Restoring Health Care as A MINISTRY
The following is borrowed from the book, Restoring Health Care as A MINISTRY,
by Mark & Patti Virkler and Dr. Reuben T. De Haan
download the entire book free .pdf, 226 pages

The biblical perspective on drugs may be discovered by examining the various forms of the Greek word pharmakeia, the word from which we get pharmacy and pharmacist, which, of course, are our sources of drugs. Following are the various forms of the word pharmakeia, the exact definition from Strong’s Concordance and the verses in the New Testament where the word appears.

pharmakeia (Strong’s Concordance # 5331 medication, “pharmacy,” i.e. by extension magic, sorcery, witchcraft)

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft (pharmakeia), hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies…. (Gal. 5:19,20)

Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries (pharmakeia), nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. (Rev. 9:21)

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries (pharmakeia) were all nations deceived. (Rev. 18:23)

pharmakeus (Strong’s Concordance # 5332 a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion, a druggist, “pharmacist,” or poisoner, by extension a magician, sorcerer)

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers (pharmakeus), and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev. 21:8)

pharmakos (Strong’s Concordance # 5333 - the same as # 5332)

For without are dogs, and sorcerers (pharmakos), and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Rev. 22:15)

Pharmakeia is the root word from which we get pharmacy, pharmacist and pharmacology. In Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words, pharmakeia is defined: “Primarily signifying the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then poisoning; then sorcery, witchcraft.”

Reflections on the above
It is startling to discover that the New Testament has nothing positive to say about drugs and speaks against them five times. Many of us have never even considered the possibility that the New Testament would take such a stand. In addition, the Greek makes no distinction between good drugs (e.g., medicine) and bad drugs, which would be sorcery. There is only one basic word in the New Testament underlying this concept. It is pharmakeia. But a good naturalist would suggest herbs, which are nothing more than plants in the field and could not be classified as medicine any more than the greens in your daily salad are medicine. Herbs are just food.

TBA uses and promotes energy remedies. Again this cannot be classified as medicine because it does not force the body to do anything. Energy medicine, the way TBA does it, is nothing more than a set of instructions that remind the body to do its God-given ability to heal. Prayer works on the principle of energy and it is not considered medicine either.

Personal Conviction
Based on these facts, many people have determined never to use any kind of drug, convinced that to do so would place them under the curse reserved for those who practice sorcery and witchcraft. Others recognize the significance of the root of the English word, but do not believe that the negative connotations of the word necessarily were also carried over into English. Where does one draw the line of conviction? Is the occasional use of aspirin or getting a Novocain shot when you get your teeth fixed the same as being dependent on blood pressure medicine or an antidepressant? How far is each person going to take their conviction? Fortunately, we all have will to choose.

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