The Summer 2005 issue of the Journal of Christian Nursing, published by InterVarsity’s Nurses Christian Fellowship, addresses a topic of intense interest to Christians working in the healing professions as well as anyone who suffers from illness or an accident.
Former JCN editor Judith Allen Shelly’s keynote article, “The Mystery of Healing,” begins by describing an unanticipated healing service at her church and her own reluctant participation. But soon after she was prayed for, she noticed that she felt better. Then she faced a critical decision: Should she stop taking her medication? A friend who was a physician asked her if she was still taking the medication.
Of course, I replied. I really didn’t expect anything to change—besides, I’ve cared for too many people in diabetic acidosis who stopped taking insulin after someone prayed for their healing.
But she did stop. And in the past 30 years, she hasn’t had to take the medication again. On the other hand, many people pray desperately for healing that never comes. Healing is a complex topic that can be as simple as a child’s faith and as complicated as a professor’s theology.
The article goes on to answer questions such as: Should we pray for healing? Do we always get what we request? If a person does not experience healing, does that indicate a lack of faith? If you’re looking for detailed answers for questions such as these, you can access a pdf version of the article online. And if you’re looking for short answers to questions like these, there’s a special sidebar just for you. Several other articles from the Summer 2005 issue are also online. You can read those and get more information on subscribing to JCN on InterVarsity’s Nurses Christian Fellowship website.
