What is the deal with healing?

[christopher]

Michelle,

I'm very sorry for your loss

[Michelle]

Michelle,

I'm very sorry for your loss

Thank you, Christopher

[steve]

I'm sorry about your friend, Michelle—but mostly for the survivors, like yourself, who bear the burden of bereavement.

Given the expectation that death in some form will come to us all, whether in old age or in youth, a sudden heart attack seems more evidently merciful (and less like a "sickness") than many other alternatives. No glib answers to your question could ever be appropriate, but, if God had me slated for a fatal heart attack, I would beg my friends not to pray for my "healing." To be spared a heart attack would almost certainly mean anticipating a later form of death that could hardly be more desirable.

It really confuses me why saving faith is easy, but healing faith is complicated.

I think it is because salvation is guaranteed to those who have faith. That makes it more simple than believing for healing, which is not guaranteed.

[Homer]

Hi Steve,

In reply to Michelle you wrote:

I think it is because salvation is guaranteed to those who have faith. That makes it more simple than believing for healing, which is not guaranteed.

Does this mean that you understand the passage in James 5 to refer to spiritual sickness? In the Greek, it could interpreted to apply to either, but the "guarantee" would seem to rule out physical ills from the mind of James.

James 5:13-15 (New King James Version)

13. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14. 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. 15. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

God bless, Homer

[Michelle]

I'm sorry about your friend, Michelle—but mostly for the survivors, like yourself, who bear the burden of bereavement.

Given the expectation that death in some form will come to us all, whether in old age or in youth, a sudden heart attack seems more evidently merciful (and less like a "sickness") than many other alternatives. No glib answers to your question could ever be appropriate, but, if God had me slated for a fatal heart attack, I would beg my friends not to pray for my "healing." To be spared a heart attack would almost certainly mean anticipating a later form of death that could hardly be more desirable.

It really confuses me why saving faith is easy, but healing faith is complicated.

I think it is because salvation is guaranteed to those who have faith. That makes it more simple than believing for healing, which is not guaranteed.

Thanks, Steve. I wrote my post when I was in shock and frustrated. I KNOW that death no longer has its sting, nor the grave its victory, but it still hurts a bit to say goodbye.

[SteveF]

Michelle, I'm very sorry to hear about your loss.

I KNOW that death no longer has its sting, nor the grave its victory, but it still hurts a bit to say goodbye.

In spite of our assurance of Christ's victory over death, it's still very hard to say goodbye. In Acts 20 it says the following:

Act 20:37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,
Act 20:38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again.

Knowing we will never see someone again (in this life) is very saddening. Yes, we don't weep as the world weeps because we have hope but it's still very hard to say goodbye (for now). Death of brother or sister in Christ is bitter sweet. We are very happy for them being with Christ but very sad because we will miss them.

My prayers are with you,
Steve

[steve7150]

I lost another friend last night to a sudden heart attack. It really confuses me why saving faith is easy, but healing faith is complicated.

I'm with you, petomaryland. I have Jesus, both in this life and the next, (so does my friend, by the way) and I am rich.





Michelle,

Hi i'm also very sorry to hear of your loss.

[Suzana]

I wrote my post when I was in shock and frustrated. I KNOW that death no longer has its sting, nor the grave its victory, but it still hurts a bit to say goodbye.

I am sorry for your bereavement Michelle. It can’t help but hurt; even more I think if we don’t have a chance to say goodbye.