Objection: James Said to Call for the Elders (a Private Situation), Not to Go to a Public Healing Meeting

This objection argues that any sick person should get private ministry from the elders based on what James said.  However, this is clearly contrary to Scripture, and it would wear out the elders in short order!  (This objection comes from a website that serves a denomination that does not believe that healing is in the atonement, but rather that every healing case is up to God’s sovereign will, as the objector also states.)

First, the context in James makes it clear that this is only for a very sick person who is bedridden and can’t get out on his own.  “The Lord shall raise him up” could only apply to someone who needs to be raised up!  (For more proof of that from the underlying Greek, read Objection: James Said That the Prayer of Faith Would SAVE the Sick, Not HEAL the Sick.)

Second, God put “gifts of healings” in the church, often going with the evangelist’s office, and the evangelist is seldom a church elder.  So this objection would have us waste ministry giftings by insisting that only the local church elders should minister to the sick.  (The denomination in question teaches that such gifts passed away, but that is handled elsewhere.)  This is tantamount to saying that the biblical office of evangelist has been done away with so that everyone must get private healing ministry.

Third, this idea contradicts Jesus’ clear statement that believers (“those who believe”) will lay hands on the sick and see them recover (Mark 16:18).  Few believers will become church elders, and their ability to lay hands on the sick successfully will be completely thwarted if only elders can “pray over” the sick.

Fourth, multitudes were healed in public situations during and after Jesus’ earthly ministry.  Peter did not insist that the sick people on the streets in Jerusalem call for the elders to be anointed with oil – he just got them all healed right out in public!  The healing of the crippled beggar at the Beautiful Gate was a public miracle.  Most of Jesus’ miracles were done in public as the crowds came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases.

If anyone cannot make it to church or a meeting, he can call for the elders as James said.  Otherwise, the person should head to church, a healing rally, or wherever the sick are being ministered to in the name of Jesus.