Article August 13, 1990 Issue

Why turn to God for healing?

God's power to heal is unchanged. We may need to think more about how society's view of religion has changed—and why.

Lamar S. Smith

During a serious discussion about Christian theology, a friend said to me, "I agree that God is all-powerful, but how can you believe we're supposed to wipe out the evil and misery in the world just through prayer?" Her words were more a challenge than a question. They compelled me to look more closely at the subject.

I began by turning to the basis for Christian healing: the Bible, which teaches that the life of Jesus is the sure guide to anyone who desires to heal—or be healed—through prayer and spiritual understanding. Many, of course, share in this desire. A variety of individuals and denominations are looking increasingly to God for healing. Church services, conferences and retreats, prayer and Bible-study groups dedicated to learn how Jesus healed, are attracting thousands of participants.

It's clear that Jesus' early disciples considered Christian healing an essential part of their Master's ministry. The mentally ill, the diseased, the paralyzed, the sinful, as well as the lame, dumb, blind, deaf, and even the dead—all responded to the power of God, as expressed by the Founder of Christianity. When John the Baptist wanted to know whether Jesus was the Messiah so many had waited for, Jesus cited his healings rather than his words as proof that he was, indeed, the Saviour.

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