Accurate Cures

Today on the radio, there was this commercial for a neuro-peptide supplement. It seemed correct: Take this protein normally found in your brain to help your brain function better. However, peptides degrade in your stomach (hence why we can eat steak - mmm.... steak...) and therefore, the protein would only serve as a source of amino acids the body could utilize. The cure sounded like a good idea, but it was flawed at the level of ingestion rendering it possibly ineffective.

Before we in the medical community prescribe or recommend anything to patients, we must know what they do, and how they interact with the body. To do this, we must know the fundamentals of how the body works, chemistry, etc. etc. Basically, we must draw from the basics learned in pre-med and medical classes. If we don't have that foundation, we can't assess these new cures.


That is the way we should interpret other doctrines, religions, or philosophies. We must have a firm grounding in the basics of Christian doctrine and of God's Word. We may find a philosophy that on the surface seems compatable, but when it is examined against the fundamentals of Christianity, those basics may reveal a fundamental flaw in the philosophy in question. But how often do we examine other philosophies? Do we understand how to 'dissect' and evaluate new ideas against Scripture? More importantly, do I know enough scripture to analyze the ideas around me so I don't treat myself or another believer or an unbeliebver with an inacurate cure?

Just as physicians can make medication errors because they may miss a fundamental flaw with the medication - for example drug-drug interactions, not considering how the side effect will affect the patient, etc. we as Christians can give advice or follow philosphies we miss fundamental flaws that may alter the way we think of God or His word, or we may find that the philosophy clashes with Christiaity. That forces us to choose one side or another.

Just like every disease has one 'true' treatment regimen that works, God thorugh His Son has sent Himself to redeem and cure all Creation and those that follow Him. Just like there are a million different medication errors and false treatments in medicine, there are many false gods and doctrines apart from God. And just like a good physician has to discern between the right cures and not make errors, the Great Physician can perfectly understand what we need and has provided it in His right time.