North Idaho Photography :: Coeur d'Alene | Post Falls

I am writing this with some ache in my heart. You could call it sadness. Or perhaps regret.

Years ago I was chatting with a pastor about his position on faith and healing. To sum up his position, he believed that if someone had enough faith that he could be healed. My question to him was basically this,

“Are you saying that people that die of cancer have less faith than others around them?”

After going back and forth on the subject for awhile he said I was being obstinate and just wanted to argue. To which I dropped the whole subject and never spoke to him again.

This saddens me greatly now. I ask myself, why did I give up? As a pastor he needs to be willing to give an answer. He needs to be willing to defend his position. And I should not have given up making a point that I feel is biblical. Did Paul give up? Did any of the Apostles give up? No! They went to prison and their deaths making their claim for the gospel.

I really regret not trying harder. As a result of this, you are too argumentative to discuss biblical doctrine argument, a relationship ended. I am confident that God would not have wanted that.

If the pastor didn’t want to discuss doctrine, he was definitely in the wrong profession.

I am encouraged by discussion of the bible. Shouldn’t it be this way?

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

1 Peter 3:15 [NASB]

Too many times we are encouraged to not rock the boat; not stir up trouble with difficult questions. But this is wrong. Pastors need to be able to shepherd the flock especially when the flock has questions.

For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

1 Peter 3:17