I enjoyed talking with some of my old pentecostal and charismatic friends today, it's nice to get a different perspective on life than what I have been exposed to lately. However, like most of the church, I think the focus is off. The question being dealt with was "why doesn't God do more healings and raise people from the dead like in the bible?" There may be several theological, philosophical, or even practical answers to such a question. I, however, would like to add to the discussion by posing another question: Why would we expect God to do any healing sick or raising dead when we, as the church of the USA, won't even give a cup of cold water to someone who needs it? My charismatic friends want to point to a lack of faith, when in reality it could easily be a lack of love.
In a political discussion last week, I was told that the least important issue for Christians should be poverty. Yes, I said least. Of course, the charismatic individual who told me this was very concerned about homosexuals being allowed the same civil rights that all humans get under our constitution. I'm not talking about marriage, I'm talking about the simple right of being allowed to visit someone you love in the hospital. This person saw this as a central political ideal that all Christians should be concerned about, but called me "silly" for being concerned about poverty. This person also had great concern for abortion, which is a conviction I also share. He wants it to be illegal. I'm pretty sure it never will be. While many Christians disagree on the legal questions surrounding abortion, together we can and must pursue practical steps that actually reduce abortion rates. Three-fourths of women who have an abortion say a primary reason is that they cannot afford to raise a child, so reducing poverty and supporting low-income women is a good place for our candidates to start. Recent research affirms that social and economic support for women and vulnerable families are effective solutions to lowering the abortion rate, including greater access to health care, poverty reduction, adoption reform, and pre- and postnatal care.
The problem is, right-wing Christians have tended to think that abortion is the only "life" issue on the agenda. Recently, however, there has been a growing conviction among Christians that poverty, disease, war, the health-care crisis, human trafficking, the death penalty, nuclear weapons, and the worldwide deaths of 30,000 children every day from preventable causes are also key "life" issues. Neither political party have a monopoly on these issues. These are the issues we should be debating and trying to understand. These are the issues that are EASY to find coming out of Jesus' mouth in your new testament. If you want to live like Jesus, you must LOVE. Supporting "life" from conception to the grave is a very basic principal of such living. Instead of looking for a miracle show from God, perhaps we should put on a show for God....one of love for neighbor that makes Him applaud and say "well done, good and faithful servant" Shalom
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Here are all the comments on this post from Facebook and Livejournal:
Noel Stalker wrote
Holy sweetness, Luke! I 100% agree with this. I feel like the American church has been so focused on converting people over the last 100 years that it has missed what Jesus actually came to do which was to build his kingdom.
Emilie Rohrbach (Detroit, MI) wrote
at 7:41am yesterday
here here!
Wanda Hibbard Bolhous (St. Catharines / Niagara, ON) wrote
Not all charismatics feel the way your friends do. And not all charismatics are so focused on mircaulous healings. It's part of their belief system, but not a requirement.
I think we are so focused on preserving the first nine months of life that we forget about the other 70+ years. There are so many things we could be doing to help others. Can you imagine what a difference we could make if every family in North America supported a World Vision child? Or if everyone supported the (RED) campaign? Helping the less fortunate is such a New Testament concept, but how many of us actually do it. I think, generally speaking, that we (as North Americans) don't realize how good we have it.
Holly Fisher (Ocala, FL) wrote
AMEN!
Luther Savage wrote
Absolutely Wanda! Not only could we, as Jesus-followers, be supporting these organizations, but think about how we actually act in our day-to-day lives. What if every North American Jesus-follower woke up in the morning and prayed a simple prayer like: "Jesus, show me how to love like you today." Do you think the people we come in contact with every day would be treated any differently? What about the poor, would they be helped? Would forgiveness run rampant in the spiritual air, attacking the aura of revenge and bitterness that this world clings to? I believe we could change the world, but we have to change our focus. The majority of our churches have found built-in distractions to living a life of love. It's easy to do if you worship the bible instead of the Savior.
Katherine Ash (Detroit, MI) wrote
"My charismatic friends want to point to a lack of faith, when in reality it could easily be a lack of love."
I wholeheartedly agree with this quote.
I may have to use that somewhere.
Thank you for sharing.
Christine Kuyk Holzberger wrote
Excellent post. A true Christian, regardless of denomination, is defined by how they treat others. A very basic concept is that Jesus always met the person's basic NEED before he attempted to share a spiritual message. Sick were healed and THEN told to sin no more. They weren't told, "sin no more, and then you'll be healed". In order for Christianity to spread, Christians need to stop thinking about how they can personally become more "blessed"-whether it be financially, emotionally, or physically-and start thinking about how they can bless others. The whole "christian wealth" propaganda going on at many of these mega-churches is discusting. It is simply a show; a production, using a set to emotionally manipulate hurting people. As far as the perceived lack of miracles, healing, and the like, I heartily disagree with the question to begin with. Modern medicine, skilled physicians, and medical research ARE miracles. Our country has the wealth, knowledge, and skill to enable everyone living here to have an outrageously high standard of living, never before seen on the face of this earth. The problem is not God, who has given so many blessing to us, but the greed of those who think they somehow deserve to hold a monopoly on these resources.
Luther Savage wrote
I have to admit, Christine, that you are the first high school acquaintance to comment on one of my posts. I was anything but loving back then. Thanks for your input. I would add to your statement where you say "regardless of denomination" and say also regardless of political affiliation. I am politically a liberal thinker, and many Christians have decided to part ways with me based on that. That is, of course, their prerogative - however, we have to commit ourselves to loving others on both sides of the political fence.
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Noel Stalker wrote
good stuff
Crysta Hicks (Phoenix, AZ) wrote
Luke...you are either my soul mate or brother from another mother...I haven't quite figured it out yet. Who'd a thunk it 15 years ago!?!? =)
I love what Christine has to say, and agree with her 100%. Where do people think the knowledge and skill of our doctors comes from?? I believe they are our modern day miracles and "spiritual gifts". It takes faith to see that, not to ask for miracles of the Bible....that to me, is a lack of faith. I don't need to see water turned to wine, I need to see cancer being healed. And I have. Blind men see, the paralyzed walk and the clinically dead are brought back to life thousands of times a day. How do people not see those as miracles? Or are they discounting their God?
Wow...I could go on and on with this one... Well done, Luke.
Andrew Evanch (Detroit, MI) wrote
So... I don't know If I am one of those charismatic friends. I consider myself a follower of Christ. The last two years I have spend digging cover to cover through the bible to figure out how to reach people. It seems almost every five seconds Jesus was healing someone. Then He tells the disciples that they will do even greater things.
ACTS 9:32-43
32As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 34"Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up. 35All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas[b]), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"
39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
I would rather error in praying for the sick or dead to rise, than to miss an opportunity to further the kingdom. How many people have heard anyone pray and then called them to get up in "Jesus name."
Luther Savage wrote
Andrew, I don't know of anyone who would take issue with you praying for healing. Jesus, however, was NOT healing someone every five seconds, there was SO MUCH MORE to His ministry than that. Consider this: the very people (charismatic evangelicals) who believe strongly in healing as a modern-day phenomena are the same people who are complaining about a lack of healings in our country. Could it be, as I propose, a lack of love rather than a lack of faith? Could it, in fact, be a lack of proper focus? From a charismatic point of view, if you were to focus on love and practice actively living a life of love, is it possible that the very miracles you pray for might begin happening? Finally, keeping in mind that Jesus healed many people, ask yourself this: did Jesus walk around looking for people to physically heal or people to love? ......is our focus where Jesus wants it to be?........
Crysta, I was actually adopted so the "brother from another mother" idea could be relevant. But just so ya know, I'm not necessarily saying we should never pray for healing, I just want the focus to change. I see this as one issue, in one type of church, distracting the overall Body from the job of loving our neighbors and enemies. If the focus is love, and prayer for healing is something that naturally flows out of that mindset, I take no issue with it. I think it is possible for all of the various denominations to focus on love (which sums up all of the law and the prophets), without compromising their varying beliefs in other areas. I try to find "common love ground" for unity among believers, as you can see by my abortion comments above.
Crysta Hicks (Phoenix, AZ) wrote
Well of course...you can't deny the power of prayer. But that prayer needs to be done out of a genuine act of love and compassion....otherwise, what's the point? Just to see if God fulfills? That's not faith, that's testing God and I don't recommend it.
"Love one another" How much more basic can it be? Fundamentalists have sadly lost their fundamentals. They need to look down at those colorful WWJD bracelets and really think about it....
Luther Savage wrote
Haha I thought I had all the good one-liners. "Fundamentalists have sadly lost their fundamentals." Classic.
Holly Dyer Davis (Houston, TX) wrote
Amen! Thanks for writing this Luke. I also agree with Christine and Crysta about the modern day miracles. There are too many people who have survived cancer and other health issues to say that the doctors alone healed them. How would I still be here today if God hadn't given doctors the knowledge and ability to treat premature babies and asthma? If God wasn't a part of it all, I wouldn't.
Luther Savage wrote
Holly, it sounds like there's a personal story behind that comment (stating the obvious). Perhaps you could share that with me sometime. How early were you?
Jonathan F. Woodall (U. Memphis) wrote
Luke - I like what you and several others say here. In Memphis, we have lost 220 babies and have a higher infant mortality rate than some third world countries. Most of these babies are born to 12-19 year old mothers who choose life, the question I must think about is what life? these are women who live in poverty and most are single mothers. Abortion, infant mortality, and other problems are not political issues, they are systemic issues of both poverty and education (or lack there of). To say that the poor are not close to the heart of God is to totally ignore the compassionate Gospel of Luke and to not understand the Old Testament's teaching of Jubilee ( I recommend "Jesus for President" to you).
As for Miracles - I like what was said above - but do we realize that the ultimate goal or end of a miracle is not to serve humans - but to serve the God who made humans, sustains life, defeats death, and miracles are suppose to provide glimpses of God's power for people who have the eyes of faith and can see them. I think we make a mistake when we ask - Why isn't God doing this for us - as if God serves us!! We need to change this thinking to what is it that I do to serve God and bring honor to His name. I think we will one day see the dead rise - not for 20 more years of life, but for everlasting life - and with all of my sin and my failings - that will be the miracle of miracles!! My call is to serve God in the meantime, pray for people in need - and love. A verse that sticks close to my heart is Micah 6:8 "What does the Lord require of you but to love mercy, act justly, and walk humbly with your God" If we could just do that - the Church would fulfill its purpose to humanity. (Should I say AMEN!)
Crysta Hicks (Phoenix, AZ) wrote
"miracles are suppose to provide glimpses of God's power for people who have the eyes of faith and can see them."
That's what I was trying to say. Thanks....
Luther Savage wrote
at 12:33am
Wow Jonathan, you said a lot there! I completely agree with you, and I know all about "Jesus For President." I liked this quote: "... as if God serves us!! We need to change this thinking to what is it that I do to serve God and bring honor to His name..." That is similar to what I was going for when I mentioned that we should put on a show for God instead of waiting for Him to put on one for us. Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it!
Jon Noble (Abilene Christian) wrote
Andrew, Jesus touched the leper before he healed him. He spent his life among prostitutes and sinners. This is not to say that he didn't heal people, but healing wasn't for spectacle, healing is an act of mercy. Jesus restored people's humanity, or so the Gospel says. In fact, this is the very thing salvation means, ti means to regain the humanity that was lost by Adam, the humanity that we continuously steal from ourselves, and from each other. And the thing is, in this respect, to ask, why doesn't God show mercy, well the Christian is the hands and feet of God. They ought to walk the way Jesus walked. From a theological perspective, perhaps if they would spent time with sinners, and would show them human mercy, they would have the power to do more. After all, if you do not use the abilities you have, who are you to ask God for more. I am not speaking to you, persay, but to the movement itself.
Luther Savage wrote
Valid points Jon. The idea of Jesus restoring people's humanity (which I would agree with you as one meaning of salvation), in my opinion, begs the question: what does it mean to be human? My first inclination would not be to point towards physical health, but I'm sure you see a deeper meaning behind the healings than the literal reading of the text.
Note to readers who are not Jon: this does not address the issue of historical accuracy, it simply says "is there even more that can be read between the lines?"
So....what does it mean to be human? What needs to be restored in us to make us truly human, as imperfect creatures created in the image of Perfection?
Beth Harris wrote
Very good stuff here - can i come and play in your sandbox???
I'll give you my thoughts (as a former right-winger fundamentalist Baptist Christian).
I find myself torn between the two - social conservatism and reaching the poor.
Since I'm late for work, and I need my job to continue supporting efforts to help others, I'll have to read through all the comments later.
But thanks for asking the question!
Luther Savage wrote
Beth, you are definitely welcome to play in the sandbox with us! I have only known your husband for a short time, and already I consider him a mentor. I look up to both of you very much, and look forward to several years of iron sharpening iron. Are you familiar with Churches of Christ? Most Baptists have at least heard of them. Yeah, I have a fundie background too. Bless ya sis.
Luther Savage wrote
For those of you who aren't friends with Jon Noble (see four comments up), he has written a good and interesting take on salvation that fits right along with our discussion here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=13473904963 give it a read, you may learn something
Luther Savage wrote
Here are the comments from livejournal and blogger if anyone is interested:
From: firstcrusader
Date: October 14th, 2008
On healings--a friend of mine recently spent a year doing missions in Albania, where the charasmatic gifts are much more common. Her comment was that healings in particular were necessary--their medical system, for example, is much less established, and money is much tighter, so in a sense healing by prayer and faith was the only sort of healing they could afford. The economic crisis here may have an impact on our health system, but over here we're generally in a better place financially and have much less corruption in our hospitals, so we don't need to rely solely on God's divine healing, though on occasion it still happens, as in James Dobson's incredibly rapid recovery after a heart attack a decade or so ago. And, for the record, I'm pretty sure that most of the healing miracles recorded in the Bible involved the person trying doctors first--and at least once or twice, Jesus tells the people (the 10 lepers, for example) to functionally go get checked out and get the official clean bill of health from the priests, who were functionally doctors in many ways (see Leviticus).
Anyway, just an extra two cents if you get in these debates again.
From: luthersavage
Date: October 14th, 2008
I don't believe it's simply a matter of necessity, but I do appreciate your comments. In what ways do you feel our world would look different if we were to change our focus to consistently looking for opportunities to love others?
From: jenosopher
Date: October 14th, 2008
I read in Freakonomics that when abortions became legal there was a huge decrease in crime about 18 years later. Just one more reason that we need to lift people out of poverty--if we could help those women afford to bring up their children, we wouldn't have the need for abortions, and we wouldn't have lots of other problems either. "Life" issues indeed.
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