The Healing Ministry of Christ
Often, when we speak of a healing service or ministry, there arises a sense of misgivings or doubts—even distrust. This is understandable as there is history of those who have abused this gift given to the church by Christ through the power of the Spirit. These abuses abound enough so that the church has become wary of appropriating this gift to the benefit of the church and society. Many times, the desire to start such a ministry in the church brings with it the fear of being condemned as promoting fraudulent activity. The trepidation of being thus labeled is enough to squelch the desire for many Christians to follow Christ in this ministry.
The Healing Ministry of Christ will be based on the Bible. The order of worship will be modeled on the books of James K. Wagner, Blessed to be a Blessing: How to Have an Intentional Ministry in Your Church, and Just In Time Healing Services. The following excerps from Blessed to Be a Blessing will help clarify why the church, the body of Christ, shies away from this responsibility, ministry, grace and privilege. Wagner, in describing his own foray into healing ministry gave the following three examples of discouraging remarks he received.
When I enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry program with the goal of doing research and experimentation in spiritual healing within the context of a local church, my cautious faculty advisor asked, “Can you use a word other than healing in the title of your proposal? That is a loaded word and will raise red flags in the minds of many people. Upon learning of my project, a woman in our congregation said, ‘I think I like the idea, but spiritual healing scares people.’ An elementary schoolteacher…said,’ I’ll try to keep an open mind, but I warn you I’m skeptical’. The author went on to explain why this occurs.
A large part of the resistance to this significant area of Christian ministry is the pervasive, negative attitude toward the word healing. To speak of healing outside of the context of the church is acceptable, but to suggest that the church should be involved actively in healing raises doubt and skepticism. Why is there extensive, unavoidable skepticism among members of our churches toward spiritual healing?...By way of answering, he continued, [c]harlatan faith healers who have taken advantage of people come quickly to mind. Movie and television portrayals of ministers engaged in healing usually accent the dramatic, physical recovery while overlooking the other dimensions of health and wholeness. Even though Jesus and [H]is early followers were active in the healing ministry, Christian education in recent generations has largely ignored the implications for today’s church. Faith in modern medicine and the latest technology has replaced faith in God…The task ahead is clearly defined—reeducation on the significance, the importance, the necessity, and the practice of intentional healing ministry within the life of every Christian community (the church). Let us begin with a biblical understanding of healing. Jesus understood and demonstrated the relationship between physical health, mental health, and spiritual health. The salvation Jesus offered included, but went beyond, spiritual well-being. Because He loved the whole person, His goal was to help each person become whole.
As Wagner studied churches and Christians who were active in the healing ministry, he discovered two categories: Christians who have a gift of healing, many of whom minister primarily outside main-line churches. The second category were those Christians who counsel and pray with people for healing within established churches, not necessarily claiming the gift of healing, but offering this ministry of love and compassion out of obedience to Christ.
The Healing Ministry of Christ will be modeled after the second category. Christ has given to His body the grace and invitation to serve Him and each other as we join Him in His healing ministry. This healing will be seen in humility, regeneration, redemption, restoration, and transformation.
The Healing Ministry of Christ service will meet each second Saturday (unless otherwise noted) from 10 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m. A free-will offering will be received.
Leader: Minister Belinda D. Mpagazehe author of Is God Good? Who’s Asking?
Often, when we speak of a healing service or ministry, there arises a sense of misgivings or doubts—even distrust. This is understandable as there is history of those who have abused this gift given to the church by Christ through the power of the Spirit. These abuses abound enough so that the church has become wary of appropriating this gift to the benefit of the church and society. Many times, the desire to start such a ministry in the church brings with it the fear of being condemned as promoting fraudulent activity. The trepidation of being thus labeled is enough to squelch the desire for many Christians to follow Christ in this ministry.
The Healing Ministry of Christ will be based on the Bible. The order of worship will be modeled on the books of James K. Wagner, Blessed to be a Blessing: How to Have an Intentional Ministry in Your Church, and Just In Time Healing Services. The following excerps from Blessed to Be a Blessing will help clarify why the church, the body of Christ, shies away from this responsibility, ministry, grace and privilege. Wagner, in describing his own foray into healing ministry gave the following three examples of discouraging remarks he received.
When I enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry program with the goal of doing research and experimentation in spiritual healing within the context of a local church, my cautious faculty advisor asked, “Can you use a word other than healing in the title of your proposal? That is a loaded word and will raise red flags in the minds of many people. Upon learning of my project, a woman in our congregation said, ‘I think I like the idea, but spiritual healing scares people.’ An elementary schoolteacher…said,’ I’ll try to keep an open mind, but I warn you I’m skeptical’. The author went on to explain why this occurs.
A large part of the resistance to this significant area of Christian ministry is the pervasive, negative attitude toward the word healing. To speak of healing outside of the context of the church is acceptable, but to suggest that the church should be involved actively in healing raises doubt and skepticism. Why is there extensive, unavoidable skepticism among members of our churches toward spiritual healing?...By way of answering, he continued, [c]harlatan faith healers who have taken advantage of people come quickly to mind. Movie and television portrayals of ministers engaged in healing usually accent the dramatic, physical recovery while overlooking the other dimensions of health and wholeness. Even though Jesus and [H]is early followers were active in the healing ministry, Christian education in recent generations has largely ignored the implications for today’s church. Faith in modern medicine and the latest technology has replaced faith in God…The task ahead is clearly defined—reeducation on the significance, the importance, the necessity, and the practice of intentional healing ministry within the life of every Christian community (the church). Let us begin with a biblical understanding of healing. Jesus understood and demonstrated the relationship between physical health, mental health, and spiritual health. The salvation Jesus offered included, but went beyond, spiritual well-being. Because He loved the whole person, His goal was to help each person become whole.
As Wagner studied churches and Christians who were active in the healing ministry, he discovered two categories: Christians who have a gift of healing, many of whom minister primarily outside main-line churches. The second category were those Christians who counsel and pray with people for healing within established churches, not necessarily claiming the gift of healing, but offering this ministry of love and compassion out of obedience to Christ.
The Healing Ministry of Christ will be modeled after the second category. Christ has given to His body the grace and invitation to serve Him and each other as we join Him in His healing ministry. This healing will be seen in humility, regeneration, redemption, restoration, and transformation.
The Healing Ministry of Christ service will meet each second Saturday (unless otherwise noted) from 10 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m. A free-will offering will be received.
Leader: Minister Belinda D. Mpagazehe author of Is God Good? Who’s Asking?