I believe the Bible whole-heartedly. I also believe that we must be careful with our interpretation of it.

The passage you are referencing was given within the context of the miraculous, apostolic gifts. Those gifts have ceased.

Now, we can pray for the sick, and God may be merciful to heal the sick person miraculously, but more often than not, our prayers should be both for the person's health as well as the work of the doctors and nurses that attend the sick, as God usually works through means.

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Posted by Mr. Misanthrope

Cloud 8

Member since Nov 2012

5568 posts

Posted on 2/3/23 at 12:17 am to FooManChoo

quote:
I also believe that we must be careful with our interpretation of it.

Your definitive interpretation of James may be one example where care should be exercised.

quote:
The passage you are referencing was given within the context of the miraculous, apostolic gifts. Those gifts have ceased.

The passage with added context:

quote:

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? 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:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Men praying for their afflictions, men merry and singing God’s praises with psalms in verse 13 are not contextually confined to the Apostolic Age nor have they ceased and nothing in St. James’s epistle disconnects or disassociates verse 13 from verses 14-16.

In my opinion, it’s ill advised to make definitive theological pronouncements relegating St. James’s instructions to the Church respecting calling elders, anointing the sick or dis-eased, and praying for healing (and the faithful, hopeful expectation of success) to the Apostolic Age and claiming them ceased, extinct.

I believe doing so inhibits the the Church and her members from obedience to God’s Word and exercising a robust faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

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Posted by Gatorsingreenville