There are two basic ways that divine healing may be taught and practised in Faith circles. The first one could be described as an exaggeration or overemphasis on the Biblical truths about physical healing. It is, indeed, quite Scriptural to have an eager expectation that God will heal in answer to our prayers, provided it is not forced to an extreme that goes beyond the Scriptures.
The other line is more troublesome, because it affects our view of what is the source of the power for healing. In this case, people in Faith circles are taught principles and methods which are not much different from the ones that are being taught in some forms of occult healing. The following quote illustrate the type of instructions that two well known Faith teachers are giving in order to teach people how to heal: “Concerning Multiple Sclerosis, you have to command a spirit to come out (incurable disease), and then command the spine to straighten up. Even though the spirit has come out, the spine will not necessarily straighten up until the command is given. So, if you do not do both, the spine might remain crooked.” 25
The source of power is presented as something that is inherent in yourself, the words you speak, or simply as an impersonal power that you can learn to plug into wherever you are. Believers are taught to claim healing by manipulating and controlling the spiritual realm. Later the same teachers continue by saying: “When you PRAY, you are asking God to do something. When you SPEAK OUT, it is YOU who are commanding something to happen. Do you realise that it is a fact that the disciples never prayed for the sick after they had been filled with the Holy Spirit?” 26
However, this statement is simply not correct. Paul prayed for sick people (Acts 28:8-9). James encourages Christians to pray for one another that they may be healed (James 5:14-16). In the teachings of the above preachers, the sovereignty of God in healing is done away with. We are taught to control it all, and that: “To speak out is to command healing.” 27
The same authors continue saying: “We must reach every generation and every tribe and tongue with the supernatural. How can this happen? By believing that we can learn the supernatural.” 28
I believe that many people have been drawn towards this type of movement because they have been longing to learn to operate in the supernatural. Some of these claims may have been fulfilled, but the vital question is which kind of supernatural power one learns to operate in. The Hunters willingly admit the following: “We have gone ahead and explored areas that are not very comprehensively dealt with in the Word of God.” 29 In other words, their teaching is not Scriptural.
When we read the Biblical accounts in the Gospels, there is no room for doubt that Jesus healed sick people and that healing was a major part of His ministry. Jesus referred to the healings when John the Baptist began to doubt whether He really was the Messiah (Luke 7:18-23). Peter summarised the works of Jesus by saying that He “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38). Jesus was healing to show Who He was and to show His compassion.
It is also clearly seen in the Scriptures that those who believe in Jesus will heal the sick. He gave His disciples power to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits (Luke 9:1-2). Furthermore, Jesus said that those who believe in Him will cast out demons and heal the sick by laying hands on them (Mark 16:17-18). I believe that this is simply a question of prayer, whether it is with or without laying on of hands. The less you know about theories and techniques of healing, the better. Then there is a greater likelihood that it is God Who is doing the healing. When you pray for sick people, it is wise to rely entirely on the sovereignty of God, giving up all attempts at manipulating or controlling Him.
The apostle Paul did not preach healing, he preached Christ and Him crucified (I Corinthians 2:2). When he prayed for the sick, many were healed, 30 but not all. 31 Paul did not promise that everyone would be healed in this life. What he did promise to all believers was the forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and the hope of a resurrection in glory. Seeing that Paul did not promise physical healing to all in this life, we had better not do it either.
Footnotes
25. Charles & Frances Hunter, Att hela de sjuka (Healing the Sick), p 39. Translated from the Swedish edition.
26. Charles & Frances Hunter, Att hela de sjuka (Healing the Sick), p 47. Translated from the Swedish edition. Capitals in original.
27. Charles & Frances Hunter, Att hela de sjuka (Healing the Sick), p 53. Translated from the Swedish edition.
28. Charles & Frances Hunter, Att hela de sjuka (Healing the Sick), p 12. Translated from the Swedish edition. Italics in. original.
29. Charles & Frances Hunter, Att hela de sjuka (Healing the Sick), p 23. Translated from the Swedish edition.
30. Acts 14:10, 15:12, 19:11-12.
31. Galatians 4:13-14, I Timothy 5:23, II Timothy 4:20.
