BURNETTG@WSUVM1 (Greg Burnett) (02/07/90)
For anyone interested in the topic I recently read a book by C. Peter Wagner titled "How to Have A Healing Ministry (Without Making Your Church Sick". Dr. Wagner is a professor of church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. The book not only recounts the history of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements in the US but Dr. Wagner tells about how his views on the subject have changed in the course of his life. Just to pique your interest in the book I will note that he adamantly refuses to place himself in the Pentecostal or charismatic camps yet he acknowledges that he has a gift of healing and that quite a few people have benefitted from it, particularly people with leg length inequity, (i.e., one leg consider- ably longer than the other). Greg Burnett BURNETTG@WSUVM1
XVDHMAK@VCUVM1 (Michael Kline) (02/08/90)
Why doesn't everyone get healed? I don't think we'll find the answer,
and it will probably be one of those things we'll ask the Lord someday.
I've heard several different theories. It may be helpful to know that even
Katherine Kulman(sp?) didn't know why God didn't heal everyone, and neither
did Oral Roberts.
John, could you post directly to me. I've been trying to reach you, but
they have changed PROFS again, and your address that shows on CHRISTIA
doesn't work for me anymore. Also, for the others, I've got a 3x5 card on
some of the people on the list to remind me who to pray for and what. I
keep the card in my briefcase sort of loose, and everytime I move it and
see it I send out another prayer.
I guess I should state first, that I do NOT believe sickness comes from
God though it seems He may allow it. Everywhere Jesus went, people got
healed, and in many cases, demons were cast out and people were healed
instantly. I'm not saying that all sickness is from the indwelling of
demons, I don't believe Christians can be possessed, but only oppressed.
This has to do with the scriptures "What has light to do with darkness",
and others. How could a demon and the Holy Spirit occupy the same temple?
I do think it is possible to be oppressed. After all, if you're doing the
Lord's will, you can only expect to be attacked. How many scriptures have
we seen on "If the world hates me, it will hate you", "If they called Me
chief of the devils, they will call you...".
Ok, on to some of the theories I have heard.
One was that no one knows the "ground" upon which the healing is
spoken. This concerns the person being healed. If the person harbors
unforgiveness or sin in their life, then it may be impossible(?) for the
Lord to heal them.
Another possibility is that a person has been lax in their conversation
and not repented of their "idle" words. We should be careful of things
like, "I'd rather die in a car accident than ride in a plane." or "That
joke just kills me.". It sounds harmless enough, and I wouldn't advocate
anyone to watch their words so closely they are afraid to say anything, but
the Bible does say we will give an account.
The Bible indicates in some passages that it may be the sins of our
parents. I'm reminded of when the disciples asked Jesus who sinned when he
healed the beggar. In this case Jesus said no one did, but it was so that
the power of God might be shown. So, though it is the least of the theories
that I like, it may well be, and is quite well known how the Lord uses the
afflicted.
Well, that's about it for now, I'm sure there are others.
An uplifting exercise might be to post about healings you have
witnessed. I remember one lady that had been taken in for a test, and they
found a tumor the size of a grapefruit in her. They scheduled her for
surgery the following week. The church prayed for her that weekend, as many
as wanting going up and laying hands on her. The next week, they put her on
the table, opened her up, and guess what? No tumor! No tumor, not ever the
faint remains of one. I've seen legs made "even" several times, any where
from 1/2 inch of difference to 1-1/2 inches. They were sat in a chair, a
person would lift their legs out straight, you could see the difference,
and they would be prayed for and the short leg would lengthen.
In His Love,
Michael A. Kline, Sr. SSE
VDH, Technical Support
(804)786-1559
XVDHMAK at VCUVM1
Richmond, VirginiaUK3W@DKAUNI2 (Matt Will) (02/09/90)
Dear brothers and sisters,
there is a question I have and to which I have not found an answer.
I do believe in healing and that it is still possible today, but
since I have heard a John Wimber tape from a workshop about healing,
my question to all of you is: What is the difference of healing ministry
(which may include casting out demons, as far as I have heard and read),
and exorcism? Please send to me directly (uk3w@dkauni2) or to the list,
and thank you for your help.
Yours in Christ,
MattJIM@AUVM (Jim McIntosh) (02/14/90)
In article <CHRISTIA%90020809023800@FINHUTC>, Michael Kline <XVDHMAK@VCUVM1> says: > > Why doesn't everyone get healed? I don't think we'll find the answer, > and it will probably be one of those things we'll ask the Lord someday. > I've heard several different theories. It may be helpful to know that even > Katherine Kulman(sp?) didn't know why God didn't heal everyone, and neither > did Oral Roberts. If everyone got healed, we would live forever. Death is a natural part of life. It is not to be feared, since it is the transition to eternal life. We all have our time, both to live and to die. When God wants us to come, we're going -- ragardless of who is praying or how much. Suffering is another thing. Many times when I see someone suffering I pray that their suffering may be relieved, and that they may be comforted. I don't wonder why everyone isn't healed, as much as why this earthly life involves so much suffering. I see much of the world starving, and yet I see the mightiest nation in the world paying some its farmers *not* to grow food. I see people suffering because of war, and yet I see the mighty nations producing the arms used by the smaller nations in their wars. I see people wandering the streets, many times with young children, in a nation which could easily feed and house them if it chose. These are the things I wonder about. ------- Jim McIntosh (JIM@AUVM) The American University Washington DC 20016 USA