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Particulars
of Christianity: 310
Pentecostalism, the Charismatic and Faith Movements
Sickness and Healing
(Part 2)
Specific
Doctrines of the Charismatic Movement/Faith Movement
Kenotic Theology The Anointing and Being
Under Authority (Part 1) The Anointing and
Being Under Authority (Part 2) Sickness
and Healing (Part 1) Sickness and Healing
(Part 2) Prayer, Asking and Receiving (Part
1) Prayer, Asking and Receiving (Part 2)
Christians and Material Wealth (Part 1)
Christians and Material Wealth (Part 2)
Christians and Material Wealth (Part 3)
The "Rhema" and "Logos" Word (Part 1)
The "Rhema" and "Logos" Word (Part 2) Those
Who Speak in Tongues Necessarily Understand Themselves Section
1 | Section 2 | Section
3 | Section 4
| Section 5
We
now arrive at the question of whether or not we can expect that it is always God's
will to heal. We have seen from James 5:14-15 that the early church did have an
expectation that in general, God would heal the sick person. However, as the following
passages will demonstrate, the early church also knew that in some situations
God would not heal. James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy
which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the
Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all
things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither
by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into
condemnation. 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry?
let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders
of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
of the Lord:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may
be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
It is important to note that in the context of James 5, healing is spoken
of after James reminds his audience about the patience of Job. James also reminds
his audience that despite the length of time Job suffered troubles, they know
that in the end God restored him. By bringing up sickness and healing in this
context, the implication from James is clear. It was expected that God would heal,
but it was also understood that, like Job, it may take some time before that occurred.
And by bringing up Job, James is also indicating that sicknesses may come as a
test from God, as Job's did. Therefore, we cannot assume every sickness and infirmity
is from demonic attack. Some tragedies, sicknesses, and infirmities
may be part of God's overall plan to build our character. However, those in the
Faith Movement have said that God is testing us indeed with such things. For them,
God is testing us to prompt us to use our faith to overcome the sickness. But
by referencing Job, we see that is not at all the kind of test God had in mind.
In Job, the test was whether or not Job would remain faithful to God or forsake
God if he suffered rather than experienced blessings. So, by referring back to
that context, James is not reminding his audience of a test to overcome by faith,
but instead that some difficulties in life, including sickness, come so that God
can test and see whether or not it is him that we love or the blessings that come
from him. Would we remain faithful to God even if God did not protect and bless
us? And finally from James we also see clearly in verse 16 that Christians
being healed was not a guarantee. It was dependent upon their confessing their
sins and repenting as well as their praying for one another. In short, Christians
who lived in compromise with the world could not expect healing. Health was contingent
at least in part upon the Church staying on track with God. This is very similar
to what we have already seen from Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:28-30. And
when we look to the Old Testament, we also find detailed instructions in Leviticus
13-14 regarding lepers. It should be noted that there was no provision to heal
these lepers in the Old Testament. If you contracted leprosy, you weren't guaranteed
healing. You were exiled in order to keep from contaminating the rest of the people.
The Jews of the first century were quite familiar with this and they continued
the practice to that day (Luke 17:11-19.) And this practice would have formed
part of the context in which they viewed God and healing. In other words, based
upon such long-standing regulations concerning lepers, the Jews of the first century
would have been well aware that God did not always heal every disease and infirmity.
In the Old Testament, we also find the account of David's first child
with Bathsheba. This story is recorded for us in 2 Samuel 12:12-24. And in this
account we find that David's first child with Bathsheba died despite David's pleading
with God. This again reinforces that the Jews understood that God did not always
heal. Sometimes it was in his purpose for sickness and infirmity to continue.
And, so that we just don't think that this was limited to the Old Testament,
we also find what the most prominent example possible that it was not always God's
will to heal. In Galatians 4:15 and 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, we see that Paul had
problems with his eyes and his eyesight for the rest of his life. He had asked
the Lord to heal him on more than one occasion. The Lord's answer was not that
Paul didn't have enough faith to be healed. Instead, the Lord's answer was that
he had a purpose for keeping Paul under this infirmity. This would have further
reinforced to the early Christians that it was not always God's will to heal or
for us to be healthy and whole. From the prominent example of Paul, early Christians
would have known that sometimes God actually wills for us to remain ill or under
infirmity. Not because he likes to see us suffer but because in the long run we
will benefit from it. Finally, we turn to the very long-standing and
defining Charismatic belief that the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus automatically
provides healing for all Christians. "Besides glossolalia, Pentecostals
promote other gifts of the Spirit (charismata), including faith healing, prophecy,
and exorcism. Ecstatic experience remains the unifying element of the movement."
(Bartleby.com, The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001. "Pentecostalism.")
"As segments of the movement became comfortable in their new faith and
settled into less spontaneous worship, speaking in tongues and faith healing
became somewhat routinized." (Britannica.com, "Pentecostalism: International
growth of Pentecostalism.") "Parham and his students understood
these recurrences of Pentecost prophetically, interpreting them as signs of the
imminence of the last days, or Endtime. Imbued with this sense of urgency,
they set out on an evangelical mission. Their initial efforts were unsuccessful,
and the movement nearly collapsed as it encountered disbelief and ridicule.
In 1903 its fortunes were revived when Parham returned to the practice of faith
healing. Borrowed from several Holiness churches, notably the Christian and
Missionary Alliance, faith healing became a hallmark of Pentecostalism. Parham
was the first in a long line of Pentecostal evangelists (Mary B. Woodworth-Etter,
Charles Price, Aimee Semple McPherson, and, more recently Oral Roberts, Kathryn
Kuhman, and Benny Hinn) who taught that Christ's atonement provides deliverance
from sickness and is, therefore, the privilege of all who have the requisite
faith." (Britannica.com, "Pentecostalism.") The basis for this belief
comes directly from the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah concerning Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our
sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But
he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;
and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.7 He was oppressed, and he
was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He
was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation?
for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my
people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the
rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in
his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall
prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He
shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge
shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Both Charismatics and non-Charismatics agree that this is a prophecy concerning
the sacrificial and atoning death of Jesus Christ. However, Charismatics believe
that the phrase "and with his stripes we are healed" in verse 6 indicates that
the suffering death of Jesus Christ freed Christians from ever having to suffer
illness or infirmity. There are several problems with this. The first
problem with this teaching, we cannot take credit for but instead read it in Hank
Hanegraaff's book Christianity in Crisis. And it bears repeating here because
it is a good point. As Hanegraaff points out, if you believe that verse 6 is meant
to indicate that Jesus' atoning work frees us from sickness and infirmity, if
you don't receive healing, then you must conclude that your faith in Jesus' atonement
is insufficient and not bringing you with the intended provisions. As such, if
you do not have enough faith in the atonement to be healed, you should also conclude
that you don't have enough faith in the atonement to be saved. This means that
all those in the Charismatic Movement who stand on this verse and are not yet
healed, should also count themselves as not really being saved either.
But the bigger problems with appealing to this text as support for the Charismatic
doctrine regarding healing are problems of interpretation. Specifically, this
passage from Isaiah is quoted in the New Testament and interpreted for us. And,
the interpretation given in the New Testament does not line up with how the Charismatic
Movement interprets this verse. So, either the New Testament is interpreting this
verse incorrectly or those in the Charismatic Movement are. Of course, obviously
it is the Charismatic Movement, and not the New Testament, that is in error on
this point. Let's take a look at how the New Testament applies and interprets
this prophecy from Isaiah. Matthew 8:16 When the even was come,
they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out
the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might
be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our
infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. First, in the above passage,
Matthew interprets Isaiah's prophecy as a reference to the fact that Jesus would
during his lifetime heal a great many people from all sort of physical problems.
This means that as far as Matthew was concerned, Isaiah's statement that "Surely
he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows" was in no way intended to convey
that Jesus' death provided our healing. Rather than our healing coming automatically
by Jesus' death, Matthew views the healing aspect of Isaiah's prophecy as a reference
to Jesus' work during his ministry before his death. And Peter, too,
offers us additional insight on how to interpret this passage from Isaiah.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself
to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own
body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray;
but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
According to Peter, what was it that Jesus' death healed? Was it our sicknesses?
Was it our infirmities? No. According to Peter, the phrase "by his stripes we
are healed" referred to Jesus' healing us from being dead in sin and reviving
us so that we would live in righteousness. In other words, it was clearly the
healing of our dead spirits and not a reference to the healing of the body. In
fact, immediately after quoting the phrase "by whose stripes ye were healed,"
Peter continues his thought in verse 25 by saying "For ye were sheep going astray;
but are now returned." By the use of the word "For" Peter clearly indicates that
what he is about to say in verse 25 further explains his previous statement and
quote in verse 24. In other words, Peter is telling us yet again that the phrase
"by his stripes we are healed" is a reference to our being astray from God and
being brought back to him by Christ's death, not by our obtaining physical healing
by Christ's death. It should also be noted that this phrase "sheep going astray;
but are now returned" is also a quote from Isaiah's prophecy, which further indicates
that Peter is letting the prophecy interpret itself. Furthermore, we
know from verse 1 Peter 2:21 that Isaiah 53 cannot be used to support the notion
that God wills Christians not to suffer. Peter begins in verse 21 by plainly stating
that Christ suffered for us and that we are to follow his example. In other words,
we should be willing to suffer for the sake of others just as Christ suffered
for us. Therefore, since Peter speaks of Isaiah 53 in this context and immediately
after this statement, we know that Isaiah 53 cannot be used to support the claim
that God does not will for Christians to suffer. As we can plainly see
from both Matthew and 1 Peter, the Charismatic interpretation of Isaiah 53 is
incorrect and it contradicts the way the New Testament itself interprets those
words. Unless we want to conclude that the New Testament interpretation of Isaiah
53 is incorrect, we must instead conclude that the Charismatic interpretation
of Isaiah 53 is incorrect. And from our examination of the causes of sickness
and infirmity and the issue of whether or not it is always God's will to heal,
we can see that the Charismatic views regarding healing are incorrect as well.
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