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Christianity Today, June (Web-Only), 2008 |

Seriously Disturbed

HIV Is Incurable, So Don't Stop Caring

Recent research has changed the AIDS headlines, but that shouldn't matter to the church.

Kay Warren | posted 6/16/2008 09:26AM

At first glance, a comment this week from the head of the HIV/AIDS department of the World Health Organization seems to indicate that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is all but over. In an interview with London's ...

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Sergey

Posted: June 27, 2008 1:24 PM


Bravo Chris, bravo srichards! I’ve heard The Scripture’s voice and this is the TRUTH.

Duane Crumb, HIVHope

Posted: June 27, 2008 8:28 AM

This is a very compassionate and insightful article. Kay points up the fact that HIV is not a sin and we must avoid judging those with the virus because their sins are no worse than our own. We are all sinners in need of the savior. As I travel the world empowering nationals to develop strategies to slow the spread of HIV in their cultures, the focus of the message is the same as Kay's in her last paragraphs. It's not about disease, medicine, sin, statistics, etc. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE, people for whom Christ died and people He calls us to love. It's also about people who need to be motivated to make the choices that will keep them from becoming infected. Do we love people enough to take practical steps to help them, even when they don't look or act like we do? I pray that we do!

srichards

Posted: June 26, 2008 12:25 PM


I am so sorry to say but this is one of he most stupid thing i have read, All diseases will have to ow down to Chirst, so its untrue to say that aids is incurable, through faith any mountain can be moved. p.s. i said FAITH not VISUALISATION.

Hollie

Posted: June 25, 2008 8:58 AM

Kay Warren sums it up well in a statement that reminds me of Galatians 3:28. She writes, "The categories are irrelevant to our call to care." I thank her for this well-written, compassionate, and inspiring article which I think accomplished exactly its intent. Who am I to be unmerciful and prideful when Christ so clearly and lovingly extends grace to all people, seeing our true selves... Even when we can only give one small coin (Mark 12). Even when we have a stigmatized disease. Even when we anoint him perfume that could have been sold to fed the poor (John 12). This is not a legalistic Jesus, and this Jesus would care about those afflicted with HIV/AIDS, no matter what their "category." Thanks again.

Ron	Posted: June 24, 2008 5:25 PM

Jesus gave me another chance. I grew up in church and loved God, and knew that God called me to be a preacher when I was a teen-ager. But after seminary, I rebeled and made mistakes. I asked forgiveness, but then discovered I had full blown AIDS, with double pneumonia and was dying. But I promised God I would serve him even if I only had 2 weeks to live. It's been more than 8 years now. I am pastoring a church for 6 1/2 years, married with a pregnant wife and traveling around the world to help others with AIDS. There is no cure for AIDS, but there is cure for the HOPELESSNESS that AIDS brings--and that is Jesus Christ. Let's keep loving people, God is bigger than our mind can comprehend.

Chris

Posted: June 22, 2008 12:32 AM

I always had my thoughts different from the above line of reasoning. It is good to look at a subject from varied angles to reason out with more understanding. Fristly Kay is wrong in saying hostrically we have done not much in teaching healthy sex life. Bible has more than sufficient warnings on wrongful sex life. And Bible testifies that it's contents are sufficient for blessed life through to out enternity with God. AIDS is an outcome of life violating Biblical instructions. Secondly Kay's example of the leper in the Bible is a misquote on two counts: (1) Jesus does not have to ask questions to know a man's needs, as he knows our unspoken secrets of our lives. Consider the women at the well who gives Jesus water to drink. (2) Jesus cures those who recognise Him and approach Him with faith. Jesus' death, burual and resurrection is to make it possible for everyone to turn to Him. But one need to turn to Him first. My above reasoning does not include childborn to infected parents

Sharla

Posted: June 20, 2008 2:54 PM

Not every one who contracts HIV has received it through drug use or sex outside of marriage. I know of many who have contracted it because of an unfaithful spouse. Another friend contracted HIV (and Hep C) through a blood transfusion in the 80s. I wish the article would have addressed this as well. Those who have it need just as much support as those who need to prevent it. They have a death sentence that is seemingly more tangible than the one we all carry. It doesn't really matter how or why. What matters is that the Church should be the ones to outshine the entire world with compassion. Period. And truly, instruction needs to come with a why. Just telling me the pan is hot is not going to keep a child from doing it. And if we've learned anything from True Love Waits, many who pledged it, didn't. I guess that's my random thought for the moment.

Julie

Posted: June 19, 2008 1:28 PM

To the G: If the only command Jesus gave to us is to save souls, how do you explain Matthew 25:34-46? Why did Jesus heal the sick and feed the hungry if He didn't expect us to do likewise? And to the reader who wants AIDS patients to hurry up and die so they can go to hell, remember that you were once a hellbound sinner before you received Jesus' gift of eternal life. In addition, keep in mind that in Africa, many people contract AIDS through no fault of their own but through poor sanitary practices, rape, etc. And what about babies who are born with AIDS? Should they hurry up and die also? I would have enjoyed this article more if Kay Warren had acknowledged the compassionate work being done among AIDS patients in Africa and elsewhere by missions-minded denominations such as The Christian and Missionary Alliance and other organizations. Unfortunately, she seems to think that she and Rick are the only Christians on the planet who care about people suffering from AIDS.

Mel	Posted: June 19, 2008 5:37 AM

Kay Warren makes some inspired observations about HIV-AIDS, but there's nothing like hard truth to help deal with an issue and the hard truth about AIDS might be quite a shock to many people. I recommend you read a 50-page interview with DR. ANDREW MANIOTIS, PhD, Assistant Research Professor and Program Director, Cell and Development Biology of Cancer, Departments of Pathology and Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Chicago. http://aras.ab.ca/articles/scientific/20071007-Maniotis-Lambros.pdf

Esland

Posted: June 18, 2008 6:30 AM

Kay Warren writes: "Jesus models for us how to approach people with the leprosy of our time — HIV and AIDS." Well, I would be interested to learn from Kay Warren what people living in the times of Jesus Christ could have done themselves to prevent leprosy, in the way that people today can prevent attracting HIV. I am all for caring for people who have attracted HIV and AIDS but I think it is foolish to concentrate on those who have the disease already; it seems far more wise to warn the millions who stand to become the next victims. Articles like these never fail to move me how heartless the United Nations is: no guts to adapt the position that each and every person on earth is, ultimately, responsible for the choices they make, including the choice for unsafe sex and the likelihood of the consequences of such choice. Really caring for the children of parents with AIDS means instructing those children to never! never! never! imitate their parents.

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: June 18, 2008 12:21 AM


If the shadow of the cross of Christ in in the desert could heal anyone bitten who would look at the bronze snake (Num. 21: 4-9), how much more healing is there from the real thing even for the victims of AIDS! What a foregone potential!

Ethan

Posted: June 17, 2008 10:31 AM


"if you are gay, get on with it and die a horrible death and ask the devil what to do next when you meet him face to face. it is not normal, and therefore mercy killing is in full affect..." It constantly amazes me how some Christians can be so full of hatred.... whether it be against homosexuals, Muslims, or any other minorities....

Billy Reed

Posted: June 17, 2008 8:37 AM

In the article Kay Warren states "Historically, we haven't done a very good job of teaching healthy sex and sexuality, so it isn't surprising that we don't want to talk about HIV and AIDS." Historically the church is the only organization that has done the best job of teaching about sexuality, it was created by God for husbands and wives only, for love and procreation. Does anyone else teach this? I am all for helping people with AIDS and giving them care as they struggle with the desease, but we also need to remind everyone that this is a desease spread by behavior. Stop sharing needles and stop anal intercourse and you will wipe out AIDS in one generation. Do I really believe this will happen? No. We live in a fallen, sinful world and people like their sin. But that does not mean we should stop speaking out about sin and it's results. Jesus confronted people with their sin and died for them. We should be willing to take a stand for what is right and wrong in Gods eyes.

Warwick

Posted: June 17, 2008 4:18 AM

Compassionate article. Some angry comments. Ouch! For some years my wife and I supported a poor Zambian pastor and his wife. Through his witness many people came to Christ. She worked in an Aids orphanage. The hygene was poor (we visited from New Zealand and saw it ourselves.) One day she got HIV. Eventually she died. Later he found he was HIV postive. We sent money for anti-retoviral drugs. But eventually he died too. I believe they are both in Heaven now. I am glad they didn't have a chance to read some of the angry, bitter feedback of some of the people who have written responses to this article, and who have probably never even encountered anyone with this disease.

Wil	Posted: June 17, 2008 1:11 AM


Wow, some real idiots on the board.

Paul	Posted: June 16, 2008 11:16 PM


Rick & Kay & Bono/Obama, oh, my! Compassion is only godly when motivated by passion for the lost. Kay & co. are simply regurgitating the shame/blame line of the guilt-ridden Left, to which they increasingly cling. A pox on celebrity crusaders.

Steve K.

Posted: June 16, 2008 9:58 PM


I really respect Kay Warren for speaking out on this issue and for challenging all of us toward a more holistic faith that cares about the soul AND the body, the hereafter AND the here and now.

Apostle Shada Mishe

Posted: June 16, 2008 8:36 PM

CURE for Hiv/Aids....Ambush Here is a video taped presentation that I gave at t he Martin Luther King library in Washington http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V53D1w__Po http://www.yo utube.com/watch?v=vPwuwlVBOV0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZejptOwMTzQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqcTgIAhrhc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= f7HPKcT_iwY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9iQfgiYAnw http://www.youtube .com/watch?v=i3RzRS6tJDM

hector

Posted: June 16, 2008 5:53 PM

now finally there is hope, there is no cure for aids and now they can have same sex marraige ,wow dont you just love this. my take is glad there is no cure and thus will explain...hurry up and get out so maybe we can raise some children that will not do the same life style. sorry if i offend anyone. but if you are gay, get on with it and die a horrible death and ask the devil what to do next when you meet him face to face. it is not normal, and therefore mercy killing is in full affect...no meds and no sympathy please just check out when your done.. hector

JesusOrElse

Posted: June 16, 2008 4:39 PM


I agree with The G. Hating and judging people with a disease is exactly what Jesus would do. After all, God only loves real Christians, and real Christians never get sick or make mistakes. And Jesus definitely wants you to get involved in politics!

Swee	Posted: June 16, 2008 3:56 PM

Hi The G I am shocked to read that "Our Great commission is to save souls". Which version of the Bible are you reading? If you are referring to Matthew 28:18-20 please read it again... there is no mentioned of "saving souls" in Matthew 28:18-20. Our task is to make disciples not to save souls. If showing compassion for those with HIV and AIDS makes me an "emergent liberal" I am happy to wear that badge. Do you really think that Jesus won't have compassion for those with HIV and AIDS? He is interested only in saving souls? Which Jesus are you following?

Susan

Posted: June 16, 2008 3:24 PM

As a sincere Bible-studying Christian I can tell you that the only thing that the church can teach about sexual intimacy is: "Don't do it unless you are married" (and homosexual "marriages" are NOT marriages in the sight of God; and you don't find an example of even one in the Bible). Do Christians condemn lesbians and homosexuals? No. Do they strongly defend God's word in saying that sexual intimacy is a gift to a husband and wife ONLY? Yes. Whether people like to engage in sodomy (2 males) or lesbianism (2 women) or even fornication, God says to stop. Leviticus 20:13 says--God speaking to Moses and the large congregation of people in the desert)--that "a man lying with a man as he would with a woman is an abomination, and blood will be on both their hands." True, the Old Law was stricter than the New Law (after Jesus came and ascended), but God didn't later say that, "Well, now it's OK now to indulge in this perversion." Romans chapter 1 says "no" to the act, years after Jesus left.

shipsleep

Posted: June 16, 2008 1:26 PM


I would be interested in knowing how much time "the G" has spent in direct contact with those suffering directly and indirectly from HIV and AIDS. I know my personal living out the Gospel message changed radically after living and working among the suffering. Thank you Kay for this message of love and hope.

Jim	Posted: June 16, 2008 1:20 PM


Yes we need to care. The judgemental attitudes of many Christians has nutralized our witness. We need first and foremost to be the most compassionate (human and humaine) persons on earth. If we do not witness to grace in our attitude, our words ring hollow.

The G

Posted: June 16, 2008 12:05 PM


Our Great commission is to save souls not this social agenda (the death of the Mainline denominations) resurfacing through the Warrens and other emergent liberalspeak --no matter how "Biblically" she tries to word it to glorify the church and instead not Christ through the needed message of Redemption.

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