09-16-2013 – I am not addressing here what I call illness that is caused genetically. Example ADD, and it is true of manic/depressive illness as well. 2 types of ADD. That which is caused by damage to the brain either by disease or birth defect. This is primary ADD not caused by sin. Secondary ADD is caused by disobedience not brain damage.
When a person is born with either of these two problems (and several others) it is different than when one develops them because of sin.
Jesus speaking to the disciples in John 9 of the man born blind says that his disease was not due to sin rather that the glory of the Lord might be brought about in his life. The blind man suffered the spiteful remarks of those around him for 40 years. However he knew that neither he nor his parents were to blame and therefore did not listen to the remarks of others.
In sharp contrast we seen in John 5 a man who for 38 years suffered from a disease. His was caused by sin and Jesus warns the man not to return to his sinful ways.
I am not the first to recognize that sine is behind much mental illness of today. In 1973 Karl Menninger in his book Whatever Became of Sin said over 90% of mental illness can be traced to sin.
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Autoimmune illnesses are often inherited, but not always. As more research is done they have found genes related to autoimmune disease which are activated often by an environmental agent. One can have it from a young child but not be diagnosed until the body is put under a great deal of stress, i.e., pregnancy, etc.