I'd never faced this decision before... I didn't know what to do. When I was first diagnosed with the HIV virus, I read innumerable articles on it and later suffered from an information overload and depressing confusion. One article would speak in favor of taking the highly toxic HIV/AIDS medicines, and then I'd read another one that spoke against it with just as convincing of an argument.
As a Church of God member, I know we encourage members to have faith in God and teach that doctors have their place but that it is very limited. As I told my doctor: "Miracles have no side effects and are free." We're all familiar with the poor lady in the scriptures who spent all she had on doctors and wasn't any better for it and then Jesus mercifully healed her.
I cried out to God: "I don't know what to do. What should I do? I know you can heal me, but what am I supposed to do for myself?" And shortly thereafter called my mother, who simply said: "You could always try the medicines and if you don't like them, you can always stop taking them." How logical!
I immediately began my HIV drug therapy, my AIDS "cocktail." I know some who have taken meds with few side effects but I could hardly walk when I first started — it was worse than being a staggering drunk — and the nightmares were out of this world...when I finally fell asleep. Later I regained my balance but the nightmares, night sweats, and irritability continued. I would be drenched like I had just gotten out of the shower and I would have some tingling in my arms and legs. Regardless, I strictly adhered to the program for over a year and then said enough was enough. I admit it reduced the HIV viral load to "undetectable" (although it's still lurking).
I decided I wanted quality over quantity of life. I would rather feel good for less years than have more years in misery. At least that sounded good. Again, I saw stories on television about others who praised the meds and were near death and bounced back, but one thing is sure: everybody is an individual and everybody must make up their own minds about whether or not to take medicines.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Kevin Surbaugh
I am not sure which of the 3 (at least 3) different groups that call theirselves Church of Christ you belong to, International (aka Boston Church of Christ), United Church of Christ or (non-instrimental Church of Christ (that at one time was part of the Disciples of Christ (aka the Cambellite movement). However, it really doesn't matter to much. Having grown up in the "Christian Church" infact one that like the latter Church of Christ split with the Disciples group of Christian Churches (although a different issue then the Churches of Christ) I know that sometimes God uses Doctors, and as much as I hate them, I know that I must follow their advice, even while praying and trusting God to heal me of whatever might be ailing me. God chose, to heal me, when I was younger through the Doctors, had I not had the surgery for my severe scoliosis I would be dead or at the very least severely handicaped today. My spine had curved so much, that it would have eventually crowded out my heart and longs, if it had continued without the metal rod.
I guess what I am saying in this long dragged out droning is, trust God, but don't discount the Doctors or their medicines.
2 - chantal stone
God does heal, but not always in the way that we think. If you ask Him, God can heal your heart and your soul. God can give you the accepting and loving spirit you need to love yourself. God can and will heal your wounded heart so that you do not continue to see your illness as some sort of punishment. The God I know is one of love, mercy and healing. But in the eyes of the Lord, perhaps spiritual healing is more important than physical healing. Jesus taught us to love one another, but that also includes ourselves.
God will heal you, but not in the way that you expect. Give the doctors a chance to take care of your body, as God cares for your soul.
3 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Kevin, you got all of the churches wrong. David belongs to the Church of God, which is not the Church of Christ. Do you remember the late Herbert Armstrong who used to be on TV? I forget the name of the show. When he died, the church he had founded, split. David belongs to one of the branches of that church. He can give you better details.
I remember my father, z"l, couldn't stand doctors. He reasoned that they kept people sick so that they would have repeat business. But when heart attacks struck him, he took the pills prescribed.
I take my pills as required - but I also pray. I suspect I have the order wrong, but that is not necessarily the order I follow.
4 - David Ben-Ariel
I'm a baptized member of the Sabbath-keeping Church of God. After Herbert Armstrong's death, many deserted that organization when it became apparent the leaders were going back to "Egypt" - traditional "Christianity."
There are many branches of the Church of God today that all share in the biblical basics HWA taught, such as the biblical Sabbath, festivals and dietary laws that Yeshua kept and so did the early Church (both converted Jews and Gentiles).
The Church Jesus Built could offer greater insight and understanding to those so interested.
5 - David Ben-Ariel
Herbert Armstrong's television program was called "The World Tomorrow" and his magazine was "The Plain Truth."
6 - Kevin Surbaugh
ok, i misread that, yes I am familure with Armstrong, and how the church changed and embraced traditional doctrine, causing splits, where other churches to varing degrees wanted to continue Armstrongs teachings. However, my knowledge of those groups end there...sorry for the misunderstanding.
7 - Dave Nalle
There's a world of difference between the Church of Christ and the Church of God. The former is a fairly standard Christian religious sect. The latter is an extremist cult with some very scary ideas and a belief in a large body of extremely crazy post-bilblical prophecy.
Dave
8 - David Ben-Ariel
Dave N, your hysterical rant against the Sabbath-keeping Church of God proves you either don't know your Bible or you don't believe what it says, preferring traditional myths over the plain truth. How sad.
However, there's nothing new under the sun since the early Church of God also suffered from such false accusations: Acts 24:14
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets...
Unlike traditional Churchianity, steeped in baptized paganism (Mystery Babylon religion), the Sabbath-keeping Church of God keeps the same biblical Sabbath, biblical festivals and biblical dietary laws and beliefs as Jesus and the early Church, both converted Jews, Israelites and Gentiles. The same biblical truths that all the world will be taught and commanded to keep when Christ returns and reigns from Jerusalem, from the Temple, teaching Torah - not vain traditions of misguided men.
The Church Jesus Built helps make this very clear, for those interested in the truth of the matter.
9 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
David, those four lines of Mr. Nalle were just the warming up of an engine on a cold morning. Stick aroud for a while and eventually, you'll see a full blown Nalle rant.
Mr. Nalle, do note what my friend David said, "teaching Torah - not vain traditions of misguided men."
A real Jew teaches Jewish law.
10 - gonzo marx
according to the Coptic Gospel of Thomas...Yeshua wa sasked about hwo the Apostles shoudl build a Church for him...his Response...
"split a log and you will find me within, lift a stone and I am underneath"
just a Thought
Excelsior!
11 - Dave Nalle
David, Ruvy. I'm more than familiar with the Bible. I've read it a number of times, including old and new testament and apocrypha. It's a fine read, no question. I've also read the holy books of most other religions. I'm a big fan of mythology. It tells you a lot about culture and society. And as for the Bible itself, it's full of practical everyday wisdom that everyone should be aware of whatever their beliefs.
This would be a perfect description of the Church of God in most of its variations, because the fruit of its doctrine is hatred and exclusion and if God is deserving of worship then he must be a God of love and inclusion. As it says in John 4:15 "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." David doesn't dwelleth in love, but rather in hate and therefore God is not in him or his church.For example, in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus addressed the very issue we're talking about here when he said:
I am, of course, a rational atheist. But as a person who believes in moral law and as someone who was trained as a historian, I find the Church of God doubly offensive. First, because their teachings are inherently racist and exclusionary, and second because the basic premises of their beliefs are ahistorical and manufactured to justify the thread of hate and intolerance which runs through their doctrine. Plus they're dangerous messianic crazies whose beliefs, like those of radical Islam, are tailor made for producing suicidal, fanatical mass murderers. They're a dangerous cult and part of the larger movement which helped motivate the actions of David Khoresh, Eric Rudolph and Timothy McVeigh. Although I support their right to free practice of their religion, their actions need to be watched very carefully because they are dangerous.
And Ruvy, I was being restrained earlier because the things I have to say about David's "church" are not conducive to civil discourse, and the facts which I've been able to research on it are so unpleasant that I really didn't want to have to sully myself discussing them. You said "A real Jew teaches Jewish law." Do you also believe that Anglo-Americans are the lost tribes of Israel and the Chosen of God? Do you believe in latter-day prophesy which says that the nations of Europe exist primarily as a breeding ground for the final Antichrist?
Dave
12 - David Ben-Ariel
Dave, the Bible warns of those many false prophets - the vast religious majority - whose teachings or twisting of Scripture ignores or seeks to undermine the Word of God for their own self-righteous ideas, usually by supplanting it with tinsel traditions and popular myths (no absolutes, pagan holidays pretending to be Christian, SUNday instead of Sabbath, etc.).
If you knew and submitted to the Word of God, you would know true love is consistent with God's commandments that reflect love for God and love for neighbor as for self, based upon the law - not every person's vain & idolatrous ideas of what constitutes love, in a form of spiritual anarchy!
If you knew the Word of God and submitted to it, you would understand the principle of TOUGH LOVE that Jesus, the prophets and apostles all exercised, even causing division, slaughtering sacred cows and going against whatever is politically correct to stand up for God's truth, even when it meant they often had to stand alone.
The idolatrous image too many have in their biblically uneducated minds can't fathom the Jesus who overturned tables and kicked chairs and drove both men and beast out of the Temple with a whip in his hand, used scathing language against religious leaders and politicians and didn't have an undue concern for causing offense, if and whenever necessary. It's called TOUGH LOVE.
Matthew 10:34-39
34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to turn "a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw
36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.
37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
13 - Dave Nalle
So, I notice that you basically just ignore concern over the racist, apocalyptic and fanatical aspects of your cult.
Blind faith blinds you to a lot more than you realize.
Dave
14 - David Ben-Ariel
By your self-righteous standard that you falsely accuse the Sabbath-keeping Church of God (that puts you to shame), you would also engage in character assasination against God, Jesus, the prophets and apostles. Jesus said such lies would be spoken, that true Christians would suffer persecution by those who just don't get it and say all sorts of twisted things. You've proven his words true.
When you're ready to read and believe the Bible, like the Church of God does, accepting such plain truth as "the meek shall inherit the Earth" (not go to Heaven), that the wicked will be destroyed (not be tormented forever by some sadist), and that we're to be born again as God-Beings (not cats or dogs or angels), may the good Lord bless you to have open eyes and heart to receive His plain truth and be set free from traditional error that will soon be history and trashed when Christ returns and reigns from Jerusalem.
As the Apostle Paul said, "have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?"
15 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Dave, you asked,
"Do you also believe that Anglo-Americans are the lost tribes of Israel and the Chosen of God?"
The answer, in simple English, is I do not know. The ancient tribes of my people are not easy to account for. I can sort of account for four of them: Yehuda, Shim'on, Levi and Benyamin. In the Book of Esther, Mordekhai is described as a Jew from the tribe of Benyamin. That leaves eight more. As for myself, I can only state that to my knowledge, I'm not from the tribe of Levi. We do not claim to be Levites. I've never been tested for the "Aaron" Y-marker, which would indicate that I was probably descended from the tribe of Levi. Statistically speaking, I'm probably from the tribe of Yehuda.
The Pushtun claim descent from the tribes of Israel, though they are happy at present to be Moslems. There are the B'nei Menashe in Assam. There are the Ethiopian Jews and various tribes throughout Africa. At some point they will all return home - even the Pushtun, who don't want to.
There are a group of Jews who research this question and who do agree some of with David's assertions with respect to the identity of Brits (therefore many Americans and Canadians) as being one or two of the tribes of Israel, and have set about trying to prove just this. However, they are not Christians, but Jews.
In addition, it should be noted that when they think nobody else is listening, the royals in England claim descent from King David.
Do you believe in latter-day prophesy which says that the nations of Europe exist primarily as a breeding ground for the final Antichrist?"
Get real, Dave. Someone who doesn't believe in "christ" doesn't waste his breath on an "anti-christ."
There is enough in Jewish prophecy to deal with as to sources of evil. But there was work done by Rabbi Marv Antelman on the Christian Book of Revelation, particularly the prediction of a beast with the number 666 on the head.
An anti-messiah, an anti-Jew, so to speak, emerged in Turkey in the mid 1600's claiming to be the messiah. He was believed by half of the Jews of the known world, who were happy to be rid of Christian persecution. He proclaimed that his effect would begun to be felt on 18 June, 1666. If you examine the date, you find it to contain seven sixes. A prophecy usually reveals part of the event, rather than the entire one. The remainder usually needs recognition in context. This fellow, Shabtai Tzvi, was born on Tish'a b'Av, the traditional date for the "birth" of the messiah. Rabbi Antelman followed an interesting trail that extended from Shabtai Tzvi forward in time. If half of what he says is true, then a there are plenty of reasons for anyvody to be damned nervous.
But all this does rather wander from the topic.
16 - Dave Nalle
Ruvy, those questions were directed to David, not you. You're on this side of the line between reason and fanaticism. He's on the other one from what I can tell.
One thing though. The British Royals claim to descent from David originates in some goofy medieval propaganda from Geoffrey of Monmouth in Historia Regum Britannia and the author of Layoman's Brut. I don't think anyone today takes those claims seriously.
Dave
17 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Dave, your paragraph began , Ruvy... You said "A real Jew teaches Jewish law." Do you also believe that Anglo-Americans are the lost tribes of Israel and the Chosen of God? Do you believe in latter-day prophesy which says that the nations of Europe exist primarily as a breeding ground for the final Antichrist?
It seemed reasonable that THESE questions were addressed to me.
On a different topic, there are times when "goofy medieval propaganda" is something taken very seriously and serves as the basis for real ideas.
The "victory and salvation" cry of the Nazis AND their salute was drawn from a coronation ceremony in midieval Germany.
YOU may not take "goofy medieval propaganda" seriously, but others might. It is extremely important to realize that. For example: The goofy idea that infidels have nothing to offer but their conversions or their lives forms the base of Wahhabi strategy. The fact that westerners refuse to understand this or take it seriously is one of the Wahhabis major weapons in dealing with them.
I approach my solutions to dealing with the Wahhabi from THAT point of view, not from what I think ought to be what they want. What I think they ought to want is irrelevant.
18 - Dave Nalle
Your right, Ruvy. I did address that to you. Sorry I made it confusing. It was a rhetorical quesiton. All I was really doing was reminding you that despite some superficial kinship you're not yet sharing a padded room with David.
As for people basing their beliefs on 'goofy medieval propaganda', I guess it does serve a purpose. When you discover that their beliefs have an origin like that it makes it a lot easier to identify them as dangerous crazies. Good point.
Dave
19 - David Ben-Ariel
I've been blessed to have served as a lowly volunteer on eight kibbutzim throughout the Promised Land of Israel. One of them was Kibbutz Sdot Yam, home to the Hungarian-born Israeli heroine, Hannah Senesh. While there I read Hannah Senesh: Her Life and Diary, that included this interesting observation: "When anyone in Hungary spoke of Zionism five or even two years ago, Jewish public opinion condemned him as a traitor of Hungary, laughed at him, considered him a mad visionary, and under no circumstances heard him out."
It appears Dave would have joined the popular chorus of condemnation that would later be put to shame when what few others foresaw actually became reality before their very eyes.
20 - Dave Nalle
David, I'm not going to hold my breath until the ridiculous prophecies you believe in come true. I actually find it amusing that Israel has done such a great job of exploiting American fanatics who think that the existence of a state of israel is essential to their plan to precipitate the end of the world. I wish I could figure out a way to convince them to come clear brush in my backyard. Hey wait, didn't Herbert Armstrong say that clearing brush in Texas was a way to reveal the footsteps of the messiah?
Dave
21 - David Ben-Ariel
Dave, I respect your right to bash the Bible and those who believe in it. I'm also confident that the Israelite origins of the West do not depend upon your acceptance. However, for those sincerely interested, I encourage them to read and consider for themselves: The Plain Truth About the "Lost Ten Tribes" and Why You Need to Know.
22 - Dave Nalle
David, I haven't bashed the bible here. There's not one word in the Bible to support the idea that Anglos are the lost tribes of Israel or any of the other silly ahistorical garbage that Joe Smith and Herbert Armstrong promulgates in their 'new revelations'. It's all made up silliness to support a racist, exclusionary religious extremism.
Dave
23 - gonzo marx
well, read David's article on the subject that was posted to an Aryan forum
credit for balls, at least
but i must give the Objective opinion that literalist dogma adherance is still the root of much Evil
Excelsior!
24 - David Ben-Ariel
Everybody needs to hear the plain truth about the Israelite origins of the West, whether liberals or conservatives or extremists and I don't discriminate against any of them in sharing this priceless national treasure.
The Bible doesn't say one word about Anglos being part of the "Lost Ten Tribes," the Bible devotes MANY WORDS and MANY PROPHECIES to prove this to those with eyes to see and an open heart and mind to recognize Joseph who stands before us.
The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy
25 - gonzo marx
David...the real Question here is about "truth"
you feel that this position is "true" because of your Faith and Men's interpertation arising from Man's words
Alienthos sez...
*Let us assign the blame SQUARELY where it belongs so often: the priests, preachers, mullas, "holy men" who are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THEY and THEY ALONE know God's will...*
i Quote that for Truth...
ultimate Hubris to assume on knows the Mind of "God"
nuff said?
Excelsior!