tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post2964762568300600981..comments2024-03-27T17:15:37.606-04:00Comments on Triablogue: Healers and healingRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809283662428917799noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-72758936799212119402013-10-28T21:15:43.106-04:002013-10-28T21:15:43.106-04:00i) One of the issues in the cessationist/charismat...<i>i) One of the issues in the cessationist/charismatic debate is whether the "gift of healing" is something a healer can exercise at will. Has God delegated that ability to the healer, to exercise at the healer's personal discretion. </i><br /><br />Right. It's not uncommon for cessationists to say the following:<br /><br /><i>Continuationists would easily smash the cessationist position if any one of the thousands of people who claim to have the spiritual gift of healing would simply clean out a cancer ward on camera with verification by medical staff...</i> [<a href="http://mennoknight.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/cessationism-and-continuationism-and-strange-fire-oh-my-part-1/" rel="nofollow">source</a>]<br /><br />Yet, from what I can tell, the overwhelming majority of Pentecostals and Charismatics (past and present) believe that the faith of the sick person has some determining factor in the degree and speed at which divine healing manifests. Only a minority of ministries have claimed they can heal irrespective of the faith of the sick person. For example, John G. Lake's ministry in the early 20th century, and the modern continuation of its ministry lead by Curry Blake. <br /><br />The Apostle Paul wasn't able to heal Epaphroditus or Trophimus at will or irrespective of their faith or his own. Maybe that's because Paul didn't have either the gifts of healing, the gift of faith or the gift of miracles and was only able to perform miracles and healings some other way (e.g. by virtue of his apostolic office). But besides Jesus, who in the NT was able to heal at their own will? I can't think of any. Therefore, maybe cessationists are setting the bar too high for continuationists.<br /><br />BTW, Curry Blake doesn't claim any special anointing or charismatic gifts. He claims (rightly or wrongly) that the ability to heal by the power and authority of Christ is the natural ability of every Christian. So, rather than teaching an elitist doctrine of healing that leads to pride [and to the "one man show"], it's an egalitarian one. This view, though a minority, is quickly gaining popularity in charismatic circles.ANNOYED PINOYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00714774340084597206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-76952091338344213322013-10-28T09:44:28.281-04:002013-10-28T09:44:28.281-04:00"i) One of the issues in the cessationist/cha..."i) One of the issues in the cessationist/charismatic debate is whether the "gift of healing" is something a healer can exercise at will. Has God delegated that ability to the healer, to exercise at the healer's personal discretion."<br /><br />Yep. Major issue. A distinction that has to be understood and represented accurately. Truth Unites... and Divideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08891402278361538353noreply@blogger.com