Lyn – this is a question which has haunted me. I have not come to any real conclusion – being a “recovering charismatic” (meaning I don’t discount manifestation gifts but I am skeptical the frequency of them and I disown the obsession with them) at least partly because of the “demand” prayers for healing which never happened.

I suspect it’s along the lines of what you said – and I know the typical charismatic position is that God wants to heal everyone…but I think we must consider timing. I am not certain God wants to heal everyone – but if He does, I do think it’s dependent on His timing – but then how do we know? A word of knowledge is good but still possibly inaccurate for our own failing to filter words correctly. So we pray in faith, knowing it’s not up to us whether or not someone is healed, just that God has a plan. I don’t think it has anything to do with us or our faith, as long as we pray. God decides.

Sigh. I don’t know.

Good points Erin – maybe charismatic christianity has made things seem too flippant at times. It obviously is dependent on God’s timing, and I think will. We have prayed for people over the years who have never been healed, some of whom are no longer with us, this is what makes me think that God chooses not to heal everyone. I’m like you, I don’t really know either.

when i was about 5 months pregnant with our 3rd child, he was diagnosed with a “lethal” form of dwarfism. we prayed, we to the elders to be annointed and prayed for, we had people who had heard of our situation praying for us that we didn’t know – with all that prayer and hope and i believe faith joseph still died. the prayers for healing were answered because he’s completely well where he is now. i don’t understand why he didn’t live though. God is so mysterious – some miraculously live while others do not, even when the situations are so much alike. even though our prayers at that time were not answered the way i wanted or expected, i still pray. sometimes i wonder if it’s worth it or if i’m wasting my time – deep inside i know it matters – prayer really matters. i don’t know how His decisions are made – i just know God is good and God loves me.

I don’t know if there is a formula for healing which explains why it does happen and when it doesn’t. Classic kingdom of God theology talks about the now and the not yet, so some people are healed and some aren’t etc…

I wonder if this is a wider invitation to become involed in people’s lives – that it is about not just praying with people for healing but to keep being with them whether they are healed or not? That is of course harder as it leads to those Qs you ask Lyn – but it is also part of the need for christian community, of gathering together so we can support each other, as we struggle with the tensions of life and to remember the greater hope we bear witness too…

you might be interested in something i wrote last yr on signs and wonders

http://jasonclark.ws/2006/08/23/sighs-and-wonderings/

Whoa. Yeah, I’m definitely with Paul on that. That’s a good point where I had never put 2 and 2 together. In charismatic circles we were always so concerned with the outcome, never the relationship.

Paul, I like what you say: “an invitation to be involved in someones life whether they are healed or not” – I feel all pentecostal for a brief moment “Amen Brother!” Hang on, now I’m thinking about the challenge !!!!

thanks to paul too, i never felt community so much as when we were dealing with a difficult situation.

lol, thanks Jon, can you dance like a pente too??

You obviously haven’t seen him dance!

… that words cropping up again – relationship. Why are we not so good at community?

Great points everyone!