Physician, Heal Thyself

by Charles E. Murray

The newspaper recently ran a news item about Evangelist Oral Roberts, who is renown for his claimed ability to heal the sick. Oral Roberts is one of the oldest "faith healers" and has claimed the ability to heal for many years. The news article reported that Mr. Roberts was hospitalized in stable condition after mild heart attack. He underwent angioplasty procedure to reopen a primary artery that caused heart problems six years ago.

All of this is amazing to me, considering the fact that Mr. Roberts claims to have the power of the Holy Spirit to heal all manner of illnesses.

I remember watching a religious television channel some time ago, in which Mr. and Mrs. Oral Roberts were interviewed. They both claimed on this program that Mr. Roberts was miracously healed from a life threatening ailment through prayer. Without any medical treatment (and to the amazement of his doctors) they claimed that the condition miracously disappeared.

This leads one to wonder, what happened this time? Six years ago, he had a problem with an artery that is now giving him a problem again. A medical procedure was done six years ago, and now the same procedure had to be done again. Was his faith not strong enough to bring about his own healing. (Mr. Roberts claimed through the years that a failure to perform a miracle was due to lack of faith on the part of the one needing healing). Another question that comes to mind is, did God not completely heal the first time? Why was any surgical procedure necessary either time, if Mr. Roberts can do what he claims he do?

The above mentioned news article reported that his family said that Mr. Roberts is now recuperating and the hopes are that he will be up and going soon.

Several things need to be considered. First, Mr. Roberts might respond by saying that he has no control over when the Holy Spirit might empower him to perform a miracle. This is what many claim when they fail to heal someone. But, Mr. Roberts, and others, plan and announce healing campaigns months in advance. If it is true that they have no control over when God will use them to heal, how do they know that this power will be given to them months before the fact?

Another reason for his inability to heal himself might be that there is not enough faith. Again, this is often used when obviously a miracle has not occurred. But a lack of faith on the part of Mr. Roberts? Here is a man who claims through faith he can heal others! Does he not have enough faith to heal himself?

Every attempt to explain why he did not heal himself simply exposes himself as a fake. If God is really using Mr. Roberts, wouldn't it be a great demonstration of God's power working through Mr. Roberts, if his artery was reopened without the angioplasty procedure? Wouldn't you become a believer if, after the diagnosis, before any treatment was given, the problem just disappeared?

But Mr. Roberts is not alone in his claim to power. Many so-called "faith healers" are deceiving people and using them to put money in their pockets. There is no way of estimating how many millions of dollars each year are contributed to these "faith healers," by people who are gullible and who are led to believe that they can be healed by these "men of God."

Several years ago, Mr. Roberts was involved in the building of a hospital and a medical training school. Why would a hospital be needed, if Mr. Roberts could heal the sick? Why the need to train young men and women to be doctors and nurses, if he had real power to heal? In fact, if Mr. Roberts really had the ability he claims to have, he would be closing down hospitals and the need for doctors and nurses would be on the decline. Their services would no longer be needed if Mr. Roberts and others could really do what they claim they can do.

I believe I know why Mr. Roberts cannot heal himself. It is the same reason he cannot heal anyone. God no longer works through men like these to create faith. Faith is generated through the word of God, the Bible. Rom 10:17 says: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (KJV). Again, the scriptures teach: And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:30-31, KJV).

Notice that these passages reveal to us how faith comes. It is not through the miraculous, it is through the completed revelation of God's Word, the scriptures.

Miracles were for the purpose of confirming the spoken word in the absence of the completed, written word of God. Notice carefully these two passages: Mark 16:17-20

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.(KJV)

Notice also: Heb 2:4

4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (KJV)

Both of these passages show clearly the purpose of miracles: THE CONFIRMATION of the spoken word. Why did the word need to be confirmed? The written revelation was not complete (See I Cor. 13: 8-13).

Why does Mr. Roberts not heal himself? He cannot! He cannot because there is no need for miracles today. They fulfilled the purpose of inspiration and confirmation. Now that the word of God is complete, it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16); it is sufficient to make us perfect (complete) (2 Tim. 3:16,17); and It creates faith (Rom. 10:17).

Mr. Roberts and others like him should stop deceiving people and taking advantage of them in a financial way. People, often those who can least afford to do so, pour money into the coffers of these so-called "faith healers," making them wealthy. The faith of such people is not in God and His word, but in these mortal men who are using them.

Friend, "…do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (I John 4:1).

Put Mr. Roberts' claims to the test of God's word. Test every man who claims he has the power of God, by the word of God. Healer, thou art in need of healing, not a physical healing, but a spiritual healing.

Indeed, physician, heal thyself!