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Volume 3 · Honest HereticsLesson 31About 22 minutes

“Just Pray About It”

Is seeing a doctor, or a counselor, a sign of weak faith?

Honest Heretics edition for skepticsSwitch to Centered (for believers)

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The center · Mark 2:17
17When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

In this lesson

Someone shares that they are depressed, or anxious, or sick and scared, and the answer comes back: "Just pray about it." Sometimes it is said with love. Sometimes it means "don't bring this here." In some homes and churches it goes further: medicine shows weak faith, counseling is worldly, and healing will come if you believe enough.

You're not imagining the harm. "Just pray about it" has kept people from therapy for years, made the depressed feel guilty for being depressed, and in some faith-healing groups it has cost children their lives. All of it is taught in the name of a man who said the sick are the ones who need a physician.

Measured against the center

An add-on
Treating prayer as a replacement for doctors, medicine or counseling is an add-on; he spoke of physicians as the normal help for the sick, sent healed men back to be examined, and healed a boy whose father admitted his doubt.

The rest of this lesson is in Volumes 2-4 online

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