Faith Healing Today?
An email question from Ilene:
According to Mark 16:15-18 after Jesus rose from the dead, he told his disciples to go out preach to all the lands, heal the sick, etc. How does this apply to men today? Can people today, lay hands to heal people through the power of the Holy Spirit?
Ilene,
Thank you for your question. I strongly encourage you to read the passages I am referring to here in your own Bible. Don't take anyone's word (not mine or anyone else's) for what the Bible says, rather, always read it for yourself.
First, read the passage to which you referred in Mark chapter 16 through to verse 20:
15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 17“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. -- Mark 16:15-20
Notice carefully that the command Jesus gave was to "preach the gospel." Then he says that certain signs would accompany those who have believed. Verse 20 tells how "they went out and preached everywhere" and gives the purpose of the signs and miracles: "the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed." The book of Hebrews expands on this: "After it [i.e., the gospel] was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will."
We see that the purpose of the miracles, signs, and wonders was to confirm the word that the apostles were preaching. This makes sense, since they didn't yet have the written New Testament to which to appeal.
We read in the book of Acts (a history of the early church) how the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost on the Apostles and how they began speaking in tongues (one of the things Jesus said would accompany those who believe in Mark 15:17):
1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
How do we know that "they" in this passage refers to the apostles? Read the previous verse, Acts 1:26: "And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles." "Apostles" is the antecedent for the pronoun "they."
A little later in Acts 2 we see the apostle Peter taking his stand with the rest of the apostles and preaching the gospel to the Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36). The crowd was willing to listen to the apostles because they were speaking in various languages (tongues; see verses 7-12. By the way, notice that the tongues spoken here are languages that the hearers understand!) If we read a little further in Acts 2, we come to verse 43: "Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles."
Notice carefully here that the signs and wonders were taking place "through the apostles" specifically. To this point, only the apostles are mentioned as performing the signs and wonders (or doing any preaching for that matter; see also verse 42).
In Acts 3, Peter heals the lame beggar at the gate of the temple. This miracle provides opportunity for Peter to preach. The Jews arrest Peter and John but because of the miracle can say nothing in response to Peter's defense. God is bearing witness through the miracle, just as promised. After Peter and John are released, the believers pray together and are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31) Still no record of anyone accept apostles performing any sign or miracle.
Now to Acts chapter 6. There is some benevolent work to be done and the apostles desire to dedicate themselves to the preaching and teaching and wish to appoint some good men to the physical task at hand. Here the apostles ask the church to put forward seven men who are "full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (verse 4). Among these seven are Philip and Stephen (v. 5). In verse 6, the apostles lay their hands on them. In verse 8. we read that Stephen, "full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people." Notice that Stephen was full of the Spirit before the apostles lay their hands on him but he is performing miracles only after they had laid their hands on him.
Now to Philip in Acts chapter 8. Philip goes north to the city of Samaria and preaches the gospel there, God confirming it with miracles (read Acts 8:4-13). As a result of Philip's preaching and the miracles, many believe and are baptized. Simon, a magician was constantly amazed (v. 13). A magician would know whether or not the miracles were tricks--he was impressed; the word was confirmed by the signs.
When news of this response in Samaria came back to Jerusalem, the apostles sent Peter and John there. Notice why in verses 14-16: the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them. The next verse (17) shows that when the apostles, Peter and John, laid their hands on them they received the Holy Spirit.
Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was "bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands," (v. 18).
It is clear from this history of the early preaching of the gospel that the apostles followed Jesus' command in the gospel of Mark to preach the word, and that Jesus' words concerning the Spiritual gifts were fulfilled--signs followed those who believed, and God bore witness, confirming the word through the signs and wonders. It is also clear that the bestowal of these gifts was at the hands of the apostles.
See also Romans 1:11 -- "For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established" The apostle Paul wanted to go to Rome to impart some gift. It hadn't been given directly, but needed to go through an apostle.
There is, however, one example of the Holy Spirit falling directly on someone besides an apostle. Read Acts chapters 10 and 11 for the story of Cornelius and his family. The Holy Spirit falls on them and they begin to speak in tongues. But, again, this miracle is to confirm the truth: the Gentiles are subject to the gospel as well as the Jews. Please read both chapters carefully and completely.
Today there are no apostles of Christ (see Acts 1:21-22 for the qualifications of an apostle) to bestow the gifts. Today we have the written word of God which has been confirmed by the signs and wonders we read about. There is no longer any need for the miraculous gifts.
In 1 Corinthians 13:8 Paul tells us that the miraculous gifts would eventually pass away. "but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
A couple of other things to consider:
- Today "faith healers" claim that there must be faith present in the one desiring to be healed. Is that what we read in the Bible? No, the Scriptures clearly teach that the miracles were to "confirm the word." Their purpose was to help instill faith, not to be dependent on faith!
- The "miracles" done today by "faith healers" are not undeniable as were the miracles done by the apostles and early disciples. The miracles were obvious in the first century: the lame walked, the blind saw, the dead were raised. Today's "miracles" mostly involve headaches, backaches, or other internal problems. No one is raised from the dead. No one is instantly, permanently healed of a withered hand, or given sight, or made to hear. No amputee is made whole, but instead is given the excuse: "come back when your faith is stronger." The miracles in the Bible were undeniable, complete, not dependent on the faith of the one being healed, or risen from the dead. (How much faith does a dead person have? None!)
I hope this lengthy response answers your question. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
In Christ,
—David Swanson