Henry Wright at Pleasant Valley Church in Thomaston , GA. He teach's
80% of all dieases are spiritually rooted. I do not believe this as I
think he is a fraud, and founder of a cult. He makes off handed
statements to sick people who got listen to him such as what will
happen if you quit taking those pills or that insulin. and he retorts
the worst thing is you will die and go to heaven, or God will heal
you. Is he a fraud doing his own thing? or is he completely right
about everything he teach's?

After looking at the Life Application Ministries page on Spiritually
Rooted Diseases I have to disagree.

For example the Life Application Ministries page indicates that, 
"All allergies are rooted in fear, anxiety and stress. Compromised
(broken) immune system. Something happened to cause this person to be
broken to the point of almost no return. Took a long time to get over…
"A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries up
the bones" Allergies are connected with the bone marrow being dried
up! Medically proven. It is not because a person is reacting to a
chemical or smell. It doesn’t show up on a RAS test. Compromised
immune system here.".
http://www.mindsync.com/lam/root.htm

Fear, anxiety and stress are not the reasons for allergic responses.
Later they mention the bone marrow being dried up and the person has a
compromised immune system. That is simply not the truth and it has not
been medically proven. The bone marrow in people with allergies is not
dried up. The bone marrow is essential in the production of red blood
cells and white blood cells. If it did dry up the person would be
severely anemic (low red blood count) and have very low white blood
cell counts. This is not the case in allergic individuals. They are
not routinely anemic and their white blood cells are normal in number.
The problem is that the immune system in people with allergies over
reacts to certain agents. The immune system in regard to other insults
(microbes, injury repair) works normally.

For another discussion on allergies and the cause of them go to the
following webpage produced by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma,
and Immunology.
http://www.aaaai.org/patients/resources/fastfacts/allergies.stm

I do not have time to answer all the inaccuracies on the Spiritually
Rooted Diseases webpage from the Life Application Ministry. Please do
not get me wrong. I believe God can do anything He choses to do. He
can heal any disease if He wants. We also do have certain disease
because of poor choices (sin). For instance eating too much and being
obese can increase ones chances of a heart attack. Eating too much is
sin according to the Bible (Prov 28:7). I must admit I have sinned in
this area. However,people with allergies are not in sin because they
have allergies nor are they more fearful or anxious. Not taking their
medications will make them more fearful because the inability to
breath does increase anxiety levels considerably.

I can not tell you what to do with regard to whether you stay
associated with this particular ministry. That is your own personal
choice you need to make. However, several of the diseases cited by
this ministry as due to spiritual problems are not due to spiritual
problems.

Hope that helps.
neal-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by saul-ga on 01 Aug 2002 11:04 PDT

It is not me that is involved in this ministry, but my spouse. The
moment I look at his Book "A More Excellant Way" I new something was
not right.
I have been a practicing Pharmacist for 35 years, and this Wright
fellow
intimates that all Pharmacist's are nothing more than Pratictioner's
of witchcraft. What do you think of that? I think he has started a
cult and doesn't even know it. It is my wife who is trying to sway me
the other way,
His way. Henry Wright's way.

---

Clarification of Answer by nealc-ga on 01 Aug 2002 12:37 PDT

No pharmacists are not practicing witchcraft. In fact many microbial
infections result not from sin or fear but rather due to
microorganisms. For instance: Is it sinful to get Lyme disease? Lyme
disease is an infection from a tick bite. It is not sinful to go
outside and enjoy God's creation. However, thousands of people each
summer get Lyme disease in the U.S. Even people with normal
functioning immune systems get Lyme disease. It does not have to be as
a result of a suppressed immune system. Pharmacists give out many
antimicrobial agents that save lives each and every day.

Asthma is not due to fear, anxiety, or sin. People with asthma have an
over reactive immune system to certain allergens. Their immune system
in responding to the allergens causes the asthma. It is not sinful to
breath nor is it due to some spiritual defect that a person has
allergic reactions to various allergens. Pharmacists give medicine
everyday to people with asthma that prevents them from dying of asthma
attacks. This is not witchcraft. You do not consort with the devil in
making up your medications. Many many studies have demonstrated these
medications will prolong life and enrich the quality of people's
lives.

Now to classify this particular ministry as a cult requires a rather
strict definition. An organization is considered a cult if it in some
way changes the basic tenets (doctrines)of a particular faith. For
instance if an organization no longer agrees with the doctrine that
Jesus was fully man and fully God then it could be considered a cult
by other Christian organizations. I have not read all the basic
doctrines of this ministry nor have I read its statement of Faith to
know for sure if it is a cult.

Dear saul:

That would completely depend on your religion. As an agnostic, I
believe that the man is deluded and is causing untreated sickness to
go worse and fester. If you at all care for your health, please go see
a doctor. If he's teaching that it is unchristian to see a doctor for
your sickness, then you should look for a new church. I'm sure most
Christians would disagree with this man. Sickness is caused by germs
and bacteria, not God.

Best Regards,
blader-ga

This is what Henry Wright himself said:

NOTE: This church and it’s associated ministries does not seek to be
in conflict with any medical or psychiatric practices, nor do we seek
to be in conflict with any church and its religious doctrines, beliefs
or practices. We are not counselors, but ministers, administering the
scriptures in line with I Corinthians 12, Psalms 103:1-3, II
Corinthians 5:18-20, and Ephesians Chapter 4.

We are not a part of Medicine or Psychology, yet we work to make them
more effective, rather than working against them. We believe that many
human problems are fundamentally spiritual with various associated
physiological and psychological manifestations.

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your
whole spirit, and soul and body be preserved blameless….." I
Thessalonians 5:23

Source: http://www.mindsync.com/lam/pleasant.htm

The egregious misspelling of "its" in their web site indicates that
they're not very professional...but then again many professional web
sites are full of blatant spelling mistakes...:-(

Saul:

The Bible essentially says not to test God's power i.e. by jumpimg off
a building to see if He will catch you, but rather to live in faith
that he loves, cares, and provides for you.  I believe that some
sicknesses may have their root in sin, however, I believe that the
majority of illnesses are simply caused by the fallen state of man and
the earth after Adam and Eve ate of the fruit.  In other words the
earth is now full of germs, bacteria, and viruses that cause people to
be ill.

If what this man teaches doesn't sit well with your spirit, ask the
Holy Spirit to confirm it in your heart and if, after some prayer you
feel the same then by all means leave and seek another church that
teaches more what you are accepting of.

Furthermore, you said this ministry is breaking up your marriage.  Is
it over the issue you have brought up?  If so speak with your wife and
calmly tell her how you feel and ask her to help you choose another
church, one where you both are happy with the teachings.  Please
follow up on your concerns. Your marriage is a big thing at stake, and
so is your relationship with God, notice I didn't say church/religion,
but God.

May He Bless you and your family.
Pwi_Pwii

Faith is for beliving in the Love and Works of God, not for
understanding His Will. Otherwise, there would have been no need for
the Bible. If He wishes us to do a thing, He can make it clear to us,
as He can if He wishes us NOT to do a thing. Where God's Will is
unclear, that is where He has granted us Free Will.

If you have truly searched for His Will and not found it, then do what
*you* feel is right.

Another undeserved one-star rating. Can anyone explain to me what
would have made this customer happy?