Subject

Key Statement/Teaching

Paragraph

Member responsibility

The fact that one person decides to seek anointing for the healing of a physical condition while another suffering from the same condition, does not, can in no way be taken to mean that the first person is necessarily righteous or that the second person is necessarily unrighteous.

98

Member responsibility

We are not to to blame a person who lacks or seems to lack faith since faith comes from God.

99

Member responsibility

Do not overestimate your own faith.   "Hoping" or "wishing" to be healed is not the same thing as having the special faith that God must give to really be healed.

106

Member responsibility

Neglect is not faith, neither is fear of doctors and hospitals.

106

Member responsibility

One should acknowledge his lack of faith if this is the case.

110

Member responsibility

Each must appraise his own faith realistically. But a Christian who is realistic enough to soberly assess his own faith and find it wanting is not a "weak" Christian. He may in fact be quite a strong Christian, who is converted enough to see himself as he really is; such an individual will not bow to stubbornness or yield to pride when his need of external help highlights his physical debilities and spiritual imperfections.

111

Member responsibility

No one should take upon himself the role of spiritual judge or "second guesser" over another's actions regarding healing or faith.

112

Member responsibility

Any reasonable request for anointing should be honored, regardless of the nature of the illness or affliction and regardless of whether the person is consulting a physician or of what treatment he may be undergoing.

112

Member responsibility

It is neither possible nor profitable to determine why God has or has not healed an individual.

113

Member responsibility

 Healing may relate to any number of factors-the person himself, his immediate family, his close friends, his wider acquaintances, the minister involved, the timing, the circumstances, etc.-and it is pointless to try to discern why something did or did not happen with respect to healing.

113

Member responsibility

If God's will is for a person to die, it should be in spite of his best efforts to recover and not because of his stubbornness in avoiding professional aid.

114

Member responsibility

God chooses who His martyrs will be: we cannot and must not make this decision for ourselves.

114

Member responsibility

A Christian has responsibility to help himself if he becomes ill or injured in addition to having trust in God for healing.

118

Member responsibility

 If we can stand on our own feet, we should. If we can do something for ourselves, we are derelict in our responsibility if we do not. God's Church has taught this for years.

119

Member Responsibility

Each individual has the same responsibility to examine alternative proposals, and seek and evaluate advice from several professional sources before making a decision in a serious health matter.

127

Member Responsibility

To refuse the operation may only be the unintended neglect of one's Christian responsibility to God and His Work.

128