A recent healing outpouring has reignited the age old battle between the false revival crowd and the don’t judge crowd. The for and against arguments recirculate the news, blogs and conversations from previous movements. I believe two points receive less attention than they deserve: importance and purpose.
In seeking to Biblically approach this subject one must ask:
How important is healing in the Bible?
Looking through the scriptures we see:
- God is able to heal
- God is willing to heal
- God calls us to pray for healing
- God can use us to heal
Interestingly though, the Bible hardly touches on:
- How to pray for healing
- How to heal
- How healing works
The Bible seems to be preoccupied with:
- Jesus
- Sin
- Grace
- Faith
- Redemption
This begs the next question:
What is the purpose of healing in the Bible?
If healing is one of many topics in the scriptures, then it’s purpose must point to something outside itself.
Therefore healing isn’t the purpose of healing.
Healing isn’t the instrument – the Spirit is
Healing isn’t the message – the Son is
Healing isn’t the goal – the Father is
Healing can be used by the Spirit
Healing can accompany a message about the Son
Healing can point us to the goal of the Father
The purpose of everything is the glory of God
Healing is but a means to an end
5 July 2008 at 12:44
hey joel, this is the most susinct description of biblical healing ive heard for a while.very helpfull.nice one bro
15 July 2008 at 1:01
Hi,
This is Luke Luo, managing editor of Behold Bimonthly magazine.This magazine is published in US and is read by Chinese Christians all over the world.
May I have your permission to translate this post into Chinese and publish it in our magazine?
It’ll help Chinese Christians to understand the relations between biblical healing and the Scriptures better.
Thanks you so much.
In Him,
Luke Luo
15 July 2008 at 3:04
Hi Luke,
Yes I would be honoured for you to use this post in your magazine.
Let me know if there is any further writing or references you need.
Joel