Access to Healing

Growing up, we had a birthday song in our family whose lyrics were a bit dark – although they were certainly true. Every birthday we would sing the song loudly, and as poorly as possible, to demonstrate our love to one another. This tradition has been assimilated by my own family, and even some of our friends sing along and have embraced this “rich” tradition.

Sin and sorrow in the air,

people dying everywhere,

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday!

This may seem morbid and strange to sing such a song to a six year-old; and it probably is! But, for us, partly because it was sung by those we loved and followed with laughter, it became a source of great joy. It was also a reminder that another day of life brings great joy, sadness, fear, and pain. We can allow the pain and the suffering to define each day, ignore it, or recognize that joy comes with mourning.

Lately I have been struck by the need for healing in our lives. I have seen marriages, bones, organs, and emotions in need of healing. One doesn’t need to look very hard or long before we become aware of the hurt, pain, brokenness, and wounding in the lives of our friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family. There is truly sin and sorrow in the air and people are dying everywhere!

BUT!

We also have access through Jesus Christ to the healing that He provided for us on the cross – for by His wounds we are healed! Too often this access to healing is dismissed as either not for us today or just some spiritual healing that has little, if any impact on our physical bodies. If either of these is true, then why would the Apostles, full of the Holy Spirit, include such clear instructions as to how to pray for the sick, how to anoint them with oil, and how to appropriate the healing of Christ through faith?

There has been a great deal of teaching about what has come to be called, “Faith Healing.” The problem with this type of healing is that the entire healing is based solely upon the humans involved and Jesus becomes the mechanism. The result is more condemnation upon those who don’t experience immediate healing or upon the one whose prayer was ineffective. Another painful result that we see far too often, is people spending ridiculous amounts of money to try and gain access to the “Faith Healer” and their healing.

At HarvestDowntown, we believe that we have access to healing through Jesus. We believe that it is our responsibility as ministers of reconciliation to get people to the feet of Jesus. We believe that all the blessings of Christ are only appropriated through faith in Him. We also believe that there are various gifts of healings given to the church so that the body of Christ may be built up. We believe that the prayers of those who are clothed with the righteousness of Jesus are powerful and effective. We believe that God always heals the person of faith, but not always in a manner consistent with our agenda. Finally, eternal healing is only appropriated through faith in Jesus.

Let us not forget why we ripped a hole in our building: We want to get our friends to the feet of Jesus so that they can hear Him say, “Your sins are forgiven. And so that you may believe, get up and walk!” Let us be reminded that we have access to healing through Jesus and we are called to offer this healing to one another and to our neighbors. No, the sick do not need to get into the building to be healed, but don’t church buildings regularly serve as a catalyst for the body of Christ? I hope that our Creating Access Initiative serves to remind each one of us of the ministry of healings that we have been given as the body of Christ. May we pray for one another and may we bring our friends to the feet of Jesus so that they may be healed.

Now, back to that strange little song. It is a great reminder of the life we have in Christ. There is sin, sorrow, pain, suffering, and even death all around us – but we have access to life, abundance, salvation, redemption, and healing in Jesus! Celebrate life with those who are celebrating. Mourn with those who are mourning. Pray for healing for those who are sick. And let us not grow weary in the good that we are doing in Jesus’ name.