“Faith Healers,” Divine or Deceptive?

No, I’m not asking the question as it’s going to be pretty obvious where I stand on a question like this. This is another treatise from the Topical Index of Baptist Doctrine, but this one has some good stuff in it that anyone, that’s thinking about going to a "Faith Healer" or supporting a "Faith Healer" with a donation, needs to heed.

The good pastor starts by pointing out that many people in history, Christian and non-Christian, have claimed healing powers. He then begins a winnowing process by asking a series of questions.

“Are all who claim to be healers, both so called Christian and non-Christian, of God?”

There’s no need to put on your thinking cap, the questions are purely rhetorical and the good pastor proceeds to immediately answer this one.

“…many people realize, myself included, that heathenish healings are fabricated stories based upon superstition or at best illusions of Satan.”

Note the definitiveness of the answer. Never does it enter into the good pastor’s mind that God might have a reason to instill this gift in a pagan.

The good pastor then continues.

“Are some, instead of all, so called Christian healers and healings of God?”

Note the “No Admittance” sign to the idea that perhaps NONE of the so-called Christian healers and healings are of God. This isn’t a possible response based upon how the question is phrased. One can only answer “some” or “all.”

Again the good pastor provides us with the answer.

“I do not think anyone would be so naive as to imagine that all "Christians" who claim to have the gift of healing really have it.”

I’m certainly with you on this one so let’s not quibble over the question of whether ANY of the “Christians” who claim to have the gift of healing really have it. Besides, now we get to the good part.

“This brings us to the question which this article has been written to answer, Has God given us a pattern in His Word, which will clearly show who does and who does not possess this gift? I believe that He has.”

Badda bing, badda boom! The good pastor, check that, I mean the Good Pastor, has made a study of all of the 42 healings in scripture and come to this remarkable conclusion.

“The Biblical standard for healers is very plain. If a man has this gift of God, he will always meet the following Biblical requirements.

(1) He will meet the Biblical example and heal everyone that comes to him for healing.
(2) He will heal any form of sickness known to man.
(3) He will heal any illness completely.
(4) The total healing will take place instantly without regard for the depth of the afflicted person’s faith.”

I am certainly NOT going to argue with the man. This Good Pastor has taken the time to provide us with EXTREMELY valuable information. If someone, ANYONE, claims the gift of healing, then based upon scripture he needs to be able to meet these four criteria. The Good Pastor then warns against false healers.

“The false healer will immediately reject this standard. He will seek out exceptions to the rule and twist Scripture till he conjures up one. This conduct proves he is a false healer!”

The Good Pastor also adds some special emphesis on the fourth requirement.

“The claim by many modern "faith healers" that the reason they do not heal everyone is because the sick person does not have enough faith is simply a smoke screen to cover the ‘healer’s’ deception. Not one single place in Scripture do we find that someone could not be healed because they lacked faith.”

BINGO! You have it straight from the horse’s mouth. Even I’ll tip my cap to anyone that can meet the Good Pastor’s four requirements.

Every pastor in every congregation should read this treatise at least once a year. Maybe then we can put these charlatans, who pray upon those in the greatest need, permanently out of business.