The topic of faith healing is controversial among Christians. Some believe that God can and does heal people miraculously in response to prayer and faith. Others are more skeptical and caution against putting too much stock in faith healers who claim to have special healing powers.
The Bible does record instances of supernatural healings, both in the Old Testament and in the ministry of Jesus and his followers. Passages like James 5:14-15 encourage Christians to pray for healing:
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
Throughout the gospels, Jesus healed the sick as a sign of God’s power and compassion. Healings pointed to the authority of Christ and the truth of his message. The book of Acts describes miraculous healings continuing through the apostles after Christ’s ascension.
God is certainly capable of healing anyone He chooses. The question is whether certain individuals today actually have a special gift of healing as they claim. The Bible warns repeatedly against false prophets and teachers who seek to deceive God’s people (Matthew 7:15, Matthew 24:4-5, 2 Peter 2:1). So Christians should carefully examine the claims and fruits of any self-proclaimed faith healer.
Several factors could indicate a faith healer is truly gifted by God:
- They give all glory to God rather than take credit themselves
- They do not seek money and worldly gain
- There are independent verifications of miraculous healings through medical evidence
- The teachings of the healer align with Scripture
- The fruits of the ministry indicate true godliness rather than greed and deception
On the other hand, the following raise red flags about a faith healer:
- Making exaggerated or false claims about healing abilities
- Refusing to provide proof or documentation of healings
- Focusing more on raising money than spiritual truths
- Immoral personal life or abusive practices
- Teachings that contradict the Bible
The Bible gives warnings about wonder-workers who may deceive God’s people through signs and wonders that seem to be miraculous (Matthew 24:24, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). Christians should always compare the teachings and practices of any healer to Scripture.
In many cases, faith healings can be explained naturally rather than supernaturally. Temporary euphoria or suggestion can seem like a miracle. Some conditions improve on their own over time. Apparent healings could be due to prior medical treatment or the body’s own natural healing abilities. Faith healers have often been caught manipulating their audiences and using plants to pretend to heal people.
Trusting in faith healers alone while avoiding medical care that could truly help is very risky and not recommended. Even those who believe God can heal miraculously today generally advise seeking medical help in addition to prayer for healing. This covers all the bases while still leaving room for God to work supernaturally if He so chooses.
The topic of miraculous healing is one where there are differences of interpretation among Christians. The following considerations can help us approach faith healers wisely:
- Be cautious and do not naively accept every faith healing claim at face value
- Compare the healer’s life and doctrine to Scripture to spot potential deception
- Prayerfully seek discernment from God to know if a ministry is truly from Him
- Avoid an overly skeptical attitude that could dismiss something God wants to do
- Remember that physical healing is less important than spiritual salvation
- Seek medical advice along with prayer for healing
In conclusion, we cannot make definitive blanket statements about all faith healers. Certainly, God is able to heal in response to faith. But Christians should exercise caution and wise discernment when evaluating modern faith healers’ claims. Earnest prayer, a study of Scripture, and an open yet critical mind are needed to determine if a healer’s ministry lines up with God’s truth and glorifies Christ above all.
The Bible warns that as the end times approach, false prophets and false signs and wonders will increase. We are told to test everything carefully and hold fast to what is good and true (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). As with all human leaders, faith healers are fallen people capable of deception, just like the rest of us. We should not blindly accept their claims or put ultimate faith in them rather than in Christ alone.
At the same time, we should avoid the skeptical extreme of dismissing all miraculous works of the Spirit. God is still active and working in the world today. With prayerful wisdom and discernment, we can balance reasonable skepticism toward claims of faith healers with openness to God’s supernatural work in people’s lives.
Some key points from Scripture on evaluating faith healers:
- Test teaching and conduct against Scripture (1 John 4:1, Matthew 7:15-23)
- Look for Christ-like character of humility, selflessness, truth (Matthew 7:15-20)
- Be aware of false signs and wonders (Matthew 24:24, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)
- Let love and faith be our guides more than supernatural claims (1 Corinthians 13:2)
The health and wealth “prosperity gospel” promoted by some faith healers should be rejected as unbiblical. However, we need not completely reject the possibility of miraculous healing today either. As in all things, Christ should remain at the center. Any ministry that truly brings glory and souls to Him may be considered cautiously and with discernment for potential authenticity.
Some conclude that the gift of healing was only for the foundational era of the church described in Scripture. But it is also possible that God still empowers some people to heal in miraculous ways today. As long as we do not make definitive claims beyond Scripture, room can be left for God to work in a variety of ways.
The bottom line is that faith does play a role in healing, but caution is needed regarding humans who claim special healing gifts. Healing ultimately comes from God’s grace, not any person’s skills. By God’s design, even prayer and faith do not obligate Him to heal, and we may not know His reasons. Our focus should remain on Christ rather than fixating on healing.
Miraculous healing cannot be either categorically ruled out or blindly accepted when examining claims today. But the Bible does describe healing resulting from prayer and faith throughout history. We serve a living God who may still choose to heal people in extraordinary ways in some cases when it brings Him glory. But wise discernment is needed, along with an emphasis on God’s sovereignty, truth, and eternal spiritual life over temporary physical relief.
Some key points and Scriptures on faith healing:
- All true healing comes from God, not any person (Psalm 103:2-3)
- Prayer offered in faith can result in healing (James 5:14-16)
- Healing is not guaranteed, God’s ways are higher (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
- Healings can authenticate the message of the gospel (Acts 3:1-10)
- Test the spirits against Scripture (1 John 4:1-3)
The priority should always be knowing Christ and him crucified more than fixating on supernatural signs and wonders. Wise discernment is needed when evaluating modern faith healers. But we can leave room for God’s sovereign freedom to heal however he may choose without elevating or relying overmuch on any individual healer.
Some key criteria from Scripture when evaluating alleged faith healers today:
- Do they seek publicity and praise for themselves or give glory to God? (Acts 3:12-13)
- Does money and fund-raising motivate them or spiritual truths? (1 Timothy 6:5)
- Are healings independently verified? (Acts 4:14-16)
- Do they teach sound doctrine? (2 Timothy 4:3)
- Do they exhibit the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? (Galatians 5:22-23)
- Are they living lives of integrity privately and publicly? (1 Timothy 3:2-7)
These types of standards from Scripture can help us discern between authentic faith and deceptive fakery when evaluating alleged faith healers today. Of course, only God knows their hearts fully. But applying godly wisdom and criteria from the Bible equips us to test questionable claims and build our lives on eternal spiritual truth rather than the shifting sands of fads and experiences.
Faith healers can tempt us to chase miracles while neglecting true discipleship and intimacy with Christ. Our ultimate hope is in our resurrection bodies at Christ’s return, not temporary physical healings now. By fixing our eyes on Jesus rather than flawed human instruments, we find stronger faith and clearer perspective about God’s power to heal according to His perfect will and purposes.
The “prosperity gospel” which focuses on health and wealth is unbiblical, but so is complete cessationism that denies God still works miraculously today. As with many controversial issues, wisdom is found by avoiding extremes and building our perspectives from Scripture rather than human opinions or agendas.
With careful study and discernment, we can gain balanced biblical understanding about faith healers that avoids knee-jerk rejection or blind acceptance. Our guidebook is God’s word rather than emotion, experience, or denominational traditions. Submission to the timeless truths of Scripture protects us from deception and points us to the eternal.