9th September 2023. I took a break from blogging last month, but I was busy reading and studying the Scriptures, so I’m back with the results of my ‘theologizing’. This is important because most of my posts have been experience-based. It was the inspiring ‘Healing Technician’ course run by ‘Dominion Life’ that drove me back to the clear teachings and practices of Jesus and the Apostles, and made me confront some of the ‘get-outs’ suggested by excellent authors on the subjects of Spiritual Gifts, and that of Healing in particular. ‘Sacred Cows’ is the title given by Dominion Life (John G Lake) to the collection of names and scriptures that suggest evidence that God is not 100 per cent for everybody’s healing. As I read some otherwise excellent and erudite authors, I noticed these names and scriptures are usually listed en bloc as ‘the Usual Suspects’ (my term), which made me think that the writers are not taking each case on their own merits. The Usual Suspects are Job (whole book), Paul (his “thorn in the flesh” 2Cor. 12:7) and the ‘People Paul left Sick’ (Epaphroditus – Phil. 2:25-30 , Trophimus – 2 Tim. 4:20 , and Timothy – 1Tim. 5:23).
(A) Regarding Job: JG Lake challenges the idea that God’s clear allowance of Satan to afflict him with sicknesses and other calamities proves that Good Health is not always God’s will, on two grounds: (1) that Job is not in a New Covenant relationship with God that we Christians enjoy (and – it being widely recognized that the Book of Job is the oldest scripture we have – Job may not even come under the Old Covenant either!); and (2) that God did eventually bring healing and restoration to Job and his estate (Job 42:10,16-17) (and it has been strongly argued that- from a philosophical viewpoint – the ‘Problem of suffering’ applies to suffering that is both intensely painful and chronic; arguably Job’s was the former but not also the latter).
(B) Regarding Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”, allowed him by God to keep him humble, this is widely accepted by commentators to be a physical illness, probably in his eyes, since Paul does refer to his writing “in large letters” – suggesting poor eyesight. Against this, John G Lake points out that, as a distinguished student of the Old Testament scriptures, he would be well-acquainted with the many references to “thorns in the side” and even “thorns in the eyes” representing persecution by enemies, not illnesses. (Num. 33:55; Josh. 23:13 and others). And we know very well how much physical beating and punishment Paul endured for his faith. I was amazed to find this argument given so little credence by the commentators. The “writing in large letters” (Gal.6:11-18) is acknowledged to be capable of bearing a different meaning eg “a large, or long letter” rather than referring to Paul’s eyesight. His statement in Gal. 4:13-15 “You would have torn out your eyes and given them to me” may well suggest a knowledge of his possible eye problems, but I think a better case has been made for the “Thorn” being a reference to his persecutions. And, for Paul, to pray for healing would have been a first! He had surely the most blessed pair of eyes among humanity, having seen Jesus, temporarily being blinded, then receiving healing through Ananias (Acts 9:17).
(C) Regarding the People Paul “left sick”: (1) Epaphroditus was, indeed, close to death from a sickness, “But God had mercy on him” (Phil. 2:27) and he recovered. (2) “Trophimus I left sick in Malta (2Tim. 4:20) – could be from a sickness, or both men may have been left exhaused and depleted from their arduous ministries and persecutions; and there is no mention of his death. (3) Timothy’s ‘gippy-tummy’ would appear to be a common ailment, and, whilst Paul always advised his co-workers to reject copious amounts of alcohol, he recognized the wisdom of “a small tot”, as is common in most cultures and all generations.
Should we be surprised that not everyone received ‘healing in Jesus’ name’? Did Jesus himself offer healing to absolutely every person who came his way? And has not God created herbs for healing, and inspired medicinal solutions worldwide? For me the ‘case against’ the Healing mandate is weak. More to follow!
Healing in Jesus' Name 