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Introduction

The concept of faith healing, often depicted dramatically by charismatic evangelists, raises significant questions about its scriptural basis and authenticity. This exploration aims to distinguish between the sensationalized portrayals of faith healing and the biblical understanding of divine healing, grounded in Scripture and the historical context of early Christianity.

What is Faith Healing?

Faith healing, as practiced in the West, typically involves evangelists or ministers, particularly within the charismatic movement, who claim to heal through divine intervention. These practices often include dramatic public displays where individuals are purportedly healed of various ailments. However, it is crucial to distinguish between these modern practices and the healings described in the Bible.

Scriptural Basis for Healing

The Bible provides numerous accounts of miraculous healings, primarily through the ministries of Jesus and the apostles. These healings served specific purposes within God’s redemptive plan and were always aligned with His will and character.

Jesus’ Healing Ministry: Jesus’ healings were direct demonstrations of His divine authority and compassion. For example, in Matthew 8:14-15, Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law simply by touching her hand, and the fever left her. Similarly, in Luke 8:43-48, a woman with a bleeding condition was healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, and He affirmed her faith as the cause of her healing.
Apostolic Healings: The apostles continued this ministry of healing as a testament to the truth of the Gospel. Acts 3:1-10 recounts Peter and John healing a lame man at the temple gate, which led to a powerful testimony about Jesus’ resurrection and power.

Distinguishing Biblical Healing from Modern Practices

Biblical healings were characterized by their simplicity, immediate results, and alignment with God’s will. They were not accompanied by the theatrics often seen in modern faith healing services.

Lack of Theatrics: When Jesus healed, there were no elaborate rituals or emotional outbursts. His healings were straightforward and immediate. For instance, in John 5:8-9, Jesus simply commanded a man who had been lame for 38 years to “get up, pick up your mat, and walk,” and the man was healed instantly.
Faith and Healing: Faith was often a component of healing, but it was not always the faith of the person being healed. In some cases, Jesus healed individuals who showed no explicit faith, such as the man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15). This indicates that healing was ultimately an act of God’s sovereign will.

Does Faith Healing Work Today?

The efficacy of faith healing today is a contentious issue. While there are anecdotal reports of miraculous healings, these claims must be critically examined in light of Scripture and medical evidence. [See Excursions Below]

Medical Verification: Genuine healing should be verifiable by medical professionals. Claims of healing should be subjected to rigorous scrutiny to distinguish between genuine miracles and psychosomatic effects. The human mind’s influence on health is well-documented, but it should not be conflated with divine healing.
Role of Medical Science: Medical science is a gift from God and should not be dismissed. Paul advised Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach ailments (1 Timothy 5:23), indicating the appropriateness of medical treatment. Christians are encouraged to seek medical help while also praying for divine intervention.

Potential Harm of Misplaced Faith

Misplaced faith in faith healers can lead to detrimental outcomes, such as neglecting medical treatment. There are documented cases where individuals have suffered or died because they relied solely on faith healing and avoided medical intervention.

Responsibility to Seek Medical Help: Believers should recognize that God can work through medical professionals and treatments. Avoiding medical help, especially when it is readily available, can lead to unnecessary suffering and death.
God’s Will and Healing: Not all illnesses will be healed miraculously. Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) was not removed despite his prayers, indicating that God may have purposes for allowing certain afflictions to remain.

The Role of Healing in the Early Church

Healing in the early Church served as a sign to authenticate the apostles’ message and the establishment of the Church. However, as the Church became established, the emphasis shifted from miraculous signs to the proclamation of the Gospel and the growth of the Christian community.

Temporary Nature of Miraculous Gifts: The miraculous gifts, including healing, were given to establish the Church. Paul indicated that these gifts would cease (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) as the Church matured.
Focus on the Gospel: The primary mission of the early Christians was to preach the Gospel and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). While healing was an important aspect of their ministry, it was secondary to the proclamation of the Gospel.

Modern Perspectives on Healing

Today’s Christians should approach claims of faith healing with discernment, grounded in a biblical understanding of God’s will and the role of medical science.

Testing the Spirits: Believers are called to test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1). This involves discerning the source and nature of any claimed miracles.
Reliance on Scripture: Scripture provides the ultimate authority on matters of faith and practice. Any claims of healing must align with biblical principles and the character of God as revealed in His Word.

Faith healing, as depicted in many modern contexts, often deviates significantly from the biblical model. While God can and does heal, it is essential to discern His will, utilize the gifts of medical science, and maintain a balanced, scriptural perspective on healing. Believers should be wary of sensationalized claims and focus on the primary mission of proclaiming the Gospel and growing in faith.

EXCURSION 1—Why No Miracles Today?

Sometimes people ask, “Why don’t we see miracles like those in the Bible today?” The answer is that miracles served a specific purpose in the past, but now God expects us to live by faith (Habakkuk 2:2-4; Hebrews 10:37-39).

In Moses’ time, miracles were performed to establish his authority. They demonstrated that Jehovah was working through him and that the Law covenant was of divine origin, marking the Israelites as God’s chosen people (Exodus 4:1-9, 30, 31; Deuteronomy 4:33, 34).

In the first century, miracles helped to confirm Jesus’ identity and the legitimacy of the early Christian congregation. They showed that Jesus was the promised Messiah and that after his death, the Christian congregation replaced fleshly Israel as God’s special people, making the Law of Moses no longer binding (Acts 19:11-20; Hebrews 2:3, 4).

After the apostles’ time, the need for miracles diminished. The apostle Paul explained: “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).

Today, we have the complete Bible, which contains all of God’s revelations and guidance. We also have the fulfillment of prophecies and a deeper understanding of God’s purposes. Therefore, there is no longer a need for miracles. However, the same God who performed miracles still exists and continues to produce results that strongly demonstrate divine power.

EXCURSION 2: Faith—A Requirement?

According to Black’s Bible Dictionary, Jesus “specified [faith] as a prerequisite for his miracles of healing.” But is that true? Did Jesus require a sick person to have faith before healing them? The answer is no. Faith was necessary for the healer, but not always for the sick person. For example, when Jesus’ disciples failed to cure an epileptic boy, Jesus healed him and explained to the disciples that their lack of faith was the reason for their failure (Matthew 17:14-20).

Matthew 8:16, 17 states that Jesus “healed all who were ill.” While these people had some belief in Jesus, which led them to approach him (Matthew 8:13; 9:22, 29), no explicit confession of faith was required for the miracle. In one instance, Jesus healed a lame man who did not even know who Jesus was (John 5:5-9, 13). On the night of his arrest, Jesus restored the severed ear of the high priest’s servant, even though this man was part of the group arresting him (Luke 22:50, 51). Jesus even raised the dead on occasion (Luke 8:54, 55; John 11:43, 44).

How could Jesus perform such miracles? He relied on the Holy Spirit, which did the curing, not the faith of the sick individual. The Gospel accounts show that Jesus’ healings were performed with minimal ceremony, without exhibitionism or emotional manipulation. Regardless of the disease, Jesus was always successful and never charged a fee (Matthew 15:30, 31).

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).