I have been reading a superb book by Michael Mayne entitled 'Learning to Dance'. It is set out in chapters for each month and describes the season changes in the world around us, linked to the the season changes in our life journeys: forgiveness, love, pain, faith, nature, science etc.
In the chapter entitled 'The Dance of Love' he writes how love leaves a mark and he quotes a passage out of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone':
"Why couldn't Quirrell touch me?"
"Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love... Love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a visible sign... (but) to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give some protection for ever... It was agony for Quirrell, full of hatred, greed and ambition... to touch a person marked by something so good."
Michael Mayne links this with how love can often cost us: time, money and pain - but he doesn't link it with Christ's love for us. To me this passage really highlights what Christ has done for us.
When we were still far off, you met us in your Son and brought us home...
Because we are so loved by God, because Jesus died for us, we now have this protection; we are marked and changed by something so good, that we can never be the same :)
Monday, 25 October 2010
Friday, 22 October 2010
Healing
I've been able to sit in on a couple of meetings with a Christian friend and a Jehovah's Witness a couple of times now and the topic we discussed today was healing.
I believe God can and does heal others today: physically, mentally and spiritually and often we don't get the healing we expected. Interestingly, the Jehovah's Witness we spoke to (and I presume this is the same for all) believes that Jesus had the power to heal and perform miracles and He gave this ability to His direct followers to spread the gospel and build the early church; but they don't believe we can heal today. They also think the gifts that Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians: prophecy, speaking in tongues etc are irrelevant and unnecessary today.
I found this quite challenging because being quite egocentric I had just assumed that we Christians are considered Jesus' followers, just like his disciples! I still believe this but was definitely challenged by a few verses which show Jesus warning against false prophets/followers who would be able to heal in Jesus' name:
Matthew 7: 21-23:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.'"
How can we tell that those who heal in Jesus' name are authentic Christians?
I suppose the crunch comes when they die - they will tell Jesus they did these miraculous healings in His name and He will say He never knew them. I suppose there will be many who use Jesus' name but have no real knowledge of Him and no relationship; that use His name for evil purposes.I think, when we heal in Jesus' name we need to ensure we are doing it with correct motives and with real knowledge of the one who brings true healing.
I believe God can and does heal others today: physically, mentally and spiritually and often we don't get the healing we expected. Interestingly, the Jehovah's Witness we spoke to (and I presume this is the same for all) believes that Jesus had the power to heal and perform miracles and He gave this ability to His direct followers to spread the gospel and build the early church; but they don't believe we can heal today. They also think the gifts that Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians: prophecy, speaking in tongues etc are irrelevant and unnecessary today.
I found this quite challenging because being quite egocentric I had just assumed that we Christians are considered Jesus' followers, just like his disciples! I still believe this but was definitely challenged by a few verses which show Jesus warning against false prophets/followers who would be able to heal in Jesus' name:
Matthew 7: 21-23:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.'"
How can we tell that those who heal in Jesus' name are authentic Christians?
I suppose the crunch comes when they die - they will tell Jesus they did these miraculous healings in His name and He will say He never knew them. I suppose there will be many who use Jesus' name but have no real knowledge of Him and no relationship; that use His name for evil purposes.I think, when we heal in Jesus' name we need to ensure we are doing it with correct motives and with real knowledge of the one who brings true healing.
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