Husband thinks I got sick because I’m a sinner

Dear Pastor,

I am 51 years old and I am married. My husband and I are Christians, but we do not attend the same church, and our beliefs are as wide apart as the Atlantic Ocean.

Recently I was not feeling well and I had to stay home from work. I had the helper taking care of the house and my husband, who is on night duty, was hardly home. One day the helper told me that my husband told her that it is because of my sins why I was suffering. It was not the first time he was saying that. I once broke my leg and my husband kept asking how could a Christian suffer in that manner. I could not believe that this man who has gone to college and considers himself educated would talk such nonsense. But the helper also told me that while I was ill, my husband told her that we had not had sex for many months, so he was begging her for some. She told him that she would, but after doing so, she would have to leave the job because she could look me in my face because I was very good to her.

Right now, I am assisting her in sending her youngest child to school. It is not true what my husband told her because I am feeling much better and he and I have been having sex. I do not resist my husband. But what I really want to ask you, when a Christian is ill, is it because he or she has sinned?

The helper is a very good worker and she is clean. I gave her my word that I would not let him know that he approached her for sex. But I am wondering how many other women he has approached and how many of them have consented. We have a son and I am sure his son will be very disappointed in him. He holds his dad in high regard. Please let me know where in the Bible it says that when Christians are ill it is because they have committed sin.

H.C.

Dear H.C.,

This teaching that Christians may suffer sickness because of their sins is a common one in some religious circle.

I know a young woman who was a trained teacher and she attended a particular church. Unfortunately, she was involved in an accident and the people in her church made life miserable for her. They said she was suffering because she had committed a sin. What they said caused her to suffer deep depression. But thank God, she overcame the depression and she is still serving the Lord; but she does not attend that particular church any more.

You know that your husband is a liar. Evidently, he is only pretending that he is serving God. He wanted to have sex with the helper, so he felt that the best way to get her to bed was to lie about your relationship. You promised that you will not say anything to anyone about it, so you should keep your word.

Only fools would believe that good Christians don't become ill. Sickness comes to everyone. The Bible says that the apostle Peter's wife was ill. The Bible says Paul suffered from infirmity. Many people believe that Paul's problem was with his eyes. The young teacher Timothy suffered from some sort of stomach ailment. Lazarus became ill and did not recover; he was the brother to Mary and Martha. And the Bible says that when Christians become ill, they should call for the elders to pray for them.

Don't listen to your foolish husband, but I say to you that there are some preachers who at times act as if they are so holy and righteous that they cannot become ill.

Pastor