FENTON, MI – It seems as though almost everyday someone is claiming fantastic benefits from using their product, procedure or following a prescribed practice. Everything from simple dietary supplements to radical blood cleansing processes are being touted as the physical, mental and spiritual cure-all’s of the world.
I recently read an article that was beyond bizarre. Charles B. Loftin, vice president of San Antonio college of Chiropractors, was quoted in an AP item as saying: “Had ex-Kaiser Wilhelm received chiropractic adjustments for whatever abnormal conditions from which he was suffering, the World War would have been averted.” Right, and if Saddaam Hussein had better dental care the Gulf War would have been unnecessary! If Slobadan Milosevic had access to better hair care products then we would not be in the mess we’re in right now.
Now before you go off on me about chiropractors and their benefit to healthcare in America, just know that chiropractors provide a wonderful and needed service. On many occasions they have been of great benefit to me personally, and I believe are a legitimate health care provider. The point I am making is that we generally exaggerate the positive, and gloss over the negative when we want someone to buy into our way of thinking. It is human nature to want to be right and have others agree with you, but it is wrong to stretch the truth or lie, no matter what your motive.
I am afraid that most who are promoting the new “cure-all’s for what ails us” are doing so for one reason. Money. And what is worse is that millions of Americans are following these “Pied Pipers of Promise” into physical and financial ruin. They are taking advantage of mankind’s hope for health and prosperity and using the naiveté of the masses to deceive and manipulate, never disclosing the dangers and damage they can cause.
I sure am glad that our Lord didn’t use the tactics of these modern day hucksters. He was straight-forward and open about what it would mean to be a “follower” of His. No hidden agendas. No undisclosed problems. No fine print. Everything was, and is, in big bold letters, “Take up your cross and follow me.” That’s it! He doesn’t want just part of us, He wants our lives. Total, complete surrender. In return He truly is “the cure all for what ails us.” And what is even better is that what He offers really works. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24 KJV)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tim Patterson is Executive Director/Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Elected unanimously in May of 2015, Patterson formerly served for 9 years as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. He also served as trustee chair and national mobilizer for the North American Mission Board.