Faith healing is the practice of prayer and belief in divine intervention to cure illness or disability. It is rooted in the conviction that God can and does heal people miraculously through faith, often in response to prayer. This belief is prevalent among many Christian traditions, though its interpretation and application vary widely.
Historical Context
Faith healing has a long history within Christianity, dating back to the early church. The New Testament contains numerous accounts of Jesus and His apostles healing the sick, casting out demons, and even raising the dead through the power of God (Matthew 4:23-24, Acts 3:6-8). These miracles served as signs of the kingdom of God and affirmed the authority of Jesus and His followers.
Over the centuries, faith healing has been practiced in various forms. In the early church, healing was often associated with the laying on of hands and anointing with oil (James 5:14-15). During the Middle Ages, faith healing was linked with the veneration of relics and saints. In more recent history, particularly within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, faith healing has been prominently featured in revival meetings and healing services.
Biblical and Theological Analysis
Biblical Foundations for Faith Healing
The Bible provides several key passages that are foundational to the belief in faith healing. One of the most cited is from the Epistle of James:
| “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.”
| —James 5:14-15 (ESV)
This passage emphasizes the role of communal prayer, faith, and the involvement of church leaders in the healing process. It suggests that healing is not just a personal matter but is deeply connected to the life of the Christian community.
The Gospels also record numerous instances of Jesus healing the sick, often in response to their faith. For example, in Matthew 9:22, Jesus heals a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, saying, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” Similarly, in Mark 10:52, Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus with the words, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”
The Role of Faith in Healing
Faith is central to the concept of faith healing. In the New Testament, faith is often portrayed as a prerequisite for receiving God’s healing power. This is seen in Jesus’ interactions with those He healed; He frequently commends their faith and attributes their healing to it (Matthew 9:29, Mark 5:34).
However, it is important to note that the Bible does not present faith as a guarantee of physical healing in every instance. The Apostle Paul, for example, experienced a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) that he asked God to remove, but God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” This passage highlights that while faith is important, God’s will ultimately determines the outcome, and sometimes His purposes are fulfilled through suffering rather than healing.
The Sovereignty of God in Healing
The Christian worldview affirms that God is sovereign over all creation, including health and illness. While God is capable of miraculous healing, He also works through natural means, such as medicine and healthcare, and sometimes chooses not to heal for reasons known only to Him. This understanding is crucial for a balanced view of faith healing.
In Romans 8:28, Paul writes, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This verse assures believers that God is at work in every circumstance, whether in healing or in suffering, to bring about His good purposes.
Historical Christian Perspectives
Early Church
In the early church, faith healing was a common practice, as seen in the accounts of the apostles healing the sick and performing miracles (Acts 5:12-16). The early Christians believed that the Holy Spirit continued to work through the church to bring about healing, often in conjunction with prayer, the laying on of hands, and anointing with oil.
Augustine
Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) was initially skeptical of miraculous healings in the post-apostolic age, but later in life, he recorded instances of what he believed were genuine miracles, including healings, in his work The City of God. Augustine acknowledged that God could and did perform miracles, but he also emphasized that such occurrences were not the norm and that the purpose of miracles was primarily to affirm the faith of the church and the truth of the gospel.
Reformation and Beyond
During the Protestant Reformation, reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin were cautious about claims of miraculous healing. They emphasized the sufficiency of Scripture and the importance of not being led astray by superstitions or false miracles. Calvin, in particular, was skeptical of the miracle claims of his day, viewing them as often being associated with the veneration of relics and saints, which he believed detracted from the centrality of Christ and Scripture.
In the modern era, particularly with the rise of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements in the 20th century, faith healing has become more prominent. These movements emphasize the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, including the gifts of healing, as being available to the church today. However, even within these movements, there is an acknowledgment that not all are healed and that God’s will is ultimately paramount.
Relevance for Today’s Christian
Faith healing remains a topic of interest and sometimes controversy within the Christian community today. For many believers, the practice of praying for healing is an expression of faith in God’s power and compassion. It reflects the belief that God is intimately involved in the lives of His people and that He is capable of bringing about physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
However, it is important for Christians to approach faith healing with a balanced perspective. While the Bible encourages believers to pray for the sick and to trust in God’s healing power, it also teaches that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) and that sometimes His purposes are fulfilled in ways that we do not understand.
The Christian worldview encourages believers to seek God’s will in all things, including health and healing, and to trust that whether in healing or in suffering, God’s grace is sufficient.
Conclusion: Connection to God’s Love and Jesus Christ
Faith healing is ultimately about God’s love and compassion for His people. Jesus’ healing ministry was a demonstration of God’s kingdom breaking into the world, showing His power over sin, sickness, and death. In Matthew 14:14, it is written:
| “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”
| —Matthew 14:14 (NIV)
This verse highlights that Jesus’ healing acts were motivated by His deep compassion and love for those in need. In the same way, faith healing today is understood as an expression of God’s love and a foretaste of the complete healing that will come in the new creation, where there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).
Christians are called to trust in God’s sovereign will, to pray for healing with faith, and to rest in the assurance that God is working all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Whether through miraculous healing, medical intervention, or the grace to endure suffering, God’s love is evident, and His purposes are always for the ultimate good of His children.