If I Get Seriously Ill, Should I Tell Other People?

Yes!  In particular, you should call for the elders of your church and ask them to come anoint you with oil and pray the prayer of faith over you (James 5:14-15).  If you are so ill that you can’t make it to church (for example, you are in the hospital), this is what the Bible plainly commands you to do, and you are in disobedience if you don’t do it.  MOST Christians walk in disobedience in this matter.

Why wouldn’t a Christian obey this command?

The most likely reason is ignorance – they don’t even know they’re supposed to call for the elders.

Another reason is pride – “I want my pastor to think that I’m a Word person who can take care of this by himself.”  But actually, all you’re proving to your pastor is that you DON’T obey the word – James 5:14-15 in particular.  Word people obey the Word!

Another reason is failure to understand why you have a pastor and elders looking out for you, and thinking, “Aw, I don’t want to bug the staff – I know they’re so busy with so many things.”  But that’s no excuse for disobedience!  People with a bad self-image might have swallowed the devil’s lies that they’re not important enough to merit a visit.

Another reason would be that the pastor and the staff are all in unbelief when it comes to divine healing, and their prayers would NOT be prayers of faith so they would do you no good anyway.  If that’s the case, you’re in the wrong church!  You want to be in a church that OBEYS James 5:14-15 instead of being in one that DISOBEYS it.

Another reason could be that you are already in disobedience to Hebrews 10:25 by not being part of a local body.  Sorry, that ministry you like on TV or the internet is not going to come out and visit you personally in the hospital.  You will NEVER grow up to be a truly mature Christian if all you have is a “TV pastor.”  (See The Importance of a Good Local Church.)

Now other than the elders of your local church, should you tell your friends and family?  The Bible has no instructions on this matter, so it’s up to you.  (When the Bible is silent, I prefer to be silent, too!)  I understand that you don’t want some unbelieving relative slobbering at your bedside, praying useless “Oh God, Oh God, do something!” prayers.  In extreme cases, you may have to ask a friend or family member to leave, especially if they’re hostile to the gospel (or the healing part of it) and you have someone else coming to pray with you in faith.  That matter does get some biblical mention, because Jesus took people out of town in some cases to get them away from unbelief before He ministered to them.  It is not helpful having someone there who resents your friend who is commanding a sickness to be gone in the name of Jesus.

However, you don’t have to be secretive about your condition when you are REALLY in faith, because other people’s unbelief won’t move you.  Their unbelief cannot stop your ability to receive– unless you let it!

Especially if you’re a preacher, never be too PROUD to let anyone know that you’re in the hospital.  There is no need to swear others to secrecy or check in under an assumed or modified name to try to prevent anyone from knowing that you, the great man of power for the hour, had to make a trip to the Emergency Room.  You want other people to be completely honest and open with you, don’t you?  What kind of an example would you set for them by trying to hide something?  If they’re supposed to let you know if they’re in the hospital, why would you not let anyone know?  Besides, YOU should be calling for the elders of your church – I don’t see any exception in James 5:14-15 for ministers, including senior pastors!