Letting Baby Rhiana Die! Who's Guilty?
Hoosiers felt anger and sorrow
as they read of 2-day-old
Rhiana's "death by neglect."
Her infection was easily
treatable with antibiotics, but,
her religious parents chose a
form of faith healing over
traditional medicine. They
were members of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn located in the Morgantown area. Church elders were called to the home to pray for the infant’s healing to no avail. The case went to court and a jury found the parents guilty in the death of their daughter.
This tragic story presented a very complex problem for the state. Sincere people were acting upon deeply held beliefs. These convictions were part of a larger religious system whose leaders actively taught faith in God over medical treatment. How could the state press charges without violating the line of separation between church and state? Yet, basic laws demanded action against such negligence.
Baby Rhiana's death underscores another problem - a problem which the Church must tackle and resolve; it is the Bible's teaching on faith healing. While most Christians deplore what happened to Rhiana, there are many who are confused about this crucial issue. Rhiana's parents may have been victims of bad teaching by religious zealots. That does not excuse their behavior, but, their guilt must be shared by those who taught and supported their views.
The Bible and Faith Healing
Every Christian believes God is able to heal. He is our Creator. He made us, therefore, He can fix us. The discussion has nothing to do with God's ability. Rather, it is a question of His methods. How does God heal us? Does He use faith healers, "elders and olive oil" or medicine? Is God required to employ any method? Can He cure by direct and unobservable ways?
This article will analyze only one popularly held viewpoint - healing by "elders and olive oil." Christians agree that God sometimes heals directly in answer to the prayers of His people. But, there is radical disagreement on other forms of healing. Rhiana was the victim of a family and church who followed the "elders and olive oil" method.
The "elders and olive oil" method of faith healing requires the sick person to call for the elders of the church to anoint him/her with oil (generally olive oil) and to pray for healing. Sometimes, this is done at the front of the church. Other times it is done in the home depending on the condition of the one requesting prayer. "Laying on of hands" frequently accompanies the prayer session. This procedure is an attempt to follow the instructions of James 5:14-15 which states, "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up..."
The Meaning of James 5:14-15
Is James teaching that God has promised to heal if His needy child calls for elders to pray and anoint with oil? The answer is an emphatic "NO!" This passage suffers at the hands of teachers who have not done their homework. The key to understanding James’ instructions is in the phrase "anointing him with oil." There are two primary Greek words translated "anoint" in the New Testament. The first is "aleipho", a term used in Greek secular culture carrying the idea "to rub or wash over." This is the word used in James 5:14. The second term is "chrio", a term reserved for sacred anointing. A better translation of verse 14 is, "... rubbing him with oil in the name of the Lord." Lenski translates the phrase, "... oiling him with oil." Olive oil was known for its beneficial, medicinal value. It was used throughout the Orient for physical healing. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus described the Samaritan treating the wounds of a half dead man with "oil and wine"(Luke 10:34). James is directing the elders of the church to "rub olive oil on the sick" to make them comfortable and to help heal their ailments. The oil is similar to our medicines today. The elders were to be concerned about both physical and spiritual healing. Therefore, they applied the medicine of the day for physical problems and prayed, displaying their dependence on God for both physical and spiritual healing.
The Bible never teaches Christians to shun medicine. The Apostle Paul told Timothy to "use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." Timothy was not instructed to pray for healing. Paul directed him to use the medicine of his day to help correct his sicknesses. James is doing the same.
Why Is This Important?
The case of Baby Rhiana screams to us the importance of proper biblical interpretation. Those who teach and share the views of Rhiana's parents are potentially capable of committing their crimes.
The credibility of Christianity is at stake. Pastors, evangelists and teachers who proclaim aberrant doctrines cast a dubious shadow over the Scriptures, giving critics reason to attack the grounds of our faith. We do not live in a vacuum. We must be diligent students of the Bible. Our beliefs should spring from a systematic, balanced and reasonable approach to the Scriptures. The Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God. How sad for the church to suffer at the hands of lazy leaders not willing to engage in the hard work of study. How tragic for God's church to be more concerned with "experience" than "knowledge." The consequences can be devastating.
Ultimately, the Gospel is compromised. Society condemns Rhiana's parents and their church as religious fanatics, "Bible thumpers." If people who believe the Bible can be so wrong in their opinions on healing, how can they possibly be right on the Gospel? This question evolves into, "How can anybody who believes the Bible be trusted?" Our beliefs natter. Each one gives testimony to the other. If we are deviant in one area, we throw suspicion on all areas. God has revealed Himself in His Word. We must commit ourselves to the study of that Word, thereby, avoiding the mistakes that led to the death of an infant.
