Dealing With The Cause, Not Just The Symptom

Luke 6:17-26

Type II diabetes is at epidemic levels among the various Indian tribes. In some tribes the incidence is almost 45% for those over thirty five years old. Because so many of my church members and acquaintances had been diagnosed, I began to research the problem to find out how I could help them. I soon learned that there is a vast amount of information available, but the general medical consensus is that once it develops, you will spend the rest of your life experiencing a growing number of problems.

Over the years, doctors have determined that for those with pre-diabetes, a problem with the blood sugar, but not yet attaining true diabetes, simply reducing their body weight will reduce the chances of developing diabetes by about one third. Weight loss also alleviates some symptoms and slows progress of the disease for those with diabetes.

A group of doctors have begun to research the effects of diet and in many cases total recoveries have occurred, with one of the best know involving actress Halle Berry. It now appears that type II diabetes in in fact not a disease at all, but the body responding in the manner it should to and extremely abnormal situation. Modern Americans consume, on average, one hundred seventy pounds of refined and unrefined sugar, as compared with less than twenty fifty years ago. The human body is simply unable to cope with the levels of sugar. In addition, starches are converted to sugar in the digestive system, further increasing the level of sugar available.

A body at rest requires insulin to utilize sugar for energy, so the it monitors the sugar level in the blood and adjusts the output to meet the available supply. Unfortunately, excess insulin causes cell death so when the supply gets too high, the cells restrict their usage, resulting in a condition referred to as insulin resistance. Type II diabetics have blood insulin levels five times that of other people, and most medical treatments involve various attempts to decrease insulin resistance. Losing weight usually results in reducing the overall amount of food ingested, and thus bringing the amounts of sugar closer to an acceptable level.

The cures actually involve completely modifying the diet, to eliminate the excessive amounts of sugars and starches ingested. When the amounts eaten are in a normal range, the body is again able to regulate itself and the diabetes disappears. The real problem is not a malfunction of the system, but of being overwhelmed by an improper diet. Learning to eat a healthy diet results in both loss of excess weight, and of diabetes, as side effects.

Most people do not begin to modify their diet until diabetes or some other health problem forces them to acknowledge the problem, and the standard medical treatment is mostly concerned with alleviating the symptoms. As a result, the focus is on minimal changes to allow the person to live with their diabetes, and the real problem is not resolved.

Sadly, we see the same problem in our Christian society. Most people come to the church as a result of problems which have developed in their lives. We can devote most of our effort to resolving those symptoms, or we can focus on dealing with the root problem, of sin. If the person is to continue, they must see progress with the symptoms as well. Few understand that once the root problem is fixed, the symptoms will disappear, as they are only side effects. It was the physical needs which initially drew people to Jesus, and while he healed them physically, he always addressed the spiritual needs, as the root of the problem and only true cure. His healing was always accompanied by teaching, as we see in this passage.

“And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.” (Luke 6:17-19)

Jesus started by meeting the pressing physical needs of healing, then moved to deeper but less apparent emotional and spiritual problems, giving assurance that they could be healed as well. Merely healing the body would enable the person to spend the rest of their life in emotional stress with a healthy body, then go to hell. They would only be marginally better off temporarily.

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” (Luke 6:20-23)

It is believed that unless action is taken, The percentages of people with diabetes will double within the next ten years. That a person has not been diagnosed with it yet is not an indication that there is not a problem. In the same way, Jesus warned that those who seemed to be avoiding the problems of those around them at the moment were not home free.

“But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:24-26)

A real cure for diabetes can not be attained by a pill to lower the blood sugar level or an injection of insulin. While these may relieve the symptoms temporarily, they have not resolved the cause of the problem. It will be necessary to take action by the patient.

In the same way, while physical healing would relieve the immediate problem, only by taking care of the root problem could the people experience permanent relief. This would require a deliberate action on their part. Failure to act will negate the benefit of Jesus’ healing them. It still does. Faith without action is dead.