Evil spirits causing illness?

[mum1983]

When Jesus healed someone, he frequently "cast out the spirits" which were causing them to be disabled, or that is how the deciples portrayed it. So, even though we know what causes epilepsy, mental illnesses, physical ailments---are spirits behind it all?

Edited to mention the fact that God has claimed to have caused people to be ill as well...

[Canuckster1127]

Given that in some cases Jesus or the Apostles conversed with the spirits it would seem clear to me that yes, there was then and still is today demonic presence and attack.

That said, not all healings in the Bible are attributed to demonic possession. It's speculation, although reasonable I think in some cases, that some of these instances would equate to seizeures or epilipsy. That time frame and era didn't have the medical and scientific exactness of expression that we do now. That's not something that is "wrong." It's simply a reality when you compare then and there with now and here. We ought not to be surprsed when idioms and presumed explanations of things like this are expressed differently than we do now. Rather than trying to ask why they didn't understand it or explain it like we do, we're better recongnizing that in the context of their day, culture and language their idioms served to address things well.

[mum1983]

I see your point but I can't help thinking that God knew we would be having these debates centuries later. Could he not have been more precise in his explanations?

There's a woman at church who thinks genetic diseases are passed down because of some sin an ancestor committed. It seems rediculous to me. It puts me in mind of a Heavenly pencil pusher scrupiously keeping track of all our misdeeds; "Look here, Margaret committed adultry in 1890. It's time we gave her great grandson cystic fibrosis." Is God that petty?

[Rob]

There's a woman at church who thinks genetic diseases are passed down because of some sin an ancestor committed. It seems rediculous to me. It puts me in mind of a Heavenly pencil pusher scrupiously keeping track of all our misdeeds; "Look here, Margaret committed adultry in 1890. It's time we gave her great grandson cystic fibrosis." Is God that petty?

Good heavens, no!
That type of thinking is just...really bad in my opinion.
I think by doing certain things you can "open the door" for the enemy to work, but I really don't think God curses children (or anyone else for that matter) with disease these days.

[RickD]

There's a woman at church who thinks genetic diseases are passed down because of some sin an ancestor committed.

Mum1983, There is a possibility, that genetic "diseases" could be passed down because of sins of an ancestor. One that comes to mind, is incest, or inbreeding. I can't help but think of the movie "Deliverance". I can hear the banjo now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJn-jBGa6RM

[Canuckster1127]

I understand, Mum. I've heard people offer such explanations as well. There are plenty of instances of people misunderstanding or blaming God for many things. I believe Jesus Christ is God's clearest and most direct revelation of Himself (I believe Jesus is God). Jesus supercedes all other revelation (which is ultimately partial and subject to our misunderstanding in places) and Jesus is superceded by none. When I read the Gospels I see Jesus as compassionate, loving and demonstrating a willingness to heal, restore and mend. I see the heart of Jesus clearly revealed when He was informed of the death of His beloved friend Lazarus and He wept openly (John 11:35).

I think your friend is thinking in part of a time when Jesus healed a blind man. Others asked Him if this man was Blind as a result of his own sin our his parents sin. Jesus didn't rebuke their question (which doesn't mean that He endorsed their underlying assumptions) but He answered that neither was true (which again doesn't mean He endoresed or agreed with their assumption that God punished sin with illness in the manner they thought) and He answered that this situation and the man's illness served to bring glory to God (possibly because of the opportunity it afforded here to show the love and compassion of God in Christ when He healed him.)

There are other passages in the Old Testament that speak of the sins of one generation being visited onto the 3rd and 4th generation following. Sin often has consequences that affect people other than just those who commit it. There are sins for example that if I indulged and committed could have horrendous impact upon my wife and family who are innocent.

God doesn't heal in every situation for reasons that are ultimately known only to God no matter how we might try and speculate, I think many religious people (who were also the people who criticized and questioned Jesus many times for how and when He healed people) ask questions because they don't understand or see the real nature of God as shown in Christ and demonstrated in so many other places. God ultimately is a God of Love, Healing and Redemption. Religious people have been getting that wrong for millenia and still often get it wrong today.

I don't believe your friend, even if well-intentioned is grasping that when making the representations you indicate.

[Gman]

When Jesus healed someone, he frequently "cast out the spirits" which were causing them to be disabled, or that is how the deciples portrayed it. So, even though we know what causes epilepsy, mental illnesses, physical ailments---are spirits behind it all?

Edited to mention the fact that God has claimed to have caused people to be ill as well...

I believe that there are four categories it could fall into... Any could be plausible here when it comes to illness or death too.

1. Man's sins.
2. Circumstances.
3. Satan or devil.
4. God.

Sorry for the short explanation.