Christopher W. Bogosh, RN, B.Th. is the Director of Clinical Services and Education for Christian Community Care, an alternative end of life care, advocacy, and educational ministry. Rev. Bogosh has written several booklets on end of life issues and has published an article for the Puritan Reformed Journal called: “Pastoral Counseling in the Twenty-first Century for Illness, Disease, and Death.” Chris, his wife Robin, and son Noah reside in Yulee, Florida.
Asclepius, Alive and Well
One cannot dispute the fact that advances in medical science have had a positive impact on America. Mos
t, if not all of us, have experienced an illness, disease or injury that would have killed us less than a hundred years ago. We have been immunized against a whole host of viruses and have received preventative medicine teaching that has steered us away from unhealthy life practices. We have had diagnostic procedures such as blood tests, x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and electrocardiograms that have revealed underlying disease and trauma. Physicians have prescribed a whole host of medications to treat infections, heart conditions, diabetes, and these medications have helped to prolong our lives. We have had surgeries that have removed diseased organs, replaced them, bypassed arteries, fixed bones, and delivered babies from complicated pregnancies. Indeed, medical science has been a gift from God, and this cannot be disputed.
Unfortunately, however, it is usually the best gifts from God that are abused by mankind. The healthcare industry, yes, I said, industry, has become a multibillion dollar business, because it has the ability to treat illness, disease, and save lives. Medical research, pharmaceutical advancements, new technologies, and an army of highly trained specialists, with their own technical language, sit at the helm of this ever emerging industry, which exists to serve you--the medical consumer. Well, not exactly, if that were the case, healthcare would be a lot cheaper, and our politicians would not be wrangling over it. Western medicine is a lucrative business for many reasons, but the main reason is the consumer's dependence upon it. Sadly, Western medicine has become the only hope for many people in America, and the medical industry has been more than willing to fill this role as savior.
A warning to the Christian healthcare consumer…
During the days of the Apostle John, the Greek god healing, Asclepius had a temple in Pergamum, modern day Bergama. Today his symbol of healing, a staff entwined with serpents (the medical caduceus), characterizes the mission of modern medicine. The apostle John writing to the church in Pergamum said that Satan has his “throne” and “lives” in that city (Rev. 2:13). Although Pergamum was the official site for Roman emperor worship in Asia Minor, and many commentators believe that Domitian (81-96 A.D.) may be the satanic figure mentioned in Revelation 2:13, it can not be ruled out that Asclepius, with his serpent symbol, was not the figure John had in mind (cf. Rev. 12:9; 20:2). Especially, since many of the Christians in Pergamum did not renounce the faith after the martyr Antipas, mentioned in Revelation 2:13, was put to death by Domitian. It is quite possible that many of the first century Christians were attempting to find hope in the healing powers of Asclepius, and as a result, they were bowing the knee to Satan.
Today's Christian healthcare consumer has to beware of bowing the knee to Asclepius as well. Although Asclepius is a mythological figure, and any Christian (even a first century Christian) would think it absurd to bow the knee to this idol, his spirit still lives on in Western medicine, and his power hypnotizes many Christians. It is the magnetic force of hope in health, happiness and life, and the attempt to avoid illness, disease, suffering and death at all costs that draws the Christian. It is a subtle but deviant spirit that fits the context of Christianity very well. After all Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Yet, Christians often forget that Jesus also said that this fullness will never be found in this present life, but a future restored life that is yet to come (Matt. 6:20-21).
The healthcare industry may be the hope of many who do not know Christ, but it is not the Christian's hope. Yet, it is easy for Christians to become side-tracked when sickness, injury or, disease strikes, and to trust the gift of medical science rather than the Giver of it. Hope is found in Christ alone not Asclepius.
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