Hi Jim. I've got a quick question. In that 'religious group' that I used to belong to, they said that God is the only reality! -(Well that's OK) - So then they went on to say that the material world is just a manifestation of a 'false mind',- (the human or material mind). In other words, the material world was an illusion. God did not create the material world. So taking all this to extreme, they did not use material medicine. - (This has led to TRAGIC deaths, including children). Thankfully I was not very good at following this religion to the letter. - But, if WE are saying that the only reality is Christ, (which we are!)- How should I 'view' the material world. I mean I don't just stop eating and drinking because I claim Christ as my only reality do I! So I don't know why I should feel bad about taking a headache pill! If I'm sick, why would it be denying the power of God if I saw a doctor? There's no shame in getting sick and having to see the doctor is there? Can you see why I'm sometimes slow at grasping 'reality'! People have different points of view on the 'reality of Christ') Love R

Hello dear R! :)

The material world is not an illusion, it is simply the elemental creation. And yes, God did create it, and his son was manifested in this material world. The illusion is found in the reasoning of the natural mind, and though there may be many extreme variations, they all stem from the same under-riding insanity. Christ is the only true reality because in him we are made complete, and life works in and through us because of his spirit, despite the fact that the body is constantly decaying. The fact that Christ is the only true reality does not negate the existence of the material it instead reveals the emptiness of the material without the life of God.

I'm just not much on philosophy and vain speculation for it produces all kinds of insanity. We are here in this world and we can either live our true life while recognizing the emptiness we are confronted with or we can try to reason ourselves out of our temporary placement. Reasoning is futile, but knowing that Christ is our life while we are here is life.

You ask about the practice of avoiding medical aid based upon the illusion of the material and I agree with your "extreme" assessment, as it is in fact very inconsistent to make any preparations at all for the material, if it is only an illusion. If it is "not of faith" to take any medication, then why not simply starve the illusion out of us and eat faith-food? :) Of course, from a natural-health viewpoint it is sometimes beneficial to avoid much of the medical "aid" that has been offered down through the centuries (even much of today's medicine).

There are OT scriptures where the prophets denounced someone here or there for putting one's trust in the doctors instead of in the Lord, but of course we have to make a formula out of everything instead of recognizing the truth of a particular people in a particular situation. No doubt the same truth applies to ourselves, but in Christ we can see that its reality is far beyond adopting some kind of a faith principle whereby we avoid any physical treatment, for we are given the mind to know that the mind without Christ is always seeking something other than the only life that truly sustains ... whether the body improves for a while or merely continues on its slow decay.

If you want to see a doctor or take a headache medication you are free to do so, for you may find some temporary relief. Just remember, the doctor or the medication can only do so much ... and may even do damage. Just don't assume that the medical field really understands anything beyond its still limited wisdom. As far as denying the power of God, I think it is just as easy to do so in either option, as the religious demand is built upon its own elemental wisdom. :)

Christ is your life and his life is freedom ... listen to what you really hear. And don't be afraid if what you hear doesn't fit into a formula you must follow to the letter ... instead be glad it doesn't. :)

Love, Jim