TOWARD A THEOLOGY OF HEALING AT ST. PAUL’S
Healing is a feature of full salvation. It is enfolded in the atoning work of Jesus per Isaiah 53:4, “By his stripes we are healed.” Ultimately salvation even means creation healed (Rom. 8:18-22). Jesus’ proclamation of God’s Kingdom included healing—he pointed to healing as a sign of his messianic mission, and sent out his disciples both to heal and to proclaim (Luke 4:18, 7:18-23, 10:1-9). Healing ministry continued in the early church, closely associated with salvation (Acts 3:1-4:22). Whenever and however people are healthy, whole, and healed it is God’s work and part of God's salvation. But not everyone is healed from every affliction.
Healing, like salvation, results from God and God’s church working together. Healing is the work of the church! St. Paul’s FM Church engages significantly in praying for healing both during Prayers of the People on Sundays and at Morning Prayer 6 days a week. When Peter and John healed a lame man others were involved: folk brought him to the temple to beg; Peter and John enlisted the lame man himself in the process by looking intently at him and saying, “Look at us!” The lame man obediently “fixed his attention” on them, expecting a gift. Peter, supported by John, commanded the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth stand up and walk!” He also assisted the man in standing; as he did the man's body was strengthened, enabling him to jump and dance. Others, amazed, joined in the rejoicing. It all resulted in a proclamation of the good news of the kingdom of God (Acts 3:2-26).
Healing takes place under God's sovereignty. “God heals sometimes, God saves always” (Sam Wells). Healing is the work of the church! Just as God instructs and inspires through the ministry of the Word, and nourishes and is present among God’s people in the Sacraments, so healing takes place under God's sovereignty in the church's life and worship. The church supports the healing ministry of family, friends, and medical professionals in prayer and by visiting the sick. The church provides regular services of healing following the pattern of God's Word in the book of James, “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed” (5:14-16). We do this under God's sovereign care. Will every prayer be answered in the way we request? Will everyone be healed every time right away? Probably not. Some will be healed by medicine, some by rest, recuperation, and care. Others will be healed by better habits and new information. And some will be healed by the working together of the sovereign action of God through the laying on of hands and the engagement of the faith of the church. Some will not be healed in this life. All can be saved.
Healing, like salvation, results from God and God’s church working together. Healing is the work of the church! St. Paul’s FM Church engages significantly in praying for healing both during Prayers of the People on Sundays and at Morning Prayer 6 days a week. When Peter and John healed a lame man others were involved: folk brought him to the temple to beg; Peter and John enlisted the lame man himself in the process by looking intently at him and saying, “Look at us!” The lame man obediently “fixed his attention” on them, expecting a gift. Peter, supported by John, commanded the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth stand up and walk!” He also assisted the man in standing; as he did the man's body was strengthened, enabling him to jump and dance. Others, amazed, joined in the rejoicing. It all resulted in a proclamation of the good news of the kingdom of God (Acts 3:2-26).
Healing takes place under God's sovereignty. “God heals sometimes, God saves always” (Sam Wells). Healing is the work of the church! Just as God instructs and inspires through the ministry of the Word, and nourishes and is present among God’s people in the Sacraments, so healing takes place under God's sovereignty in the church's life and worship. The church supports the healing ministry of family, friends, and medical professionals in prayer and by visiting the sick. The church provides regular services of healing following the pattern of God's Word in the book of James, “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed” (5:14-16). We do this under God's sovereign care. Will every prayer be answered in the way we request? Will everyone be healed every time right away? Probably not. Some will be healed by medicine, some by rest, recuperation, and care. Others will be healed by better habits and new information. And some will be healed by the working together of the sovereign action of God through the laying on of hands and the engagement of the faith of the church. Some will not be healed in this life. All can be saved.
“God heals sometimes, God saves always.”