Tuesday, November 06, 2012

James Maloney

Last week we went to a meeting where James Maloney was speaking. He operates in a gift of faith and a gift of discernment. Towards the end of the meeting, asked people to go forward for prayer of healing. About a third of those present joined the line. These were people from some of the best and most alive churches in the city.

Seeing this made me sad and angry at the same time. These people believe the gospel. They believe that healing is part of salvation. They have experienced the Holy Spirit working in their lives. Those standing in line looked desperate, because they have not received what the gospel promises.

These faithful Christians looked harassed, like sheep without a shepherd. It make be wonder what is going on in their churches. What are the pastors and elders doing.

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church (James 5:14).
The Bible says that Christians who are sick should go to their elders. It does not say to wait for a visiting preacher from the United States. It does not say to wait in a healing line and hope. Something is seriously wrong.

My reading of James 5:14 is that elders are responsible for dealing with sickness in their church. My book on Healing provides insights for elders and pastors who want to get serious about dealing with the sickness in the church. It does not have all the answers, but it does have insights that will be helpful to those who take this challenge seriously.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Let's face it, we should all be kings and priests of the New Covenant, but people abrogate their priest-ship in preference to the vicarious pastor and their kingship to the Beast. Blind leaders of he blind. The problem with sick Christians is that they do not discern the body, not made with hands, forever in the heavens, nor do they truly embrace grace and forgiveness.