There is a difference between a cure and a healing, and this underlies the
difference between medicine and spirituality.
Undoubtedly, the noble goal of medicine is to bring succour, relief and a cure
to the myriad ailments which seem to plague humankind; yet, by their own
admission, at least the majority of the medical faculty in Nigeria, ascribe
healing to a power beyond them – God.
Many hospitals publicly post at their entrance gates the slogan ‘We care, but
God heals’, and many a Nigerian patient has found tremendous comfort from
these words.
A cure can be defined as a restoration, remedy or a removal. It is based very
firmly in the evidence of materiality, symptoms and diagnosis. It takes its
cue from organs, equipment and physical standards set by medicine. A cure
is said to be effected for example when a healthy condition is restored, relief
from a pain or alleviation of a swelling is achieved or there is a removal of
symptoms.
Healing however goes
beyond the physical
picture or diseased
sense presented. It is a
restoration, but of
wholeness rather than
an alleviation of
symptoms. It has a
radical newness and
vitality which makes the
earlier diseased state
seem to be a dream, an
illusion that did not
really touch man. Those
who have experienced spiritual healing attest to the fact that their state of
health is not only better than before, but the whole experience is
transformative.
Medicine and science rejoice when a cure for an ailment is found, and
recently, Dundee University, Scotland, heralded such a breakthrough for
possibly curing malaria. Such announcements attest to the commitment of
the medical faculty to bring a lessening of suffering from ill health, and
should certainly be applauded. However, laudable as such medical and
pharmaceutical breakthroughs are, they are no guarantee that using a
wonder drug would mean the permanent end of bouts of malaria. It might
bring quicker relief, but it only cures that particular bout of the ailment, it
does not heal it permanently.
There is a remarkable statement in Science and Health with to the Scriptures,
a book on spiritual healing written by Mary Baker Eddy [1829-1910], and
borne out by incontrovertible, practical proof. Eddy writes ‘We think we are
healed when a disease disappears, though it is liable to reappear; but we are
never thoroughly healed until the liability to be ill is removed.’ Through her
study of the Bible, and particularly of the works of Christ Jesus, Eddy
discovered the rules for spiritual healing. She subjected these rules to the
test, and numerous individuals continue to not merely be cured of ailments,
but are completely healed. She wrote these rules in her aforementioned
book.
If a possible cure by medicine elicits heartfelt thanksgiving and celebration,
how much more the quieter but transformative healing which comes about
through spiritual discipline – [yes, it takes an effort on the part of the
individual] – turning to God, following the Christ example, study, adhering to
the rules of spiritual healing discovered and childlike faith.

G

you cannot sweep traditional healing under the carpet. It is also spiritual, safe and effective. Just pick your healer carefully.

All i know is that it is God that heals one