Healing Service - My biggest blog ever!

First - apologies - this is a big blog!

Recently our church announced we are planning to have a kind of Healing Service. That is a service where we will invite people to come to be prayed for, for healing.

Among conservative evangelical I know, this has caused a few ripples. People think we have lost the plot and have no theological basis. Therefore I decided to write a blog on the subject. Then at least those who judge will do so on the basis of what is, and not half-baked ideas and impressions they may have.

The first thing to say is that the inspiration for this came through exegeting a text of the Bible. Now I know that fact does not make it sound - all good heresies begin with the bible. But so do good theology and good practise. So it is a good start!

Secondly, although God seems to work with and through people on the basis of faith over correct theology, that is not an excuse for having bad theology. 

Why would we hold ‘Healing Services?

This question raises two more important questions.

1. What is the biblical, theological basis for such practise?
2. What is meant by ‘Healing Service’?

I will answer (1) first.

1) What is the biblical, theological basis for such a practise?

This is not an issue of being ‘Charismatic’ or ‘non-charismatic. It is not a question of Orthodoxy but more orthopraxy.

In other words, the relevant scriptures and underlying theology for the practise is probably the agreed on by most conservative, evangelical, calvinist churches. The practical expression of that theology is what is in question.

So how do I justify the practise of going out and inviting all and sundry to a church service where we will pray for their healing?

Well, to ask the question “How do I justify…” kind of assumes I first had the idea or practise, then tried to find scripture and a theology to underpin it (a bit like those who hold to covenant theology). That is not the case. How I came to it was through exegeting two texts of scripture. The story of Jonathan and his armour bearer and the story of Jesus and the Canaanite woman.

Having been inspired by those scriptures, I then looked more closely and broadly to see if this might be a legitimate way to serve God. I then suggested it to the church Leadership and we all scrutinised it together. At first my brothers were hesitant, but when they understood what I had in mind and was able to demonstrate theologically that this is not only ‘allowed’ but would be good to do, they climbed on board rather than posturing and becoming entrenched.

So, here is how I put it to my leadership.

1. I assert that Jesus in His earthly Ministry engaged in a ministry of miraculous signs. The signs included miraculous feedings, healing, casting out demons, calming storms, flattening waves etc. 
2. This ministry was intentionally aimed exclusively at Jews who were heirs of the promise and were waiting for their Messianic King to appear.
3. These signs to the Jews served specific purposes. They demonstrated the Kingdom Jesus was preaching. They evidenced that Jesus Himself is the Messiah, the King of the kingdom. And they demonstrated that in His coming Kingdom, there will be no poverty and need (Feeding of the 5000), there will be no natural disasters (calming seas and storms), there will be no spiritual forces of evil (casting out demons), there will be no sickness (healing the sick and lame), there will be no more death (raising the dead).
4. This particular ministry was for a season and was completed within Jesus earthly life. (John 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do). 
5. The claim made by some that because  “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever”, He must be doing the same. However, In John 17:4 He is clear that He has now completed one work (of glorifying God through that part of His earthly ministry), and the immediate surrounding verses make it clear He was about to begin another work to glorify God - that is he was about to demonstrate the eternal love, justice and mercy of God through the cross. Jesus was the self-same Jesus in His public ministry as on the cross, but He was not doing the same thing. It was the same person - Jesus - doing different things. It does not follow that, because Jesus is the same, He must always do the same. So while Jesus most certainly is the same, yesterday, today and forever (in terms of faithfulness, reliability and character), He is not necessarily doing the same each and every day. So, that Jesus is the same, is not an argument for signs and wonders today.
6. The claim made by some that, just because Jesus taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” means we can reason thus: There is no sickness, suffering, sadness and disease in heaven and we are to pray that it will be on earth ‘as it is in heaven’, so we should be praying for an end to those things on earth now, and because we are instructed so to pray, it must mean Jesus is going to do it - This a fallacious argument. Jesus was teaching us to pray for His return in Kingdom glory, and to be praying that His will (that is the unfolding of His redemptive plan) will continue speedily until completion at His return. The ‘Lord’s Prayer’ is not a basis for seeing miracles of healing today.
7. Although signs and wonders did continue with the ministry of the apostles (Acts 2:43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.) it is reasonable to conclude that theirs, was by definition a unique ministry in establishing the church and the gospel and body of christian doctrine (or at least the necessary teaching for such) for the first time on the earth. Their signs and wonders authenticated them as true servants and Apostles sent by Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. 
8. Jesus Primary Ministry through His church now, is not a ministry of signs and wonders but of recruiting unbelievers into Jesus’ Kingdom through the preaching of the gospel and through the making of disciples.

So that is what we are doing, seeking to preach the gospel of Jesus to the lost and disciple those He gives to us.

Not All Jesus Miraculous Healings were Signs

However, notwithstanding any of the above, it is also true to say that not all of Jesus’ healings were wrought to serve as ‘signs’ of the kingdom. Some clearly were. Eg, the healing of the paralytic was clearly a sign. “That you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6) and John 9:3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Also the effect of Jesus miracles served clearly as signs, e.g. “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (Luke 8:25).

But on other occasions he commanded those freed or healed to tell no-one. They were not publicity stunts but acts of compassion, love and kindness. That was not his primary way of demonstrating His love, that would happen later at the cross and then ultimately in the new heavens and earth. But that did not stop Jesus, out of love and compassion ministering healing at that time which was outside of the ‘signs’ miracles.

Then the story of the Syro-Phoenician woman shows us that Jesus had no basis at all in His ministerial purpose or God’s redemptive plan at that time for healing the woman’s daughter. In other words, He came into the earth at that time for a reason, to do something for a certain group of people within a certain circle (Jews), but she was not in that circle. She had no right or claim, no reason to expect Jesus to heal, except out of compassion, mercy and love.

Her pleas were first met with silence, second with mild rejection to say the least “I was sent for the lost sheep of Israel”, in other words “I have nothing to do with you.” and then with a moral reason with an insult thrown in “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs”. Jesus gave her no hope at all.

But, the woman knew Jesus could heal her - and that was all she needed to desperately persist - and faith got its reward.

Jesus healed the woman’s daughter, not as a sign but because of her faith which drove her.

God Does Not Answer The Prayers of Unbelievers

It is true that as a general rule, God does not respond to the prayers of unbelievers, but many Christians go too far in absolutising what is a valid principle. It would seem fairer to say that as a rule God does not answer the prayers of unbelievers, but in His sovereignty He can if He wills. There is no theological reason for him not to do so. The argument that He cannot answer them because of their sins is not accurate. The oft-quoted text in Isaiah 59:1 which tells us “Your sins have separated you from your God, your iniquities have hidden His face from you” are written specifically to God’s covenant people (Isaiah 58:1b) … 

“Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.” 

Isaiah 59:1 is not directed at the world. The text also tells us he “‘will’ not”, not that he ‘cannot’ and there is a difference. In the case of Israel, God decided He will not answer their prayers until they, as His covenant people and in keeping with His covenant, repent. An unbeliever is not in covenant with God. 

God Will Only Punish Unbelievers

The argument that God owes unbelievers nothing but judgement is true, but it does not preclude His temporal acts of grace such as healing in the here and now. Judgement will be meted out later when the Lord returns as judge. So, theologically, it would appear there is no reason to absolutise the principle that God will not answer the prayers of unbelievers except the sinners prayer.

All the above means, God can and so might heal unbelievers. Not because He must, not because it is ‘what He is doing now’, but because He may or may not choose to. If an unbeliever believes there may be a God who could heal them and on that basis prays for healing, while affirming God is not bound to heal, I see no reason to say He will not heal. Not unless there has been a prophetic word on the matter.

I think it is fair to say, that in most cases we would not expect Him to heal - at least not in an extraordinary way. But when healing occurs, it is a pleasant surprise in keeping with God’s character.

Now, if the above is true, it would mean we should not expect God to answer every prayer for healing with an extraordinary miracle of healing. Jesus Himself did not heal everyone, the Apostles certainly didn’t and in most cases we don’t see God’s covenant people healed in an extraordinary way - but that does not stop us praying for them.

We also give thanks to God when believers have been healed through natural means such as medication. Why should we not have the same attitude to unbelievers? In fact, I’ll bet every christian with an unbelieving loved one who is sick would pray for their healing. 

But You’re Inviting Them In

What about going out and inviting people to a service where we will pray for people to be healed (among other things). This involves telling people, ‘Jesus has the power to heal’ and ‘If we ask Him, He might heal you’ and ‘If you come to church we will be praying for people.’

Is this right to do? I see nothing wrong with it. Again, the story of the Syro-Pheneceon, according to Mark we read 

Mark 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.[g] He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet.

The woman came to Jesus as soon as she heard about Him. Somehow, somewhere along the line it seems someone has told her about this Jesus who heals and that He is in town. She heard!

We will be going around the houses, knocking on people’s doors, making sure people hear that they can come to Church, that Jesus is present, that Jesus has the power to heal. We will be careful to explain that it is unusual - but not that unusual. 

Of course we could tell them to just pray for themselves, and we don’t want to give the impression that Jesus hangs out down St Georges Hall and we cannot pray anywhere else. That would reinforce false doctrine in people’s minds. However - they got far worse doctrine about God than that. We want them to come to church because we want to pray for them but we want more than that for them. We want them to understand questions about suffering and we want them to know God and be informed. Those ends are better served in the context of Church than them on their own in their home or us on their door step.

Also, we will be praying for them, not them praying for themselves, and I’m sure none of us have a problem with believers praying. 

We will be doing this over two weeks and will be preaching the x4 W gospel.

Week 1 

Why does God allow sickness, suffering and bad things (Fallen, sinful, God-rejecting world) and What has He done about it? (sent Jesus to pay the price for all sin)

Week 2

Who will benefit from what God has done (All who rely on Jesus as Lord and Saviour) and When? (The promise is for complete healing in the new heavens and earth).

During the service we will pray for anyone who wants prayer, and we will provide follow up, hopefully beginning home visits doing home Bible studies etc.

The Real Danger

Of course there is one real danger and it is a concern. That is the danger of mis-communicating through publicity, or setting up false expectations that lead to disillusionment. For these reasons we will not shove tracts through people’s doors but will give personal invitations verbally and give the flyer for details. Second, we will be teaching about it as best we can. Third, perhaps someone will get healed, perhaps someone will begin the journey to faith. Rather than allow fear of danger stop us doing it, we believe the potential benefits are worth the risk, so we will do our best to minimise the dangers, pray like a storm, then take the step of faith.

Every time we have  taken risky steps of faith in the past, God has been thrilled us with what He has done and it has been a joy and blessing to the church and unbelievers too. That does not guarantee success on this occasion - but if we fail, we will have failed in faith!