Is ‘divine healing’ in the 'faith movement’ founded on the principles of healing in the Bible or based on the power of the mind?

摘要

Many people plagued with incurable diseases or diseases that seem to be resistant to medicaltreatment, in desperation turn to preachers who claim to administer divine healing. These divinehealers make certain claims, based on their interpretation of the Scriptures and a so-called revelationof God’s will. They furthermore preach that healing and health are included in atonement and thatnobody should be sick. Illness is an indication of a lack of faith on the part of the believer. It couldalso be attributed to an attack from the devil. In order to obtain healing, a process of ignoring thesymptoms, followed by an unyielding and repeated confession of the healing needed, based onselected verses from the Scriptures, is proposed.This article is based on the contention that the healing practised by these divine healers is nothingmore than a ‘mind-over-matter’ approach, leading people into confessing over and over that theyhave been healed. These practices are reminiscent of the utilisation of affi rmations that lead topositive thinking, which will evidently result in a change of behaviour on the part of the confessor.No indication of Godly intervention seems to be evident in this healing ministry, and neither is anysubmission to the will and purpose of God.