Is AIDS a punishment?
Read Luke 13:1-5
As the Jews heard this news, they wanted to know why God had ‘punished’ those Galileans like that. Had it been for their own sins – or the sins of others? Jesus said ‘No’. He reminded them of another story – when a tower had collapsed, killing 18 people. Had these people died because they had sinned more than others? Again, Jesus said ‘No’.
But he went on to say that such sudden death was a reminder to all of us that death is nothing – nothing compared with the tragedy of dying without God. AIDS is always a tragic waste of a human life. In some cases, the person may have been careless in their behaviour. In many other cases, no-one knew the risks. Jesus reminds us that we all sin. Jesus would teach that the tragedy of AIDS is a warning to us all of a greater tragedy ahead if we reject God.
- How have different people in our area become infected with HIV?
- Have you ever been guilty of immorality or carelessness or something worse?
- Do you think that dying from AIDS is a punishment or a tragedy?
- How can we teach that AIDS warns us of a greater tragedy (of dying without God) without causing more hardship to someone with AIDS?
AIDS and leprosy
Is AIDS like leprosy? The two are different – but both are feared. Both can isolate the sufferer from those around. AIDS now is like leprosy once was, with no cure. Since Old Testament times, the Jews had treated leprosy as if it was the direct result of sin.
Read Luke 5:12-16
Jesus healed this man from leprosy! In those days people with leprosy were pushed out of their communities. Yet leprosy was only a disease – one that can now be cured.
- How did Jesus heal this man?
- How much do people with AIDS need the comfort of love and touch?
- What can we do to make sure that people living with HIV/AIDS are loved and ‘touched’?
- How are people with AIDS (or leprosy) treated in our area?
- How could we respect and care more for them?
- How can we pray for them in a way which will show our love?
Family planning
Family planning is a very sensitive issue, about which Christians may have different views. This study may help you think more about your beliefs, and what your attitude should be towards others who may have opposite views.
Read Philippians 2:1-4
- What can you do when Christians within the church disagree about important matters? Maybe family planning is one such matter.
- In making a decision to limit the number of children within your own family – whose interests are you thinking of?
- If Christians are to serve each other – what should our attitude be towards those we serve?
- How could these attitudes be used within a clinic or family planning programme?
As you finish your discussion time, read verses 5-11 together. This is part of an ancient Christian hymn, which helps us to learn from Christ’s humility and example. Pray that all that we do in our work may be to God’s glory.
Traditional medicines: gifts from God
We read in Genesis 1:29 how, from the very beginning, God placed plants in our lives. He gave us seed-bearing plants and trees that bear fruit for our use as food. And so, in every place – wet or dry, land or sea – appropriate plants grow (Isaiah 41:19).
- What does this mean in our daily lives and to life on earth?
A body, which is well nourished, is also usually a healthy body. When we eat a balanced diet, the food we eat can be seen as preventive healthcare. In addition, God gives us the use of plants and herbs for curative care, both physical (2 Kings 20:7; Psalm 51:7) and emotional (Psalm 45:8; Genesis 43:11).
- Reflect on how people have used plants, seeds and herbs. What are the consequences of such use?
Jesus’ ministry included both spiritual healing (Matthew 9:2) and physical healing. He used divine power (Luke 5:17), faith (Luke 7: 6-10; Luke 18:42), touch (Matthew 8:2-3) and even prepared products, such as the mud and saliva used for healing in John 9:6-7. There were also rituals associated with cleansing and healing, both in the Old and the New Testament (Leviticus 14:49-57; Mark 8:22-25).
- Consider the different healing methods that are available today and the rituals associated with them. Which would you, as a Christian, agree with – and why?
Read Philippians 1:9-10 and James 1:5
As we consider the use of traditional medicines, let us make choices through careful study and observation, asking God for wisdom to see clearly what treatments are best, pure and blameless.
AIDS and the glory of God
By the time of Jesus, many of the teachings of the Old Testament had been over-simplified, with results such as: ‘If you are suffering, it must be because you have sinned.’ Is this true, particularly for someone who is born suffering? Is the baby with AIDS really being punished because of its parents?
Read John 9:1-5
The disciples realised the problem. Surely this man had not sinned before he was even born? However, Jesus didn’t even try to answer their question directly. He preferred to stop his followers from blaming people. Instead, they should pray for more of God’s love and glory to be seen – even in the suffering that you and I see today. And so this blind man was not only healed but revealed God’s glory in Jesus the saviour.
So our attitude to AIDS should not be ‘Whose fault?’ but rather, ‘God’s opportunity to do what?’ The light of Jesus is seen best when there is suffering or doubt. May his light in us shine as we face not only those with AIDS but also those who think that such people are only to be condemned.
- What do people in your area say about those with AIDS?
- How can we be practical in our love?
- How do we get the spiritual strength from the Lord to be positive about the sufferings which we and others face?
Pray for all those that suffer through AIDS. Pray that the Lord would guide all those who work towards a cure for AIDS and pray for those who work among AIDS sufferers.