Ill Ivp Academic Paragraph 6
Please write a paragraph responding to the discussion bellow. Add citations and references in alphabetical order.
The Christian biblical narrative creation, fall, redemption, and restoration describe the nature of God and of reality in relation to the reality of sickness and disease.
One would find comfort and hope in the light of illness according to this narrative in all four parts of the narrative because according to Shelly & Miller, (2006), “The concept begins in Genesis 1:26: Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness… For us to be made in God’s image we must live according to the scripture and finding our life’s purpose. We have to walk the Lord’s path by loving our neighbors as ourselves, being kind to one another, caring, giving, sharing and reflect these qualities of our Creator. God has equipped every one of us with these qualities; it is for us to live by them according to his word. As Christians, our relationship with God being made in his own image is the main purpose of our existence. For us to seek comfort and hope during illness we have to appreciate and understand the nature of sin after creation in the Biblical narrative of the fall. Through the behavior of Adam and Eve, we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God which is why we are exposed to earthly effects such as disease and illness. But in redemption, which gives us hope. God had a master plan where he sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ to come and die for our sins which free us up from earthly wrath if we are obedient to his word, abide by his way and believe that by his blood and stripes, we can be saved and healed according to his promises. Healing begins through understanding, believing and accepting the word of God and the consequences of sin and its pitfalls and also how Christ came to earth to die for our sins in order to restore the relationship between God and us to make us whole. During disease and illness, God is present and his wisdom at work even though we tend to feel that we are being neglected. That should give us courage during times of troubles and difficulties just like in restoration. The occurrences in life can be difficult to comprehend at times but according to His word faith comes to play by believing in God’s promises which we have control over. Illness and suffering are penalties of the fall as Adam and Eve disobeyed God because they ate the forbidden fruit from the serpent instead of abiding by the word of God, leading to doubt of God. According to Shelly & Miller, (2006), “Sickness, suffering, and death are evils that plague human life, but they are not the greatest evil. That would be to lose God, to have reason to doubt his faithfulness to us. Christians affirm God’s faithfulness, although they confess that it is demonstrated in a manner that might never have occurred to us had God not simply done it”. God through His promises can heal and restore us from all diseases and illnesses if we believe. The excellence and supremacy of God is demonstrated in the acceptance of Christ our savior, through seeking him during times of illness and suffering. The children of God prophesy the truth about God as shown in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus into the entire world as His witnesses (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). As Christ’s ambassadors, we pray to God believing and convinced by the biblical narratives during illness that there is hope through Jesus.
Reference
Shelly, Judith Allen. And Arlene B. Miller. Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing, 2nd ed., Rev. and expanded. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Academic/InterVarsity Press, 2006