A Biblical theology of cancer
Introduction
One lay source defines cancer as follows:
Cancer is not just one disease, but a large group of almost 100 diseases. Its two main characteristics are uncontrolled growth of the cells in the human body and the ability of these cells to migrate from the original site and spread to distant sites. If the spread is not controlled, cancer can result in death.
And another:
An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, in some cases, to metastasize (spread). Cancer is not one disease. It is a group of more than 100 different and distinctive diseases. Cancer can involve any tissue of the body and have many different forms in each body area. Most cancers are named for the type of cell or organ in which they start. If a cancer spreads (metastasizes), the new tumor bears the same name as the original (primary) tumor. (http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2580)
Cancer can occur in many parts of the body and affects all manner and conditions of people. Environmental factors and human can play a part in its occurrence (eg, the established link between sun exposure and melanoma; or between smoking and lung cancer). Genetic factors can also have impact (eg, the so-called ‘Celtic skin’ is more susceptible to cancer than other skin types). Much remains yet unknown about cancer.
The purpose of this article is to try and put cancer in perspective against the Christian Scriptures.
Creation, fall redemption
Much that can be said about disease in general can also be said about cancer, as it is located within the Biblical storyline of creation-fall-redemption.
Creation
God made humans as the apex of his ‘very good’ creation which, like God was flawless, even if nascent rather than then reaching its full potential in the original form. (Gen 1:26-27)
There was no death in Eden for death comes through sin (Gen 3:19; Rom 5:12,17).
Each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made, with God watching over our in-utero development. (Ps 139:14-16)
God made humans to exercise rule and stewardship over the creation which opens up the possibility of the sciences. (Gen 1:28)
Implications
Cancer, like other diseases, is not part of the created order. It is alien. It is an offense to God and does not belong here.
God made people with the capacity to tackle cancer, as part of exercising our delegated dominion over his creation.
Fall
The human choice to reject God’s rule while in God’s place affected everything:
- Our relationship with God was distorted by guilt and shame (Gen 3:7-8)
- Our relationship with one another is fractured (Gen 3:12; 4:5b-8)
- Our relationship with the physical creation is distorted as the once-perfect creation is subject to decay, with the result that our work of subduing and ruling over creation becomes ‘hard’ (Gen 3:17b-19)
- Death is introduced (Gen 3:17b& 22)
All imperfection in the creation (the non-good) is a result of the Fall in that the imperfection tracks back to Gen 3. In some instances, God may send disease (including cancer) to an individual as a direct consequence of their sin (eg Num 12:1-10). However this should not be assumed in any particular case (eg Jn 9:1-3; see also the whole of Job).
Sin is fundamentally parasitical - it has no independent life but comes to be as a distortion of the right creational order. It is a mutation within creation.
The original human sin spreads through the whole of later humanity in its consequences which include the reign of death (Rom 5:12-17).
Human sin affected the whole of creation which is presently in a state of groaning, futility and bondage to decay (Rom 8:20-21).
Implications
Cancer, like all illness, is a result of the Fall.
Cancer, as an illness that involves a distortion of good cell processes, mirrors the parasitical nature of sin. Just as sin feeds on creational good, cancer feeds on healthy cells. Sin and cancer have no life of their own.
Subject to medical advances made under the creational mandate (Gen 1:28-29), cancer can be expected to persist until the fullness of redemption is seen in the return in Christ.
The science that leads to advances in cancer prevention, detection, management and cure may be matched by rising incidence of cancer as the Fall spreads its fruits yet wider in a world under rebellion to God.
A particular case of cancer (or other illness) is not necessarily the result of particular sin. More commonly, some cancers may be the result of folly rather than sin (eg unprotected sunbaking by a fair-skinned person).
Every incidence of cancer (like all illness) is an offense against God’s glory, a reminder of a Fallen world and a cause to pray for the fullness of redemption.
Redemption
In Christ the promised kingdom has come, but, until he returns, it has a ‘now but not yet’ nature (Mrk 1:14-15).
In Christ, believers now start to experience the new life of resurrection (Rom 6:1-14; Col 3:1-2).
However, the present remains a period of struggle as the work of sanctifying renewal persists (Rom 7:14-25; Col 3:10).
Christ is yet to come (1 Cor 15:20-24; 2 Tim 2:17-18) and when he does the fullness of his reign will be established. All will be restored and renewed to be as it should always have been in the creational good. This includes the banishment of every disease and all death (1 Cor 15:24-28; 50-54; Col 3:4; Rev 21-22).
Until the return of Christ we see personal decay and death, coupled with the hope of what will be (Rom 8:23-24; 2 Cor 4:16 - 5:5). Likewise the whole creation groans, awaiting its freedom for the present decay (Rom 8:20-22).
In his earthly ministry Christ exercised mastery over disease and death as part of his demonstration of the kingdom (eg Mrk 5:21-35). None should doubt that God is still able to do that which we reckon to be impossible (Mrk 10:27).
In this present ‘now but not yet’ of the kingdom, believers continue to suffer the fruits of the Fall. However, even here God works all things for the good of those who love him and makes them more than conquerors through the trials of this yet-imperfect life (Rom 8:28-39).
Implications
We should expect cancer to persist until Christ returns and disease and death is banished.
It is right to pray, with faith, that God will heal cancers without medical means and that he heals them through medical means. He is able!
As part of regaining the creational order as a present expression of creational dominion and of redemption, it is right that believers join with others in the pursuit of means to control, manage and treat cancer.
Cancer, like all disease and like death itself, does not have the last word. God, in his returning Christ, will banish this parasite in his new creation.
10 pastoral implications for patients and their loved ones
- Be angry that the cancer is a parasite on God’s good creation and an offense against his glory.
- Be worshipful, as you ponder the wonder of how cancer fits into His larger story of creation-fall-redemption.
- Be comforted that cancer is within God’s lordship.
- Be hopeful of the banishment of cancer in the new creation.
- Be patient in the present, knowing that cancer will have its end.
- Be enquiring of how God is working for the good of this person.
- Be compassionate as others suffer, showing the love of Christ to those who were ill.
- Be as helpful as you are enabled to be.
- Be silent when your words are uncertain, rather than join the vexatious friends of Job.
- Be prayerful, knowing that God is able to deal with cancer.
The last word
Someone wrote these good words at the end of a spiritual retreat during which they were diagnosed with cancer:
Appropriately, the retreat concludes with the new creation in Rev 21-22.
Cancer is not the last word.
