I recently heard a preacher challenge the congregation about idolatry—using their checkbook as an example. Totally valid. After all, we do tend to trust our money will keep us safe, buy us happiness, and more. Interestingly enough, nobody got up and stormed out; nobody insisted that he cease speaking, and nobody put their fingers in their ears. In other words, they were not overly threatened by what he said.
That’s not what I’ve found happens when I challenge what I suspect may be a much more dearly-held idol in the lives of many believers: alternative medicine. This particular idol is so precious that when a sister in Christ suggested I lead a small group about it, I refused. Why? Because I’ve been down that road before and found that many believers just don’t want to know that there is no scientific basis for alternative medicine, and there are a lot of excellent reasons a Christian should avoid it. In the words of a faithful brother who refused to even listen to research on the lack of scientific evidence for his therapy of choice, “I prefer false hope to no hope.”
As a scientist and a believer, I find that kind of attitude both incomprehensible and dangerous. Alternative medicine has a hold on some that may amount to idolatry. I would suggest that this may be because
- Most people aren’t scientists and, therefore don’t have the tools to assess the claims of those who offer them “snake oil,”
- We value good health, both for ourselves and our family and are understandably unwilling to face the fact that we are mortal beings living in a fallen world,
- We’re not aware of the philosophies behind most alternative therapies, the vast majority of which stem from Eastern religion.
A blog article cannot cover all of the above, so I’m not even going to try. But I can write a little bit about each of the above points and invite anyone who wants to know more to read the links and contact me.
Snake Oil
I love listening to my grown children talk, even though I sometimes have no idea what they’re talking about. They are experts in fields that I know nothing about. And I believe them for two reasons. First, I trust them, and second, they’re more likely than I am actually to be right.
The problem with medicine is that snake oil salespeople know enough jargon to sound impressive and can rattle off enough anecdotal evidence to inspire hope. A biologist could tell you that they are using words out of context and their theories are nonsense, but you’d then be faced with deciding between two “experts” who disagree.
Worse, medical schools have discovered what all mothers know (the placebo effect is powerful) and that if one offends patients, they become non-compliant. Therefore, they advise physicians to tell patients they should do whatever makes them feel better. The insurance companies have joined in by actually paying for “therapies,” like acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, and reiki, that have no scientific basis, have never been proven to work, and may even be harmful. Frankly, it’s cheaper.
What’s the average person to do? Here’s where the family of God comes in. We probably have those in our congregation who are trained in evaluating scientific claims, those who know what those jargon words mean. Those people may not be physicians because medical doctors aren’t extensively trained in statistical analyses and taught detailed science. They have other things to learn! I tutored medical school students, so I know exactly what they do learn and am very aware that those with the tools to evaluate alternative therapies are Ph.D. biologists. Ask them.
Want an example? Have a look at this bunk science website, which offers hope and a costly solution to those suffering from a very debilitating problem: Lyme disease. A scientist could tell you how dangerous treating Lyme with ozone and UV is—ozone has been banned from being used in air purifiers because it is so reactive and destroys tissues. We wear sunscreen because UV light crosslinks thymine in the DNA and causes cancer (did you like that jargon?). Exposing blood to either of these modalities is very dangerous and frankly betrays a lack of understanding, given that the spirochete in Lyme disease isn’t in the blood. The “therapy” being offered at a great price could cause cancer or worse if that’s a thing. Now, usually, Wikipedia isn’t a great source. Still, in this case, I suspect the article was contributed by a scientist, mainly because it references the FDA and peer-reviewed scientific articles. If you’re tempted in this direction, read it first.
I can already hear the outcry. “But the therapy worked for Sam and Felicia!” Yes, some people get better. But, unless blinded peer-reviewed studies were conducted, we have no way of knowing if it was the alternative therapy that helped or if the person would have recovered anyway. Many years ago, my father and I sat in Starbucks while he sipped water, and I enjoyed a sinfully delicious drink. A week later, he died. I’m still healthy. So, is Starbucks the secret to a long life? You decide.
One reason I oppose alternative medicine is that IT IS BUNK. It doesn’t work, it’s expensive, and it may be dangerous.
We are Mortal
I just turned 66 and can tell you it’s wonderful. I have eight beautiful grandchildren and am not responsible for feeding, clothing, or disciplining any of them. I’m retired from teaching microbiology, cell biology, and immunology, and I spend my days doing what I love: writing, gardening, walking, and loving on my family. But, after I’ve been sitting for a while, it can be challenging to move around until the stiffness wears off. I have to take blood pressure medicine every day. And, well, my sweet husband is the only one who thinks I’m gorgeous (yes, he does, and, no, you can’t have him). One day, my body will die. Of course, the important part of me will go to be with Jesus.
The trouble is that we live here, on Earth, and it’s tough to imagine much beyond this life. And, while we’re here, we’d like to “live the dream.” More than that, we want our children and grandchildren to be healthy and happy. We encourage them to eat right, exercise, rest enough, and get their check-ups. We pray fervently.
Sadly, sometimes, all that isn’t enough. Cancer strikes. There’s a car accident. Someone ends up with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). And the physician tells us there’s nothing more they can do. Sometimes, even the Lord says, “No.” Then, we’re tempted to stop at nothing to change things. We clutch at straws like alternative therapies. Trusting the Lord knows best, especially when it’s not what we want, is difficult.
It reminds me of a sweet, caring believer who wanted to start a nonprofit to help veterans with TBI. He’d heard of a physician who was treating this condition with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and asked me to research this treatment. Would it work? I did, and it wouldn’t. The only uses of hyperbaric oxygen are in the treatment of Bends and wound care. I wrote a long article explaining why, referencing peer-reviewed articles. But he wanted to help so much that he ignored what he paid me to write—and used donor funds to provide useless treatments.
Mark my words: It would be NICE if all our ills could be cured, but we’re not in Heaven yet.
Eastern Philosophies
I’ve just been reading Deuteronomy, where Moses tells the Israelites to destroy the towns they conquer, breaking their altars, burning the Asherah poles, and demolishing the idols. They were even told that the silver and gold that covered the idols were detestable. Why? I’m sure some of the carvings had artistic merit, and surely the Israelites knew that those “gods” weren’t real! Much like we know that Jesus is Lord.
God tells us why. It’s because idolatry would weaken and ultimately destroy them. They would be ensnared by it. Now, think about alternative medicine, much of which is based on Eastern philosophies. The founder of Chiropractic medicine said it’s a religion and works because it straightens out “vertebral subluxations” that block the flow of the “innate.” If you want to know, the article showing that, not only is there NO scientific evidence for this, it’s here.
What about the other alleged therapies? Is it true that this is just ancient wisdom that we should be free to use if we don’t believe in the religion it’s based on? I don’t think so. First, our money is not ours. If the science shows that a therapy doesn’t work, as it does for all of these and many others, then is it right to throw God’s money at the scammers? Second, Jesus said that His coming didn’t do away with the law. God was hot on idolatry then; I suspect He still is. And, let’s face it, participating in things that purport to channel positive energy or, balance vital forces, or even increase the activity of the immune system is trusting in something that’s neither God nor in keeping with the rules of the world He made. Third, Scripture tells us to avoid even the appearance of evil. Is he participating in New Age practices? That should be as offensive as using the gold from an idol for earrings.
Idolatry is defined as “extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone.” Next time you hear someone extolling the virtue of their chiropractor or acupuncturist, try challenging them and see what happens. Then think. Is this idolatry?