Alternative Medicine

The face of health care is changing dramatically in the area of alternative medicine. News magazines address the issue as their cover story. TV news programs regularly feature it, especially when a major medical center or academic institution joins those offering alternative therapies. Huge numbers of books on alternative medicine are being sold. Part of the popularity of alternative medicine can be explained in the way the two medical systems are presented. Descriptions of alternative medicine frequently focus on its principal tenets, especially in contrast to conventional medicine. A set of dichotomized terms often results, which clearly present alternative medicine more positively. Conventional medicine seeks to cut, cure, and kill, while alternative medicine encourages relaxation, balance, and empowering.

The difficulty with defining alternative medicine should caution us against quickly endorsing or rejecting the whole area. Rather, we must examine each therapy, and the general ideas and beliefs underlying it. As Christians we can welcome and affirm certain aspects of alternative medicine, but we must be cautious about others, and still others we must completely reject. For example, some alternative therapies are based on, and promote, spiritual beliefs diametrically opposed to biblical beliefs.

When rejecting therapies, though, we must be careful not to reject those involved with them. People are searching for spiritual reality. The church has been entrusted with the precious treasure of God’s truth to provide them with answers (2 Tim 2:1-2). Christians need to be people who reveal the reality of God. If we become the sweet aroma of Christ, people will be drawn towards His love, and will receive the healing they need (2 Cor 2:16). If the church would be the true church, it would provide the true alternative hurting people need.