Confused on some topics

[watchinginawe]

Now, with that I will say this: The faith healing movement is a scam. Not everyone receives physical healing. Sometimes God allows people to endure years of disease. Other times He heals them.

This is a tough subject, but I think the above is the core of the matter. The belief that God promises to heal every time as long as we cooperate is flawed IMO. If this were the case there would be no need of a gift of healing.

This belief stems from the doctrine that the atonement is always efficacious for physical healing in exactly the same way as it is for salvation. In other words, God has already done His part to heal us and if we aren't healed the problem is that we haven't received His promise in faith.

I know that everyone will not agree theologically with the following characterization, but look at what happens when I replace heal with save in my statement that I made above: God has already done His part to save us and if we aren't saved the problem is that we haven't received His promise in faith. Whether one believes in synergism or monergism in soteriology, the thought is still the same IMO: Physical healing is not a promise or grace of God equal with salvation (eternal life).

With that said, I believe we can, should, and are encouraged to approach God for grace in our time of need, and that includes for healing and on the behalf of others IMO. We are able to approach God boldly because of the atonement and because of the work of the cross on our behalf:

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

God Bless!

[justinbporter]

I think Ethereal Spark and watchinginawe pretty much hit the nail on the head, but let me add a little bit. Stand back from the directly scriptural standpoints, and let's look at it from a practical point of view.

When Jesus was around, he generally only healed people that he touched, and that showed faith. He could have healed the whole world of every ailment if he wanted to, but he chose not to - it would have been impractical to have everyone suddenly be healed of everything and live longer lives, and of course, doctors would have been out of a job for a while. He healed people who had faith and people who did not have faith, but their family members had faith (the story with the centurion who asked for his daughter(?) to be healed).

But, just because you have faith, and ask God to heal, he doesn't always do so. Why? Because then people would think of themselves as God! Think about it... if you had faith, and the ability to heal anyone because of your faith, aren't you basically turning yourself into God? When you can say when and where and who gets healed, you take God out of the equation, and you put yourself into God's role.

God has a plan for each and every one of us, and sometimes that means an early death by car accident or disease, or it means living into your 100's. Nothing we can do will change His plan. After all... "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" -Luke 12:25