Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” vs. 14
James 5:13-15
When we feel sick we will likely go to an Urgent Care Center or to an emergency room for treatment, and usually some sort of healing will follow, sometimes quickly, but often after a period of time. James presented his readers with another option. Since medical services were primitive or lacking, he suggested they call the elders of the church and receive the laying on of hands and be anointed with oil. It’s likely that, given an option, most of us would prefer the modern approach. But there are some who periodically still follow James’ suggestion. Some congregations in fact hold regular healing services that are probably similar to those James recommended. There are scripture readings and prayers with the laying on of hands and the anointing with oil, and for many the experience is powerful and effective. So, do they work? Skeptics would say, “Of course not!” But others are not so dismissive. Healing is a natural and mysterious process, and no one can say exactly how it works or why it doesn’t. But there’s no doubt that there is healing in touching–that’s why the best doctors touch their patients. And what we know for sure is that prayer is a powerful connective tool in any community, and prayers for the sick are always appropriate.
Thought for the Day: What would anointing with oil mean for me?
0 Comments