Pray Over It

I take a pretty bold and uncompromising stand when it comes to trusting YHWH for provision and healing.  I trust Him in other areas as well, but there aren't as many arguments in other areas.  Although the majority is dwindling, most folks who claimed to be Bible believers have taken a stand against adultery, fornication, idolatry, etc. if not in deed, at least in word, but provision/prosperity is a big controversy and trusting YHWH for healing is really outside of mainstream, if you're talking no chemicals and no prescriptions!

The book of Galatians seems to be the book most Christians believe stands as a testament to the obsoletion of Torah.  I, personally, believe most of Christendom has misinterpreted Paul's intent in writing to the new believers in Galatia, but that's not the point of this article.  Many believers are beginning to see the power grab of Big Pharma when it comes to our health and they are beginning to seek outside the social tradition of mainstream medicine.  While many have been taught and continue to teach that G-d has given special wisdom to those in the medical field, there really is no Scriptural reference to back up that theology.

Of course, we all know that Luke was referred to as the beloved physician by Paul, but there is absolutely no Scriptural reference that Messiah or the apostles sent anyone to him for healing, or even treatment, for that matter.  To get to the point, there have been several rabbis and pastors who encourage their congregants to utilize the social mainstream of what we call modern medicine.  The term "pharmakeia" was translated to witchcraft in the list of works of the flesh, found in Galatians 5.  It's as easy to recognize the root word for pharmacy in the Greek term pharmakeia as it is to see the root word "porn" in the Greek word that was translated to fornication.

Galatians 5:19-21.  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
I've included the Greek term as well as brief definitions of each word according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance:
Adultery:  Moicheia: (unlawful intercourse of married person)
*** Fornication:  Porneia: (illicit sexual intercourse) (also includes eating what is sacrificed to idols)
Uncleanness:  Akatharsia:  in a moral sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living
Lasciviousness: Aselgeia:  unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence
Idolatry:   Eidololatreia:  the worship of false gods
*** Witchcraft:   Pharmakeia:  1.the use or the administering of drugs  2. poisoning
 Hatred:  Echthra:  enmity
Variance:  Eris:  contention, strife, wrangling
Emulations:  Zelos:  excitement of mind, punitive zeal
Wrath:  Thumos:  passion, boiling anger
* Strife: Eritheia:  electioneering or intriguing for office
Seditions:  Dichostasia:  dissention, division
Heresies:  Hairesis:  a body of men following their own tenets
Envyings:  Phthonos:  prompted by envy or jealousy
Murders:  Phonos:  slaughter
* Drunkenness:  Methe:  intoxication
Revellings:  Komos:  carousing, nocturnal riotous procession
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of G-d.

There is an odd correlation between the Greek term for intoxication and the drug slang "meth" in our society, but what has continued to stand the test of time is the teaching that pharmaceuticals are somehow blessed by G-d and these chemical poisons are for our good.  I use the term poisons because that is the ancient Greek definition, as well as the current facts.  The reason for such strict dosage calculation and avoidance of overdose is because pharmaceuticals are carefully measured poison.

On more than one occasion, I've had people tell me, their spiritual leader has advised them regarding this word pharmakeia, to simply pray over their prescription before taking it.  My response is simple.  Is "pray over it" the spiritual counsel for the rest of the list, as well?