The theme music begins to play as the camera moves in for a close-up. "So, fa-riends, if you want to be free from each and every illness, write today. And for a donation of just twenty dollars, I'll send you my latest book . . ."

I quickly change the channel and reach for another glass of orange juice and a handful of tissues. I wish getting over a cold was as simple as commanding, "Come out, foul spirits of post-nasal drip!"

As I study God's Word, I am compelled to believe in divine healing:

"[The Lord] forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases" (Psalm 103:3).

Christ "bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

But as I study God's Word, I also become more and more suspicious of some faith healers' messages and methods.

1. I'm suspicious of those who are constantly casting out demons of asthma, blindness, cancer, diabetes, and the rest of the anatomical alphabet.

Romans 8:20-21 clearly points out that illness in general is a result of the fall and the human sin condition. But Matthew 4:24, 10:1, and 10:8 reveal that individual illnesses are not satanically inspired. The disciple makes a clear distinction between diseases and demon activity.

2. I'm suspicious of those who promise healing for every disease.

The Apostle Paul definitely had the gift of healing. Acts 19 records that "God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illness were cured and the evil spirits left them." Acts 20 tell us he even raised the dead!

But even with this impressive record, God did not always answer Paul's prayers for physical healing. The apostle advised Timothy, "Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses" (1 Timothy 5:23, italics mine).

In 2 Timothy 4:20 we read that Paul "left Trophimus sick in Miletus." And his three prayers for his "thorn in the flesh" were not answered with physical healing (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

3. I'm suspicious of those who make healing the focus of their public ministry.

Thirty-seven accounts of healing are detailed in the Gospels and Acts. Only ten occurred with a crowd present. Twelve occurred in small groups and fifteen in private settings.

Rarely today do we hear Christ's admonition to the healed, "Don't tell anyone!" Instead, we have weekly television programs featuring healing services, and monthly mailings with a plague of pictures of the "healer."

Genuine healers will be more concerned about God's kingdom being built up than their own.

Moses' leprous hand was healed, not to impress the Egyptians, but ". . . so that they may believe that the Lord . . . has appeared to you" (Exodus 4:5).

Jesus says, "Even though you don't believe me, believe the miracles, that you may learn and understand that the Father is me, and I in the Father" (John 10:38).

The Apostle John writes that the purpose of miracles is "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).

If my healing will draw attention to God and advance His kingdom, then He will heal me. But if, like Paul, God can be glorified in me through emotional and spiritual--but not bodily--healing, He may choose not to heal me physically. Regardless, it is His kingdom's advancement that must be the focus.

4. I'm suspicious of those who use healing as a fund raiser.

There is not one account in the Gospels or the book of Acts of any money being exchanged or donated during a healing.

Instead, when Simon, a recent convert and ex-sorcerer, asked to "buy" the Holy Spirit's power to work miracles, Peter shouts, "May you money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God" (Acts 8:20-21).

Yet, recently, a famous faith healer boasted of making five million dollars annually from his healing "ministry." Very different from Peter and John, who had no "silver or gold," when they healed the man crippled from birth (Acts 3:6)!

5. Finally, I'm suspicious of those who belittle medical treatment.

God has given us wisdom to understand these "fearfully and wonderfully made" bodies. And it behooves us to treat our bodies well with the medical knowledge our world possess and to take advantage of the medical treatments available to us.

And if we have been supernaturally healed, it can be humanly verified. Often, when Jesus healed leprosy and other diseases, he ordered them to go the priests--which served as the public health officers of the day--to have the healing verified.

And, so if you believe you have been healed, do not make any changes in your activities or medications until a doctor can verify the healing. Unfortunately, there are tales of diabetics who felt they were delivered, ate a chocolate cake to celebrate their "miracle," and immediately went into a near-fatal insulin coma.

In conclusion, there are faith healers and there are fake healers.

Some "heal" actors from the audience. Some have mastered psychological techniques to make people believe they have been healed. Others use the victim's normal remission of disease as "proof" of their healing powers. Some may even perform real miracles using Satanic power. Matthew 24:24 warns that "false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible."

But the Holy Spirit will help us discern those who are using human or Satanic powers to accomplish "healings" with two simple questions.

(1) Who's getting the blame for the illness? If "demons" are the only cause the "healer" accepts, he or she is probably not legitimate.

(2) Who's getting the credit for the healing? From the infertile, ninety-year-old Sarah giving birth to Issac to the dead who are raised in the book of Revelation, God and His power is the focus. Not the "healer" or the "healed."

We do serve a God who continues to perform miracles.

And my cold? It's much better, thank you.

(c) James N. Watkins

I read your article re faith healers & I agree some are not the real deal but I have to disagree with your statement that Jesus does not heal all who come to him. You cannot have salvation for the sole & salvation of the body seperate. You cannot have one & not the other.

Show me one section in the bible where Jesus refused to heal anyone. The only time he did not heal anyone wwere some people from his home town. Jesus wanted to heal them but they did not believe.

You quote certain sections of scripture the most obvious is the Thorn in Pauls flesh. I will shoot your theory down very quickly. The term thorn in the flesh is not a disease but the messenger of Satan Ie people persicuting him. Now to prove this you must read the old testament where the term in the flesh is used at least three times. Read the folloing ie Numbers 33:55, Judges 2:3, & Joshue 12:12-13.

Please do not undermine Jesus's ministry & do not weaken his power.

Also another tip. Read the Abrahamic covenant & you will see that most of the promises relates to us Gentiles as well & Jesus refers to it in the New testament.

It is this lukewarm approach to Jesus's miracles that result in fewer miracles

Believe in the word of god & please4 before you write such articles do your research

One of Jesus's strongest believers scoulouj@optusnet.com.au

Thanks for writing. While I firmly disagree with your interpretation of Scripture (see What does the Bible really say?), I don't want to argue. Rather, I'd like to let my friend Chris Maxwell respond. He is a godly pastor who had a severe brain seizure. While he is filled with faith and the Spirit, and has had the elders anoint him for healing, he is still not physically healed. But Jesus has certainly healed his spirit. He writes:

I can read notes from my friend, teacher and therapist, the Apostle Paul, who confessed an illness in a way that appears to be a positive confession, an announcement of victory through an illness not just once the disability disappears. I also notice stories about a midnight blessing causing a lifetime limp, Billy Graham's attitude while battling Parkinson, Joni's voice while singing her way to victory amid her ongoing battle, and many others who know it is okay to admit weakness while believing God's strength is made perfect in our weaknesses.

When I write about my seizures and my brain damage, I feel like David confessing releases of poetic prayers. It also helps me defeat the fear of any Goliath, any disability's side-effect, any view of a famous leader who might blame my illness on a lack of faith. I blame it on living life in a fallen world where the second law of thermodynamics fits Christians and non-Christians both. My confession is very positive, holding on to the belief that God's strength is made perfect in my weakness. And, because I struggle to spell since my left temporal lobe was damaged, I'll spell "faith" this way: "I'm not alone."

These days I love knowing my Father is with me in my ongoing storm.

Chris Maxwell

Read his powerful testimony in Christianity Today