The devout Southern Baptist and 91 year-old ex- President says that an MRI revealed no signs of the stage 4 melanoma that had spread to his brain . He announced his cancer-free status yesterday to his Sunday School class.

Many evangelicals are already lauding this as a divine miracle from God. But isn't it more likely a miracle of modern medicine? Carter has been taking a new experimental drug, as well as radiation treatments to his brain, and had surgery to remove a large tumor on his liver. All of these treatments have likely helped to shrink his tumors.

 

While I do not believe that anyone has sent him (or anyone) a miracle from Heaven, I do believe that a person's strong faith and a belief in healing can have effect on allowing the body to heal itself. I've know those who have received a bad cancer diagnosis and they believed death was inevitable and just around the corner and , sure enough, they didn't last long. Those with a similar diagnosis but having a more positive attitude lasted longer ;much longer, in some cases.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Mr Carter's cancer shows up again, as stage 4 melanoma rarely ever goes away for good. However, "miracles" do happen and they happen everyday. Scientists say that given enough time, even the most improbable of events are likely to occur.(See David J. Hand's book , " The Improbability Principle: Why Coincidences, Miracles, and rare Events Happen Everyday").

 

Nevertheless, I'm glad Mr Carter received the good news he did. Hopefully, he remains well. His health may fail him but I can't imagine his faith will ever waiver. If he's still alive at 100, he'll probably still be teaching Sunday School.

 

Do you agree that "miracles" do occur but that probably have cause related to science or psychology rather than a " gift from above" ?

Yes, I agree that they do happen. I didn't pay too close on everything about his cancer, so I don't know too much about his situation.

Yes, I believe miracles do occur. Miracles are signs of God’s particular grace to his people in particular circumstances. They are events that happen in response to prayer or a desire to connect with God. I'm thinking that Jimmy Carter has done a lot of praying to God about his cancer as I'm sure many people prayed for him. The mechanism or timing of a miracle defies normal scientific reasoning, and show us something special about God’s character.

 

Now I feel that miracles and science are not incompatible. Carter's doctors believe the same melanoma – normally a skin cancer but sometimes forming inside the body – was the primary cancer, and that it had spread to the liver. Carter was given pembrolizumab, one of the most exciting new drugs in cancer treatment today.

 

Pembrolizumab, sold under the brand name Keytruda in the United States, is one of the first immunotherapy drugs. Instead of killing cancer cells, these drugs boost the immune system to do the job. The theory behind immunotherapy has been around for decades, but it is only in very recent years that scientists have been able to put it into practice with, so far, just a couple of remarkably successful drugs.

 

Just over a year ago, Keytruda was approved for use in melanoma by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is the licensing authority in the US. Trials showed it was a bit more effective and had fewer side effects than ipilimumab, which was the first breakthrough immunotherapy drug.

 

Now think about the timing. Carter learned he had cancer earlier this year. The theory had been around for decades but the drug was just approved over a year ago. Now the timing scientists had no hand in. Good science used for good-no doubt.

 

I feel it is truly a miracle 'gift from God'.

Yes, I believe miracles do occur. Miracles are signs of God’s particular grace to his people in particular circumstances. They are events that happen in response to prayer or a desire to connect with God. I'm thinking that Jimmy Carter has done a lot of praying to God about his cancer as I'm sure many people prayed for him. The mechanism or timing of a miracle defies normal scientific reasoning, and show us something special about God’s character.

 

Now I feel that miracles and science are not incompatible. Carter's doctors believe the same melanoma – normally a skin cancer but sometimes forming inside the body – was the primary cancer, and that it had spread to the liver. Carter was given pembrolizumab, one of the most exciting new drugs in cancer treatment today.

 

Pembrolizumab, sold under the brand name Keytruda in the United States, is one of the first immunotherapy drugs. Instead of killing cancer cells, these drugs boost the immune system to do the job. The theory behind immunotherapy has been around for decades, but it is only in very recent years that scientists have been able to put it into practice with, so far, just a couple of remarkably successful drugs.

 

Just over a year ago, Keytruda was approved for use in melanoma by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is the licensing authority in the US. Trials showed it was a bit more effective and had fewer side effects than ipilimumab, which was the first breakthrough immunotherapy drug.

 

Now think about the timing. Carter learned he had cancer earlier this year. The theory had been around for decades but the drug was just approved over a year ago. Now the timing scientists had no hand in. Good science used for good-no doubt.

 

I feel it is truly a miracle 'gift from God'.

 

 

Good post. Let me ask you a question. How important a role do you think a person's faith plays in "miracles?" Carter, obviously, is a man of immense faith. But what about those who have little or no faith. Are they less likely to receive a "miraculous " healing? I believe a person's belief that they are going to get well plays a major , major role in his or her recovery. As a result, I think it logical to believe that those who think there is help from above actually get better results than those who feel helpless. It doesn't mean that the help came from above but more likely from within. I understand that you speak from the perspective of one with great faith in the divinity of God and it seems as though that perspective is serving you well. What about those with little or no faith in the ability of God to heal or those like myself who question the very existence of the God( of the Bible)? Wouldn't this hinder their ability to receive a "miracle? Does total unbelief negate the possibility of receiving a "miracle"?

Jesus could have performed any miracle He wanted to even in an environment of unbelief. God's manifested power is not dependent upon our faith, but only upon His purposes. Faith is not always a necessary requirement for miracles, for many occurred in the face of unbelief (Mark 3:1-6; 4:35-41; 6:35-44). God is not limited by man's unbelief.

Now I do agree a positive attitude & a strong faith helps. I also agree that it comes from within us which is where Jesus resides in my heart as my personal Lord & Savior.