False doctrine and spurious systems should be exposed. The book of Jude challenges to
"earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). The
cause is revealed in verse 4, "There are certain men crept in unawares (who he calls)
ungodly men." These religious racketeers and pretenders have "turned the grace of God
into lasciviousness."
Christ said to "beware of false prophets" (Mt 7:15) because they are actually
"ravening wolves" who "serve not our Lord Jesus Christ . . . . and by fair speeches
deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rm 16:17-18; Mk 13:22).
One false claim is based on God's immutability, "I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal
3:6). The folly of applying this as an argument to support modern day healers is
refuted by David in Psalms 147:20. He pointed to God's dealings with Israel under the
O.T. saying, "He hath not dealt so with any (other) nation." Paul likewise revealed
"the Jew" enjoyed a great amount of "advantage" over the Gentile (Rm 3:1; 9:4-5).
We most assuredly acknowledge Him to be beyond even the remotest possibility of
variation, much less change. This we say of His divine essence, character, being and
attributes (Jas 1:17).
Further the Scriptures claim "God only doeth wonders" (Ps 136:4) therefore, He
empowered the apostolic witness so that "by the hands of the Apostles" men witnessed
"many signs, and wonders . . . . wrought" (Acts 5:12). Let us here mark well the fact
that after their miraculous empowering, "they healed everyone" (Acts 5:16). Before the
power was given them at Pentecost, they had a failure, which Christ attributed to the
apostles' "unbelief" (Mt 17:19-20). After Pentecost, "they healed everyone" until the
purpose for such healings was no longer present-at which point they ceased to heal at
all.
If any man had similar "power from on high" today, he could eliminate the need for
hospitals by merely "going about" and "healing everyone." In the days when men were
truly empowered by the Spirit to heal, the ill person did not have to believe or have
any faith at all in order to be healed.
Note again God's immutability. Christ's work is not all over and done with. Presently
He is at the Father's right hand as the Great High Priest of the church. By this He is
"saviour of the body" (Eph 5:23) but this work stands in contrast to what He did when
He came into this world. Compare I John 4:14 with I Timothy 1:15 and see the Father
sent Him to save sinners. In order to do this (Jn 3:14-18) informs us that He must die
and rise again. Again, we are informed He shall "come again" (Jn 14:1-3; Phil 3:20-21).
How ridiculous then for any sane person to affirm in the face of this three-fold work
of Christ that because Hebrews 13:8 states that "Jesus Christ (is) the same yesterday,
today and forever" that He is doing today exactly what He was doing while here on
earth. Furthermore, how stupid to argue that due to the text of Hebrews 13:8 that we
can have, should seek and expect to obtain the same power and gifts belonging to
another age.
Now as Lord and God, He changes not. Yet by comparing texts like Genesis 6:6 and
Numbers 23:19, we see His method of dealing with man depends on man's light and his
reaction to that light. Additionally in each age, the Lord's method of dealing with
man has changed.
Just so the method and manner of the work of the Holy Spirit has varied in every age.
He is not today "dividing to every man severally as he will" those same "gifts,
ministries or workings" of a miraculous nature (I Cor 12:11) which were only designed
to confirm the word until the Scriptures completed as to their being recorded (Mk
16:20; II Tim 3:16-17; I Cor 13:8-10).
Some "filled with the Spirit" neither experienced "tongues" nor participated in any
form of healing. Contrary to the doctrine of the modern healers, men of God in the
N.T. expressly designated as "filled with the Spirit" were not healed of their
infirmities.
Think for a moment of Timothy, Paul's constant companion and fellow laborour. His "oft
infirmities" and stomach ailment (I Tim 5:23) were never anointed, prayed over, or
otherwise healed. Trophimus, "whom Paul left at Miletus sick" (II Tim 4:20) is another
example. Now this was in spite of the fact that he had walked in perfect faith with
Paul according to Acts 20:4 and 21:29.
Next is Gaius to whom John the Apostle wrote the Epistle of Third John. Commended for
his faithfulness throughout the book, nevertheless he "was not in health" (III Jn
2-3). In fact, as more and more of the Epistles were delivered to the churches, the
temporary character of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit became increasingly
apparent. Indeed Paul was himself given "a thorn in the flesh-a messenger of Satan to
buffet him" (II Cor 12:7), for which he never received healing.
That the God of the universe can heal, if it is His divine and sovereign will, no
intelligent person would even question. Nor would any deny that He does such work.
However, the idea that certain modern day individuals have the gift to perform acts of
"faith healing" or "divine healing," I certainly deny.
Diseases, their causes and effects can be catalogued. First, there are those brought
on by environment. Included here are such things as unclean and unsanitary living
conditions, air and water pollution, the presence of an abundance of roaches, rats and
the like or the lack of sanitary sewage systems.
Next, there are those caused by over indulgences. Gluttony, the excessive use of
alcohol and other drugs, the use of nicotine or the keeping of unwise hours, even when
engaged for a good cause, may result in diseases or illness.
Plagues and epidemics and the current crop of viruses form yet another classification
of disease and infirmity, not to mention birth defects and etc. Finally there are
those which directly result from a disordered nervous system.
We should not leave out, however, those sicknesses that are God given for the purpose
of chastisement (Heb 12:5-13). Too, we could tell of the atrocities and maiming of our
servicemen in war time and those brought on by drunk and reckless driving, attacks and
etc. If these modern day healers really had the power that first accompanied the
Apostles' ministry while the Word was incomplete, which they claim, plus the decency
they very loudly preach then no greater service could they render their fellows than
to "go about and heal every one" as the apostles did. JM
"earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). The
cause is revealed in verse 4, "There are certain men crept in unawares (who he calls)
ungodly men." These religious racketeers and pretenders have "turned the grace of God
into lasciviousness."
Christ said to "beware of false prophets" (Mt 7:15) because they are actually
"ravening wolves" who "serve not our Lord Jesus Christ . . . . and by fair speeches
deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rm 16:17-18; Mk 13:22).
One false claim is based on God's immutability, "I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal
3:6). The folly of applying this as an argument to support modern day healers is
refuted by David in Psalms 147:20. He pointed to God's dealings with Israel under the
O.T. saying, "He hath not dealt so with any (other) nation." Paul likewise revealed
"the Jew" enjoyed a great amount of "advantage" over the Gentile (Rm 3:1; 9:4-5).
We most assuredly acknowledge Him to be beyond even the remotest possibility of
variation, much less change. This we say of His divine essence, character, being and
attributes (Jas 1:17).
Further the Scriptures claim "God only doeth wonders" (Ps 136:4) therefore, He
empowered the apostolic witness so that "by the hands of the Apostles" men witnessed
"many signs, and wonders . . . . wrought" (Acts 5:12). Let us here mark well the fact
that after their miraculous empowering, "they healed everyone" (Acts 5:16). Before the
power was given them at Pentecost, they had a failure, which Christ attributed to the
apostles' "unbelief" (Mt 17:19-20). After Pentecost, "they healed everyone" until the
purpose for such healings was no longer present-at which point they ceased to heal at
all.
If any man had similar "power from on high" today, he could eliminate the need for
hospitals by merely "going about" and "healing everyone." In the days when men were
truly empowered by the Spirit to heal, the ill person did not have to believe or have
any faith at all in order to be healed.
Note again God's immutability. Christ's work is not all over and done with. Presently
He is at the Father's right hand as the Great High Priest of the church. By this He is
"saviour of the body" (Eph 5:23) but this work stands in contrast to what He did when
He came into this world. Compare I John 4:14 with I Timothy 1:15 and see the Father
sent Him to save sinners. In order to do this (Jn 3:14-18) informs us that He must die
and rise again. Again, we are informed He shall "come again" (Jn 14:1-3; Phil 3:20-21).
How ridiculous then for any sane person to affirm in the face of this three-fold work
of Christ that because Hebrews 13:8 states that "Jesus Christ (is) the same yesterday,
today and forever" that He is doing today exactly what He was doing while here on
earth. Furthermore, how stupid to argue that due to the text of Hebrews 13:8 that we
can have, should seek and expect to obtain the same power and gifts belonging to
another age.
Now as Lord and God, He changes not. Yet by comparing texts like Genesis 6:6 and
Numbers 23:19, we see His method of dealing with man depends on man's light and his
reaction to that light. Additionally in each age, the Lord's method of dealing with
man has changed.
Just so the method and manner of the work of the Holy Spirit has varied in every age.
He is not today "dividing to every man severally as he will" those same "gifts,
ministries or workings" of a miraculous nature (I Cor 12:11) which were only designed
to confirm the word until the Scriptures completed as to their being recorded (Mk
16:20; II Tim 3:16-17; I Cor 13:8-10).
Some "filled with the Spirit" neither experienced "tongues" nor participated in any
form of healing. Contrary to the doctrine of the modern healers, men of God in the
N.T. expressly designated as "filled with the Spirit" were not healed of their
infirmities.
Think for a moment of Timothy, Paul's constant companion and fellow laborour. His "oft
infirmities" and stomach ailment (I Tim 5:23) were never anointed, prayed over, or
otherwise healed. Trophimus, "whom Paul left at Miletus sick" (II Tim 4:20) is another
example. Now this was in spite of the fact that he had walked in perfect faith with
Paul according to Acts 20:4 and 21:29.
Next is Gaius to whom John the Apostle wrote the Epistle of Third John. Commended for
his faithfulness throughout the book, nevertheless he "was not in health" (III Jn
2-3). In fact, as more and more of the Epistles were delivered to the churches, the
temporary character of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit became increasingly
apparent. Indeed Paul was himself given "a thorn in the flesh-a messenger of Satan to
buffet him" (II Cor 12:7), for which he never received healing.
That the God of the universe can heal, if it is His divine and sovereign will, no
intelligent person would even question. Nor would any deny that He does such work.
However, the idea that certain modern day individuals have the gift to perform acts of
"faith healing" or "divine healing," I certainly deny.
Diseases, their causes and effects can be catalogued. First, there are those brought
on by environment. Included here are such things as unclean and unsanitary living
conditions, air and water pollution, the presence of an abundance of roaches, rats and
the like or the lack of sanitary sewage systems.
Next, there are those caused by over indulgences. Gluttony, the excessive use of
alcohol and other drugs, the use of nicotine or the keeping of unwise hours, even when
engaged for a good cause, may result in diseases or illness.
Plagues and epidemics and the current crop of viruses form yet another classification
of disease and infirmity, not to mention birth defects and etc. Finally there are
those which directly result from a disordered nervous system.
We should not leave out, however, those sicknesses that are God given for the purpose
of chastisement (Heb 12:5-13). Too, we could tell of the atrocities and maiming of our
servicemen in war time and those brought on by drunk and reckless driving, attacks and
etc. If these modern day healers really had the power that first accompanied the
Apostles' ministry while the Word was incomplete, which they claim, plus the decency
they very loudly preach then no greater service could they render their fellows than
to "go about and heal every one" as the apostles did. JM
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