Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Hypocondria
* Scripture: Jesus said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." Matthew 9:23, NKJV

Ah! The things you learn when you take the time to check them out. I was all set to use the word "hypochondriac," and went to my in-computer dictionary to verify the spelling and usage. I have always heard the word used to describe someone who imagines that they have all sorts of illnesses. Surprise! All that I got was:
"of, relating to, or being the two regions of the abdomen lying on either side of the epigastric region and above the lumbar regions."
Have you any idea where that is? As I sometimes say to medically oriented acquaintances, "What is that in plain English?" Under the cartilage of the breast bone, that's where! Now what?
Well, dig the dusty old tome from the shelf, and there it is: "A morbid condition, formerly supposed to have its seat in those parts, characterized by depressed spirits, fancies of ill health, etc." (The New Century Dictionary, 1927)
Anyway, I was wondering if there is a name for the reverse condition, anti-hypochondria. A belief that there is nothing wrong with yourself, when there is.
The reason for the statement by Jesus, quoted above, was made in reference to a complaint/question by the ever-present Pharisees concerning the company Jesus kept: namely, tax collectors and sinners.
If ever a group personified anti- hypochondria, the Pharisees would be likely candidates. "Nothing wrong with us, but the rest of the world is sick." And, naturally, the healthy want nothing to do with sick people, including tax collectors and sinners. And, by association, Jesus?
Imagine what the world would be like if physicians and medical practitioners didn't want to come into contact with sick people.
Imagine what the world would be like if the church DID want to come into contact with the spiritually sick - just as Jesus did.
At one point, described in Luke 4:16 - 30, Jesus faced doubts as to his ability to "proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." He quotes the proverb, "Physician, heal yourself!" and points out that it is not the physician, but rather, the patient - his home country - that prevents healing from taking place.
True, we Christians are not perfect spiritual physicians, for all have fallen short of the Glory of God, so a little spiritual hypochondria (humility) might not hurt us.
What is keeping us, though, from going to the "sick' and bringing them to the great spiritual physician?
February 19, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: The Lord then answered (the ruler of the synagogue) and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?” (Luke 13:15, NKJV) -
Read Luke 13:10-17)

I must confess that I have never been fond of tending cattle. Been around them, yes, but not high on my animal preference list. Now, words about cattle - that’s a different story. So a question popped into my head about a phrase I have often heard around the cattle barn: “So boss,” as a call, or to calm a jittery cow. At least that’s what it sounds like to me. Maybe “soo boss,” but definitely ‘boss.’ The term “bossy cow,” or the name, Bossy.
Why boss and bossy? The popular search engine wasn’t much practical help, leading me around and around the barn, so to speak, until I found a list of words for ‘cow’ in several languages. An old English word for cow is cú; Latin bos, bovis; Greek ‘bous.’ The ancient Teutons heard ‘cu’ where we hear ‘moo.’ The Greeks and Romans heard ‘boo.’ According to http://www.billcasselman.com/ many Europeans hears the cattle call as “cu -boss” (the ‘c’ possibly pronounced as ‘s?’) “Bossy” as a name for a specific cow is widespread throughout Europe. “Cu-bos” - Come, Bossy!
Sure enough, the Greek word Luke uses for ox in 13:15 is ‘bous.’ Paul uses the word a couple of times in his writings, as well. Like finding the pot of gold, for a word freak!
But enough about words. Let’s get back to the scripture, and Jesus’ reason for talking about livestock. (See Luke 13:10-17)
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue when He encountered a woman who had a spirit of infirmity that had kept her bent over for eighteen years. She couldn’t straighten up. Jesus laid His hands on her, and loosed her from her infirmity. She was immediately able to stand upright, and glorified God. Hallelujah! We might say.
But the ruler of the synagogue was indignant: This was the sabbath day, not a day for healing. No work permitted on the sabbath.
The Law permitted, - yes, required - that livestock, even the bous and onikos (donkey) were unloosed from the stall, and led away to water on the sabbath. Satan had bound this daughter of Abraham for eighteen years! Jesus had unloosed this bond - even on the sabbath.
Not only livestock, but also servants and strangers were to be accorded the same “rest” on the sabbath. (Exodus 23:10) The LORD declares, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalms 50:10)
It is important to note that “A righteous man regards the life of his animal.” (Proverbs 12:10) Oxen were often used to thresh out the grain by treading on the stalks and seed heads. They were not to be muzzled to prevent them from eating while working. (Deuteronomy 25:4) Lost, strayed or fallen animals were to be accorded proper care, and returned to their owner. (Deuteronomy 22:1-4)
“So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound - think of it - for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?
True love of God is this - To show love and compassion for God, ourselves, our neighbors, and even our ox and donkey, all seven days of the week. ”