Free Is There a Conflict Between Divine Healing and Medicine? by Roger Sapp Page B

but ignorantly think that there were no Jewish doctors in the First Century. However, this is simply not true. In Christ statements, he certainly expects His hearers to understand exactly what a doctor does in healing.  The New Testament does record doctors functioning among the Jewish people. For instance, the story of the woman with the issue of blood begins with this piece of information:
 
    And a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse, (Mark 5:25-26)
     
    Mark does not indicate that going to a doctor was a sinful thing for her to do. The passage does not refer to these doctors as "sorcerers" when it could have done so.  Later, when she encounters Christ, He does not address her going to doctors as a sin either.
     
    Despite the fact of their ineffectiveness in helping this woman, she had access to "many physicians."  In discussing this verse, the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible says
 
    "The Rabbis ordained that every town must have at least one physician, who was also to be qualified to practice surgery, or else a physician and a surgeon." [1]   
     
    These physicians were not considered "sorcerers" in any way.
     
Guilt by Association
    Some that condemn doctors, point out that doctors may be involved in the sin of abortion, misusing their authority to prescribe drugs or some other abuse. However, this is a condemnation of a whole class of people in a profession based on what a few of bad character may do. It is "guilt by association." This is like saying that a few policemen do bad things, therefore they are all evil. It is like saying that a few Christian ministers are greedy, so they are all evil. Hopefully, no one believes this "guilt by association" argument against medicine and doctors. Most doctors do a lot of good but that does not make an abortionist a good person either. We should recognize bad reasoning when we hear it.
     
Paul Speaks of Luke the Physician
    Because we are Christ centered, we start with Christ as the foundation of what we believe and practice. Then we observe what the rest of the New Testament says. What does the rest of the New Testament reveal about doctors and medicine? The author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles is Luke, the physician. Some may not be aware that Luke was often a companion of the Apostle Paul as he traveled throughout the Roman Empire. Paul does identify Luke as a doctor. Luke was present with Paul when Paul wrote this:
     
    "Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings..." (Colossians 4:14)
     
    Again, the absence of condemnation of the medical profession is certain here. Quite the contrary is apparent. Paul is supportive of Luke's profession as a doctor. Paul did not have to mention that Luke was a doctor. He would not have mentioned it if he had thought negatively of this. Yet, the Apostle Paul makes it plain that he approves of Luke being a doctor.
     
    Paul does not distinguish Luke as a different kind of physician who doesn't really use medicine because he believes in healing. That idea is certainly not present here. That idea cannot be added to support someone's negative view of doctors when that idea is not found in the New Testament or this verse.
     
    By the fact of Luke continuing to be a physician and a strong believer in Christ, it does support our view that it is entirely possible to believe the Lord for supernatural healing while under the care of a doctor. It is also possible to be a doctor, like Luke, who believes both in natural and supernatural healing. I have personal relationships and acquaintances with a number of Christian doctors who both practice medicine and pray successfully for the sick to be healed. The idea that you can't do both is certainly bogus and not found in the New Testament. In order to continue to condemn doctors, you really have to disregard the fact that