Joel Orr is member of the Church of Christ, Scientist. So when a bump under the skin on the back of his neck eventually grew to a baseball-size growth, and a doctor friend told him it would have to be removed surgically, Orr’s Christian Science faith was tested.
He might have asked a physician to intervene earlier. Instead, he prayed. After the boil became infected and painful, he could have visited a doctor to have it lanced. Instead, he prayed. And he sought the help of a Christian Science practitioner.
“These are people whose full-time profession is in helping people overcome problems through prayer,” said Orr, from Ninety Six. “As the practitioner helped me gain a better understanding of my relationship with God, my fear was quieted.”
While I know and respect the power of prayer, I also know what medical care and healing has done for my family and me. We will continue to trust in God’s healing power and that of His physicians…..and not in that of Christian Science practitioners.