Faith Healing deaths & Followers of Christ Church

This just made headlines...

Teenage boy from faith-healing family dies

http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=121379440855614400

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Teen's death renews scrutiny of faith-healing group
Oregon law may protect Followers of Christ members

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1213854908157310.xml&coll=7
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Teen's death blamed on faith healing

Story Highlights

Teen was second member of faith-healing family to die since March

Both had conditions that would have been treated medically

Death of 16-year-old may not be crime under Oregon law

Excerpt form article:

The Oregonian newspaper in previous interviews that the congregation has 1,200 people. It has no apparent ties to other congregations or any mainstream denomination

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/06/19/faith.healer.deaths.ap/index.html?eref=rss_crime

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Law allows anyone over 14 to decide their own treatment

Teen from faith-healing family dies at Ore. home

Excerpt from article:

The urinary tract condition could have been fixed with a catheter, said Dr. Cliff Nelson, the state Medical Examiner. The outpatient procedure is routine.

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_061808ORN_faith_healing_death_LJ.15f29535.html?npc

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NOTE: All the articles that I have read, state that if the teenaged boy, had received medical treatment, he may still be alive. The LORD does not call us to ignore, the medical community for treatment. ALL HEALING comes from the LORD, as does ALL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING. We need to understand that the LORD gives gifts to each of us. Let's not deny the gift of medicine, and those that have been called into this important ministry. Whether or not your church practices the laying on of hands, or praying for the sick, please, let the sick seek treatment from a licensed physician.

According to Wikipedia:


Followers of Christ (Oregon church)

During the latter part of the twentieth century, the church began to attract attention from authorities in the state of Oregon due to an unusally-high mortality rate among its children. Larry Lewman, a former medical examiner in the state, alleges that during a ten-year period twenty-five children perished due to the lack of medical intervention -- a death rate 26 times higher than among the general population.[2] An investigation by The Oregonian claimed that 21 out of 78 minors found to be buried in the church cemetery died of preventable causes, including simple infections which would be easily treated with routine antibiotics.[1] The high death rate among church children attracted national media attention, including coverage of the church by Time magazine[1], ABC News' newsmagazine 20/20,[9]and the PBS program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly.[10]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Followers_of_Christ_(Oregon_church)

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More about this church group:

Former member of church calls group a cult
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/21046/followers-of-christ-2


Doubt, secrecy circle Followers of Christ

Insiders say some in the faith-healing church see doctors clandestinely and are irked by the lack of a preacher

The Oregonian/June 28, 1998

http://www.rickross.com/reference/foc/foc1.html

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NOTE: I highlighted, "lack of preacher", in the artcles heading, because without the Spiritual Guidance of a Pastor, many things can take place. We need a Pastor that is founded in the WORD, to guide us. There is such a thing as taking scriptures out of context and too far. It is better to know for us to know and use ALL of the WORD, than to follow the blind leading the blind.

Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

The LORD gives us ample opportunity and options, along with HIS HEALING. We should never abuse HIS WORD. JESUS told the Pharisees, that those that are healthy don't need a physciain, but the sick do.

Luke 5:31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.