Healing Requires Faith?

[Paladin D]

If I recall correctly in the "Benny Hinn" thread, there were some comments how "Faith is not required for healing".

I was looking around in the Gospel of Luke, and some of these passages I found seem to say otherwise.

Luke 5:20 - When he saw their faith, he said, "As for you, your sins are forgiven."

Luke 7:9-10 - When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Luke 8:48 - He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Luke 8:50 - On hearing this, Jesus answered him, "Do not be afraid; just have faith and she will be saved."

Luke 18:42 - Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."

Yet again, there were a couple instances that Jesus performed healings and miracles, even those without faith. Such as...

Luke 8:22-25 - One day he got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, "Let us cross to the other side of the lake." So they set sail, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A squall blew over the lake, and they were taking in water and were in danger. They came and woke him saying, "Master, master, we are perishing!" He awakened, rebuked the wind and the waves, and they subsided and there was a calm. Then he asked them, "Where is your faith?"

Luke 7:12-15 - As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

...Your thoughts?

[Dave]

Benny Hinn is a fraud, if you ask me. I wouldn't put any trust in anything he says. Besides, did you know he's a former Catholic?

[Paladin D]

Benny Hinn is a fraud, if you ask me.  I wouldn't put any trust in anything he says.  Besides, did you know he's a former Catholic?

Yes I know. I was just addressing an issue, that Benny Hinn claims that those who don't have faith (or keep it), won't get or keep their healing.

What is the Church's view? In regards to healing? Does one have to have faith? I thought these verses might say something.

[Dave]

I think the Church teaches exactly what the Bible says about the matter.

[Jake Huether]

I have studied a few of those passages.

It is interesting to note that on several ocasions, people are healed based on the faith of the one requesting the healing (not necessarily the one needing the healing).

I used this as a parallel to infant baptism. Christ's accepts the infant into the Church based on the faith of the Godparents.

[Brother Adam]

Hinn is a fraud. Obviously.

Take a look at Job. More faithful than most everyone today, yet God allowed Satan to destroy everything he had, and not because of anything he did.

God's timing, not ours, is important.

[Katholikos]

Faith is required for healing, but the question is, whose faith? One example is the centurian's servant who was healed (Mt 8:5-13).

You're proof-texting the Bible, Paladin, a very dangerous business. It will lead you into error. The Bible is not an instruction book in Christianity!

If you want to know what the Bible teaches about faith and healing, you must read ALL of what it has to say on the subject, not isolated verses out of context. Then ask what the Catholic Church -- who wrote the New Testament -- teaches regarding faith and healing, and why. The living, teaching Church is the context in which the NT was written, and it must be read in that same context in order for it to be understood correctly.

Ave Cor Mariae,

Jay (Likos)

[Jake Huether]

Hinn is a fraud. Obviously.

Take a look at Job. More faithful than most everyone today, yet God allowed Satan to destroy everything he had, and not because of anything he did.

God's timing, not ours, is important.

Yeah, Bro.

Hey, you should read the book by St. Theresa Avila (Interior Castles - I think).

I'm reading it, and she talks about how God will test us in this way (I'm at the 3rd Castle).

By the way - God's "tests" are not for his benefit, but for ours. The more God tests us, the better prepared we are to attain to His Glory in Heaven. So, when you tell someone that God is testing them - make sure you point out that it is for their benefit in the long run.

God tested Job, but in the prosess Job learned how to detach himself from earthly possessions. God was prepping him for Heaven (where we must let go of ALL our earthly possessions in order to be with God). And when Job had learned how to handle NOT having anything, God gave him 7X as much!

St. Theresa also elaborates on the fact that God will test those who are closest to him (such as those with great faith, like Job) much more.

[Dave]

Oops, I didn't take into account the times when Jesus healed people based on others' faith. Sorry. But that doesn't mean I trust whatever Hinn has to say.

[Paladin D]

Faith is required for healing, but the question is, whose faith?  One example is the centurian's servant who was healed (Mt 8:5-13).   

You're proof-texting the Bible, Paladin, a very dangerous business.  It will lead you into error.  The Bible is not an instruction book in Christianity!

If you want to know what the Bible teaches about faith and healing, you must read ALL of what it has to say on the subject, not isolated verses out of context.  Then ask what the Catholic Church -- who wrote the New Testament -- teaches regarding faith and healing, and why.  The living, teaching Church is the context in which the NT was written, and it must be read in that same context in order for it to be understood correctly. 

Ave Cor Mariae,

Jay (Likos)

I'll keep that noted. :D Thank you!

[Claudine]

Faith is much needed~ ;)

[VanHooty]

Well... now wait a minute here. It seems that everyone has concluded that you need faith to be healed, unless I misread everything.

Well... uh... what exactly are we talking about by healing?

Certainly, if God willed for a person to be healed, any person, they would be healed regardless of how much faith they had. So, if it was in God's infinite wisdom to miraculously heal an atheist, he could certain do so.

So... I'm not certain of you "need" to have faith to be healed. In the sense that I am using the word need.

Furthermore, like I said, what are we talking about when we say "healing?" Are we talking about physical maladies, or the misery of sin? One could draw parallels between the physical ailments of people and their sins. In essence, Jesus's healing of the sick can demonstrate how he might heal the spiritually ill.

[Paladin D]

Well... now wait a minute here.  It seems that everyone has concluded that you need faith to be healed, unless I misread everything.

Well... uh... what exactly are we talking about by healing?

Certainly, if God willed for a person to be healed, any person, they would be healed regardless of how much faith they had.  So, if it was in God's infinite wisdom to miraculously heal an atheist, he could certain do so.

So... I'm not certain of you "need" to have faith to be healed.  In the sense that I am using the word need.

Furthermore, like I said, what are we talking about when we say "healing?"  Are we talking about physical maladies, or the misery of sin?  One could draw parallels between the physical ailments of people and their sins.  In essence, Jesus's healing of the sick can demonstrate how he might heal the spiritually ill.

Mainly physical healing. But non-physical healing can be included.