay in the
nursery as previously planned. What a surprise it was to all of us. We
thought we were there for the baby's welfare, but instead we were told
that we were displeasing God for our lack of faith in His healing! Even
though we stayed in the room across the hall from the baby, I still
sneaked in to check on her. I couldn't understand why God would be
against something as harmless as looking in on a sleeping baby. I also
couldn't stand the thought her having a seizure and being left alone
without any help. I remember feeling guilty for my "lack of
faith," but I truly believed that God would help the baby whether I
checked in on her or not. We went home the following morning, and the
couple was very thankful for one night's sleep. I couldn't help but
wonder why it was against God's will to help someone. Instead of
questioning the WCG, I thought my faith was weak.
I also remember a friend who
was a nurse and had four kids. One of them came down with a severe ear
infection. She was told by the minister not to take her daughter to the
doctor. My friend did anyway. She said that if she hadn't, her daughter
would have been deaf. I know there was a stigma attached to her because
she was part of the medical establishment. Isn't it such a shame that
members were made to feel fearful and guilty for seeking help for their
children? This is not the fruits of love, for certain.
It was a decade later when
we finally exited from the WCG. I was told that I would be "cursed," and not only me, but my children would
lose God's protection. I was told that Satan would be after me, and that I would be
in utter torment day and night.1 You cannot imagine the turmoil I
experienced when, months later, one of my children began having
unstoppable body and facial jerks. I took my son to a pediatric
neurologist, who diagnosed him with Tourette Syndrome. I was hurt and
confused. Was God punishing my children, as I was told He would, because
I left the "True Church"? If I went back to the WCG, would God
take the TS away? Even though I was convinced that the WCG was a "cult," I
would return (though reluctantly) if I knew that it would help my
son.
I wrestled with this issue, and
finally in deep prayer, God helped me come to my senses. He helped me to
realize that sin and suffering are a part of our fallen world. There are
hundreds of thousands of other people out there who never set foot
inside the WCG who had TS (and cancer, heart attacks, strokes, etc.).
Was God cursing them? I realized that God did not single me out to be
punished for my rebellion. Instead, I realized that He was my Helper in
time of need. Yes, I wish my son didn't have TS, but there was nothing I
could do to change that. But
what I could do was learn more about it, and help my son become a better
person in spite of it. My son was more than his disability. God gave me
the freedom to help others become more aware of this malady, and the
financial freedom to support the TS Association (instead of giving my
hard earned tithe money to Stan Rader2 since he's still on the payroll
until 2003).
This whole incident helped me
to question the motives of "the Church." Why
did the WCG put fear in me, instead of love and support? Our friends
with the baby who had the seizures were being judged behind their backs
as being "too worldly" because they ate out every Sabbath. It
seemed that if anything bad happened to anyone, people thought that the
person must have some kind of hidden sin in their life that God was
punishing them for. No wonder we were paralyzed by our fears.
When my son started displaying
symptoms of TS, we were attending a Christian
church. One lady that I became friends with called to tell me about a
show she saw on TV and she thought that maybe that's what my son had.
She was so kind and supportive.
I shudder to think what things
would have been like if I had my son just 10 years earlier. His jerks
were so bad that one would have thought he was demon possessed. I would
have not have been allowed to take him to a doctor. He would have been
anointed and we would have been chastised for our "lack of
faith" because he wasn't healed. I had to ask myself, "Would
my real father be angry with me for getting help for his sick grandchild?" Of course not!
"Would I be angry if my son took his
children to the doctor for help?" Of course not! Then why would God feel
that way? Is God so touchy and insecure that he feels threatened by
mortal doctors? You don't worship the doctor you go to--you go to get a
diagnosis and perhaps medication to alleviate the problem. Your loyalty to God
is not transferred. The only people that feel threatened are those who claim
to be "God's Apostle," "That Prophet," etc. You are not disobeying God by going to the
doctor--you are disobeying men who want to exercise control in your
personal life in areas that they have no right to. Don't sacrifice your
child on the alter of Molech, Herbert Armstrong or
Gerald Flurry, or anyone who
claims to speak for God. Jesus warned of this. Will you heed the words
of your Savior? Whose words should have more authority in your
life--Jesus, or a man who claims to receive revelations from Him?
All of this is behind us now.
We are so much happier since leaving the WCG.
My son is doing well and hasn't needed any medication. His symptoms will
worsen during the teen years, but taper off into adulthood. It's such a
peace of mind to have the facts, and not fearful speculation.
By Lindsey
Exit & Support Network™
October 4,
2003
Note: HWA's goal
in influencing members not to go to doctors was for the
purpose of receiving the money himself. HWA
was a hypocrite since he used doctors himself.
Also read:
The Philadelphia
Church of God's Healing Doctrine
Footnotes by ESN:
1
Although it may be true that Satan doesn't want anyone to leave his system
of evil, one who has placed
their faith and trust in Christ as personal Savior cannot be cursed.
2 Stan
Rader died of acute pancreatic cancer on July 2, 2002 at the age of 71.
How Did Worldwide Church of God
Instruct Ministers to Deal With Health and Medical Problems?
(also shows
how they tried to avoid prosecution in case someone died)
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