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If you're a Christian today, whether you admit it or not, there is an issue you are struggling with that has been a controversy of the ages. If you're not a Christian, this issue is still one of great importance that you will enjoy having an answer. I'm Dennis Finnan, host and commentator on the weekly radio program, the World, the Word & You!, and in a moment I'll tackle this difficult issue of life.
Today I want to talk with you the Controversy of the Ages." Can anything be so important and have such a long standing argument? The answer is yes! You see, for centuries, Christians have struggled with this issue and many have come to what I believe are wrong conclusions that have either ruined lives, or left many others the most discouraged people on the face of the earth. What issue is this? Why my friend it is the age old controversial issue and question we might simply call -- THE PROBLEM OF SICKNESS AND DISEASE. Is there such a thing as divine healing? What place does sickness and disease have in the life of a believer? Does God still heal today? Is it always God will to heal His children? Yes, my friend this is the controversy of the ages, and one whose ancient questions need modern answers from God's inerrant and infallible Word.
Now since the beginning of time and the creation of man, our humanity has had one recurring struggle in the reality of life. It is the struggle with sickness, disease and death. For millennia man has searched for ways to beat and conquer this destroyer of human life. However, there has been no lasting gain against these terrible afflictions. What's the answer? Some in the world of Christianity for the past 100 years or so, have concluded that it is not God's will for His children to be sick, or at times to even die. As such, their teachings reflect a new way of approaching this controversy of the ages, by offering their followers new hope and promise that God does not want any of His children to be sick, and has provided a way out for all who follow their revelations and teachings. Well to answer this age old question about sickness, disease and death, I want to go to the Bible, and open for you the Book of James chapter five and read for you a whole section of teaching God gives on the issue of sickness and healing. Listen as I read,
James 5:14-15 (NASB) "Is anyone among you sick? 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 offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."
In this passage of Scripture we are reminded of our human frailty and condition. The problem of sickness and disease is addressed here for Christians and non-Christians to consider. James asks, "is any among you sick?" Here we see that God indeed is concerned about the afflictions we as His children suffer in this world of ours. If one studies the Bible we can rightly conclude that our God and Creator is a loving, and caring God who wants His children to enjoy the greatest blessings and happiness. Jesus once said to us,
John 10:10 (NASB) "… I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly."
Indeed, God wants the best for His children for He really cares for you and me. Now in James, we find the issue of sickness and healing addressed. Unfortunately, a great deal of misunderstanding has resulted from these verses. Some teach the passage reveals that full physical health is always just a "prayer of faith" away. Others have found a rite or ritual of "Extreme Unction," to bring dying people forgiveness of their sins. Yet, in both cases James is saying nothing of the sort, and is not answering this controversy of the ages by such interpretations. No, James 5:14-15 reveals a very necessary teaching about sickness, disease and divine healing. In order to understand it, lets ask ourselves exactly what is God teaching us about this issue.
Our first question to ask - (1) IS ALL SICKNESS THE RESULT OF SIN? The answer from James is an emphatic NO! In verse 15, James says, "if he has sinned, he will be forgiven." That little word, "if," tells us not all sickness is the result of sin. You see in studying the Bible I've found that some sickness actually comes from God. Did you know that? In Exodus 4:11 we read these amazing and startling words,
Ex 4:11 (NASB) "And the LORD said to him [Moses], "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?"
Then in the New Testament, Jesus answers this whole idea that all sickness is the result of sin,
John 9:2-3 (NASB) "And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him."
While this is unexplainable in human terms, there is no doubt God at times allows sickness, disease and congenital afflictions to befall his children. Yet, because we know that "God is love," and an all-loving God who cares deeply for His creatures, such afflictions are not punishments, nor the result of sinful action. This should encourage many Christians who may have a child or themselves been born blind, crippled or with serious debilitating congenital deformities or sicknesses. It's a tragic thing today when some Christians teach God wants all people to be without disease, illness or infirmities of any sort.
Yet on the other hand, sickness, disease and other afflictions can also be directly associated with sin and even Satan himself. Yes, Satan and personal sins, can bring these things upon all humanity. In Luke 13:11-13, we have the story of how Jesus healed a woman who for, "eighteen years had a sickness caused by a 'spirit'". However, when Jesus saw her he said, "you are freed from your sickness." God sometimes for reason unrevealed to us, allows Satan to afflict people with sickness, disease and even deformities. But then sickness at times can be the direct or indirect result of our own sinful disobedience to God's laws of life. The classic example is the AIDS crisis upon us today. Paul the apostle writes in ,
Rom 1:24-27 (NASB) "Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their perversion."
Why even in the Old Testament, God warned His people that if the flagrantly lived in sinful disobedience to His laws for them, they would be visited with disease and death. Again, listen to what Scripture declares,
Lev 26:14-16 (NASB) "'But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, 15 if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, 16 I, in turn, will do this to you: I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption and fever that shall waste away the eyes and cause the soul to pine away; also, you shall sow your seed uselessly, for your enemies shall eat it up."
Indeed, the Bible teaches that God does punish sinful behavior such as homosexuality, and sexual immorality with disease and death. So, it is well to understand that James is saying, one should begin an examination of their obedience or disobedience to God's law, to see if any affliction is caused by our sinful actions. If so, we must confess our sins, and call upon God to forgive us. However, being forgiven usually doesn't release us from the consequences of sin in this life. So it's better to be careful to live according to God's laws and will, for then we can be sure no sickness or disease will befall us that is directly caused by our sins.
Now James tells us some more things about this age old controversy. James is indeed teaching us that (2) GOD IS ABLE TO HEAL AND DOES AT TIMES MIRACULOUSLY HEAL.
Now most people have no problem with this statement. The problem comes with the question, "how does God heal?" Today we have a whole body of Christian followers who teach and firmly believe, that God uses specially anointed Christians to bring healing to people. We call them "faith healers," those who exercise supernatural power called the "gift of miracles and healings" to conquer all afflictions that plague humanity. To prove this is God's` method of healing today, multitudes of testimonies are brought forth to show the miracle power of God that healed them.
Now I may I say at the onset I believe that some of these testimonies are legitimate cases of divine healing. However, I take issue with the teaching that these individuals were healed through a divine healer and his or her ministry. There is just too much false teaching out there concerning the gift of healing which I believe is not present anymore. Many who believe in "faith healers," usually accept the false teaching "it is always God's will to heal the afflictions of God's people." Yet the Bible reveals, God has not promised healing to ever believer, whether they are walking with Him or not. In fact, the Bible clearly says there is no promise of health in this life for a Christian. We read in,
Rom 8:22-23, 26-27 (NASB) "For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body… "And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
Here God tells us that our bodies are not in this life, redeemed yet. Our souls and spirits are, but not our bodies. They still are under the curse of sin, sickness and death. Also notice, God says that the Spirit of God "prays" for our afflictions. Now, if God is praying for them, who are we to pray any other way? I believe in truth God may grant healing at times, but only if it fits into His divine plan for each of us to bring us to glory and to be like His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. No all of us if we are honest, know that often through rough times of affliction and distress, we have come closer to God and entered into an intimate relationship with Him never before enjoyed. Why even the Psalmist knew this and declared,
Psa 119:67 (NASB) "Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Thy word."
Believe it friend, God does heal, and He heals miraculously whom He wills, and when He wills for the express purpose of bringing Himself glory and eternal blessing to His children. But we cannot move heaven, nor dictate to God to do this on our behalf apart from being in conformity with His sovereign will. Now this brings me to ask the last question. HOW DOES GOD HEAL TODAY? James answers,
James 5:13-15 (NASB) "Is anyone among you suffering… sick? 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 offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."
In this passage of Scripture we find three things revealed. First, we find that God indeed wants us to minister physically to the afflictions of others. Surely we are to personally pray for healing and help from God, but then we are also to seek medical help from others who can care for us. James says "call for the elders of the church." They are to come and "anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." Now this text does not establish a holy ritual or rite. The Greek word used for anointing is not the ceremonial word "chrio." Rather, the text uses the explicit word "aleipsantes" which is the mundane word that refers essentially to a "physical rubdown."
You see, James is teaching that the one who is sick is to call for those who can physically minister to them. Whether it be a form of chiropractic care or a medical care. Of course the issue is settled for us by what Jesus Christ Himself declared in,
Mat 9:12 (NASB) "But when He (Jesus) heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick."
So, those who are afflicted with sickness and disease and may be near death, they need to do three things. First of all, pray asking God to reveal the nature and cause of the affliction. From there we may ask God for healing. Following that, and along side of it we are to seek every means possible, physically speaking, to find doctors and medicine to treat our afflictions. But then the third means which is not common, but is found in James teaching is,
James 5:13-15 (NASB) "Is anyone among you suffering… sick? 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 offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."
Now, this "prayer of faith," is not some magical formula, not a prayer of power offered by specially anointed men of faith to perform. I believe this is a special prayer, that God alone sends down from heaven, to the leaders of a local church, whereby God reveals in their hearts, He is about to perform a miracle healing! This is no ordinary prayer or ""faith-healers" prayer, it is for common men who are called to shepherd the Church of Jesus Christ, whom God sovereignly chooses, to use in special and often rare cases. Through this specially heaven sent prayer, God in certain cases miraculously raises up the sick and afflicted, to serve His purposes and to accomplish glory for Himself now and in eternity.
Although, such miracle healing is really very rare, it is not non-existent. I believe the first century gift of healings was a supernatural apostolic gift, given by God and withdrawn by God, at the conclusion of providing His revelatory Word. The gift of healing in the establishment of the New Testament Church was a temporary manifestation of God's power given for the express purpose of confirming the authority of the Gospel. Once completed as has been for almost twenty centuries, this gift ceased. Now I know some of you will protest! You will say how dare you limit God! How dare you question the wonderful works of healing many Charismatic believers are doing! My only answer is this. The Bible says,
2 Cor 5:7 (NASB) "…we walk by faith, not by sight--"
Therefore, no experience, nor physical manifestations are to ever establish our Christian doctrine. It is only to be believed if it can be proven from the Scriptures. James writings on healing are the basis for all New Testament post-apostolic beliefs and practices. As such, the controversy of the ages is actually answered. Sin, sickness, disease and death are a natural part of fallen humanities existence, until Christ comes again in glory. Now, regardless of whether we are a Christian or not, we can suffer these afflictions and a believer might not be out of the will of God. Secondly, we must acknowledge God is a holy God who demands obedience to His laws and will for His children. If we shamelessly live sinful lives, God has promised us the due penalties in this life and the next, which can include disease, affliction and even death (1Cor. 11:30; 1 John 5:16).
However, God loves us and has provided His promise that for the believer who lives for Christ, if illness, suffering, affliction becomes our lot, and God chooses not to miraculously heal it through prayer, and medical means, we can bear the afflictions and know God will be glorified in and through it, as we give God the glory through our quiet and humble endurance of it.
Friend, I believe God is still our miracle healer and as such He at times in His sovereign will fully heals without the help of any human means. But I also know sin reigns in the universe until Christ comes in glory! Until then, I will leave the matter of healing to His plan and purpose strictly revealed in His Word. Meanwhile, we must regularly submit ourselves to the will of God, trusting that nothing comes into the life of a believer that doesn't come with the stamp of God's love. Here is the Biblical perspective and answer to the controversy of the ages. May God so bless it to your hearts for Jesus sake. Amen.
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan (wwyfin@sparc.isl.net)