Does God Heal? pt. 2

Friends,

Believe me when I say that I need to write about this. There is a gnawing inside my stomach that is compelling me to spew these thoughts all over the screen. Before I delve into part one allow me to make a disclaimer or two or three.

First, you should know that I am no expert. I do not profess to understand all of the metaphysical or theological arguments that can and sometimes are made in defense of or in opposition to divine healing.

Second, you should know that I do not know that I have ever been personally healed by a so-called faith healer or by an apostle or prophet or by God Himself. I have been sick quite a few times, but usually I have waited it out and that has done the trick.

Third, you should know that I do believe in the God who does miracles. I could not believe in the Bible if I did not believe in miracles since the Bible is full of miracles the most important of which is the resurrection of Jesus. And I am not fully human if that is not true.

Fourth, you should know that I do think it matters what we believe concerning this issue. I think the main reason why it matters is because many preachers have built an entire theological and evangelistic construct around the notion that they have the miraculous gift of healing. I do not personally believe that they do and thus I am inclined to believe that they are deceiving people and preaching an invalidated message.

Now, this is not say that God does not use cracked pots. On the contrary, God will use whatever vessel He needs or desires to use to get His Gospel into people's lives. I am proof of this statement's veracity.

What I am saying is: Ultimately, we are talking, in one way or another, about grace. I have spent the better portion of my 34 years of life testing the boundaries of God's grace. I have not exhausted His grace--yet. He still loves me. And if I am certain of anything in this life I am certain of God's love for me. God's solemn declaration through the pen of Paul is this: Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus.

However, what is the means by which we come in contact with the grace of God? Is it miracles? Is it divine intervention? Is it being healed? Is it 'getting our miracle' as if a miracle were sitting on the shelf at the local grocery store just waiting to be picked up by the curious or needy buyer? I don't think miracles work like that. I don't think God has great warehouses of body parts just waiting to ship down to the highest bidder. Could we possibly trivialize the miraculous God more?

Furthermore, does God use miracles today in the same way He used them then? Then the Scripture clearly states that apostles did miracles as signs or proof from God that their message was valid, authentic, and truth. Does God do this today? Has His methods shifted? Does He use miracles for anything more than blessing a person's life? I have opinions, but very few answers. I do hope to explore some of this with you in the near future.

This is not meant to be a diatribe. It is not meant to breed skepticism. It is not meant to undermine the faith of anyone who has had a subjective experience of God's healing grace. I don't know, which is the final disclaimer, who has and who has not experienced a healing miracle. This is not meant to be a solemn constitution or declaration of agnosticism. This is not meant to be a theological treatise. If anything, it will ask more questions than it answers, and for this I will apologize in advance.

What I mean to do is simply explore some thoughts I had this past week when, in two thoroughly different settings, the subject of the miraculous was broached. In one setting I was able to speak boldly and somewhat confidently about my position. In the other setting I had to tread lightly on broken glass. At the end of one situation, I was applauded by a few who said that I had done well. At the end of the other, I parted company from those I had disagreed with feeling as if a giant rift had been cracked in the plates of Christian faith.

As I reflect back on both situations, I find I am quite discontent with the outcome of both. In neither situation did I find that I felt better when I had spoken to those who asked and those who listened. I suppose that is the way it will always be when we are discussing, quietly or vehemently, our position on what God's Word is saying on a particular subject. Is there only black and white? Is there room for the middle of the road? Are both positions correct? Just exactly what are we to believe when the question of whether or not God heals comes up in conversation? I don't know the answer to that last question. However, I am very much willing to explore what it could be.

So read along and interact with me. This could be fun.

DG