THE WORD-FAITH MOVEMENT
WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
By: Victor T. Stephens
"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears." (Acts 20:29-31)
CONFESSION AND HEALTH (continued)
Now, some words on James 5:14-16.
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:14-16)
This passage is one of the most misinterpreted and disputed sections of the Bible. James 5:14-16 has been used to prove that divine healing is guaranteed in today's church age by Word-Faith advocates. While that may appear to be an accurate opinion, such a rendition is not in harmony with the immediate context, the surrounding context, and related scriptures throughout the Bible.
Let's take a closer look by first examining the terminology of several English and Greek words in the text. Our definitions will be from the "New Testament Greek Lexicon."
The word "sick" in verse 14, translated from the word "astheneo," means "to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless, to be weak in means, needy, poor, to be feeble, sick."
The word "sick" in verse 15, translated from the word "kamno," means "to grow weary, be weary, to be sick."
The phrase "raise them up" in verse 15, translated from the word "egeiro," means "to arouse, cause to rise, to arouse from sleep, to awake, to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life, to cause to rise from a seat or bed, etc., to raise up, produce, cause to appear, to cause to appear, bring before the public to raise up, stir up, against one to raise up i.e., cause to be born of buildings, to raise up, construct, erect."
The word "healed" in verse 16, translated from the word "iaomai," means "to cure, heal, to make whole, to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one's) salvation."
A contextual evaluation of these words used in James 5:14-16 will reflect language that references spiritual sickness or weakness, as well as prayer as it relates to spiritual restoration. In the context of the entire chapter, James writes to an assembly of Jewish believers who became spiritually weak under oppression and threats of persecution.
In the Old Testament, Isaiah 40:29-31 says:
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:29-31)
In the New Testament, Hebrews 12:1-3 says:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Heb. 12:1-3)
Matthew 26:41, 1 Corinthians 15:43, and 1 Corinthians 8:9-12 state:
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matt. 26:41)
"It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power." (1 Cor. 15:43)
"Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol's temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ." (1 Cor. 8:9-12)
These passages and others found throughout the Bible illustrate that Christians can become spiritually weak and discouraged due to afflictions resulting from physical illness, temptations, persecution, depression, etc.
In James 5:14, because some believers were spiritually weak, they were to call for the elders, who are the spiritually strong and mature leaders of the local church. First Thessalonians 5:14 says:
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” (1 Thess. 5:14, emphasis mine)
The elders comforted the spiritually weakened believers in the assembly by giving them spiritual counsel, prayer, and anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. Those spiritual warriors who suffered physical wounds from persecution were treated with oil since it has therapeutic value (Luke 10:34).
Verse 15 says, "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up." In other words, the Lord promises to "restore," "strengthen," and "raise up" those who are spiritually sick (weak). Verse 15 also points out that if anyone committed sins, shall receive forgiveness. Perhaps these believers committed obvious sins while in their state of spiritual weakness. If anyone sinned, it hindered their relationship with God and possibly with others. But, in His infinite love and mercy, God promised forgiveness for those who confessed their sins. James says in verse 16:
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
The first Book of John 1:9 says:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
(1 John 1:9)
Confession of sins is a chief constituent of spiritual restitution. That is the type of healing guaranteed in this life. Thus again, the context of James 5:14-16 is spiritual restoration, with the Greek word “astheneo” alluding to spiritual weakness, not physical sickness.
We should always ask for God's healing in prayer. It should be one of our primary decisions. However, we should now clearly understand that John 5:14-16 does not support a church practice that obligates God to automatically admit requests for immediate and guaranteed physical healing for everyone.
Although at first glance James 5:14-16 may have the appearance to reference a promise of immediate physical healing outright, it is parked among other scriptures within the Bible which refute such an idea. God's Word must be read in the context of the surrounding text and interpreted using the entire tenor of Scripture. All Scripture should be taken into consideration when shaping our beliefs. It is inappropriate to rely on one verse or passage in isolation to build a doctrine.
Next: Further Considerations about Sickness.
