19 Pastoral Thoughts on COVID-19
“And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately the leprosy left him” (Luke 5:13).
I know I’ll get into trouble for saying this, but as a shepherd over my sheep I need to point out the elephant in the room while the COVID-19 pandemic lasts. One of the loudest calls in the last few years has been that of so-called faith healers who have claimed to have the power to miraculously heal the sick “in the name of Jesus”. Their voices have been very loud on radio, on television, on the internet, and on billboards, despite the lack of verifiable evidence.
In comes COVID-19 and they have all gone deathly quiet, while over 100,000 people have died due to the pandemic. What kind of Christian love is this? Surely, this is the time for them to go to the epicentres of this disease and miraculously heal those who are on ventilators fighting for their lives. They cannot just go quiet.
When Jesus was on earth, leprosy was contagious and incurable. You did not touch lepers. They were quarantined outside the community and could only be allowed back into society upon being verified as healed by local priests. Jesus touched the lepers and miraculously healed them. He would then send them to priests for verification and reintegration in society.
In the name of love, may those who claim to have similar powers go and heal the COVID-19 victims! If the health workers do this alone—at great risk to their lives—let us not hear anyone claiming to have miraculous powers to heal the sick after COVID-19 is over. Anso!
(PS: "Anso!" is a warning or threatening word in my vernacular language. The closest in English might be, "Don't even try!")
(PS: "Anso!" is a warning or threatening word in my vernacular language. The closest in English might be, "Don't even try!")
“Perish policy and cunning,
Perish all that fears the light;
Whether losing, whether winning,
Trust in God and do the right.
Some will hate thee, some will love thee;
Some will flatter, some will slight;
Cease from man and look above thee—
Trust in God and do the right.”
—Norman MacLeod (1812–1872)
And basayese!!
ReplyDeleteAnso basayese!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this. I have been wondering myself as to where are these people who claim to heal people. I thank God because I got reminded that God is working, he will silent the false teachers and show their true colors.
ReplyDeleteGod is in the business of exposing fake "men of God" this year. They will be humiliated.
ReplyDeleteAmen Pastor... Indeed let us not hear any one claiming to have miraculous powers after COVID-19 is over. Anso!
ReplyDeleteAnso! Some things we're better mute than talk. No one at the moment is ready to put up a show. But behind the scenes it is happening.
ReplyDeleteThe powers in Question are from JESUS ! I do understand that there are false prophets out here but to completely disown that Jesus gave believers authority and power IN HIS NAME only to heal the sick is downright FALSEHOOD. See these verses that you know all too well :
ReplyDeleteWhat does the term ''FAITH HEALER'' even mean? would you say Jesus was a faith healer? Didn't Jesus clearly demonstrate that FAITH is key to recieve healing?
I also find it very spiritually immature for a senior pastor to mock his fellow pastor like you have done Alph Lukau. The intent of your HEART is what God will judge.
17And these Acts 5:12signs will follow those who believe: Mark 9:38; Luke 10:17; Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:18; 19:12In My name they will cast out demons; (Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 12:10)they will speak with new tongues; 18(Luke 10:19); Acts 28:3–6they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; (Acts 5:15); James 5:14they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Does God heal the sick today
ReplyDeleteThat is the truth.
ReplyDeleteAmen. The people need to read their Bibles and reject these many false teachers and fake healers they are so blindly following. Tragic. Matthew 7 talks about what will happen to these false prophets in the end on Judgement Day. Lord Jesus come quickly
ReplyDelete