This will not be a long post, I just need to as the saying goes "get something off of my chest"...
I have been tweaked recently by well meaning, sincere Christians who want me to help them raise money for someone in their congregation who needs medical treatment for some kind of ailment that doctors can't resolve. The hope is that by raising enough money they can send this poor tormented soul half-way around the globe to receive cutting edge medical treatments that will save them from all of their pain and sorrow.
My issue is not with receiving medical treatment. (I will leave that discussion for another day). My issue is with the notion of putting our hope in something other then the Gospel which Jesus demonstrated.
When's the last time you heard of a church advertising that they were hosting a community wide prayer meeting (and perhaps a corporate fast) for the express purpose of experiencing breakthrough in the area of physical healing? How many times in your life have you been asked to come over and anoint someone with oil, and pray for them that they might get well?
James tells us that this is what we should do, and that the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. Jesus commanded that we go out and preach the Gospel, which includes healing the sick, driving out demons and raising the dead! God is a healer and He never changes. If the prayer offered in faith makes the sick person well, then are we saying that not one person in our church, or surrounding community of faith has enough faith to make a single sick person well? That is what our actions declare, and James also says that our actions are the demonstration of our true measure of faith. "I will show you my faith by what I do".
So, what are we doing? We are hosting fundraisers instead of prayer meetings! Our actions condemn us!!
We have taken on a false gospel which says that raising money takes just as much faith as praying for healing. This is what I need to get off of my chest. I declare this to both the seen and unseen realms. To those who believe and those who doubt. This is my confession:
Jesus heals! It is an abomination to His Name that we not rely upon Him for our deliverance and healing by anointing the sick with oil and praying for their recovery. Isaiah declared that Jesus would bare the shame of dying on a cross for the express purpose of healing ALL of our diseases. How dare we disregard such a gift and turn aside to trusting in human wisdom and ability. Christ is our only hope and salvation. He is the one who heals all of our diseases.
Jesus, on behalf of my sin and the sins of your people I repent for our lack of faith and trust in Your word.
Healing experienced through prayer is not a theology, it is the reality of Heaven, a reality which Jesus taught us to bring to earth through prayer. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
We must believe the entire revelation of Scripture, not just the part about the forgiveness of sins.
Thanks, my chest feels better.
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