In the mid 90’s as a Youth Pastor in Columbia SC. Every week, our staff met other local SBC pastors for lunch. - I remember one week this passage came up and one of the guys asked what we thought James meant by it. There was a retired pastor, about 85, who would preach for many of the others when they went on vacation. He was sage, beloved, full of wisdom. Whenever he started to speak all the other pastors would shut up (miracle) He starts off with his deep South Carolian southern draw, “My dear brothers listen. I know God heals, I’ve seen God heal people when God’s people pray for that healing. But let me tell you a story from 50 years ago.” “I was a young pastor in a small country church. One summer 4 people in our congregation were sick in the hospital.” “They called the church and ask for us to come anoint them with oil & pray over them for physical healing.” “So, some elders & I went to the hospital, anointed them w/oil, prayed over them, & well, 4 days later, they all died.” “Man, we didn’t even bat .250 on the oil thing.” So we all got together & decided one of 3 things was happening here.” “I used the wrong kind of oil, or our faith wasn’t strong enough, or James might be talkin’ about a diff kind of healing.
(JAMES 5:13–15) IS ANYONE AMONG YOU SUFFERING? LET HIM PRAY. IS ANYONE CHEERFUL? LET HIM SING PRAISE. [14] IS ANYONE AMONG YOU SICK? LET HIM CALL FOR THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH, AND LET THEM PRAY OVER HIM, ANOINTING HIM WITH OIL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. [15] AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH WILL SAVE THE ONE WHO IS SICK, AND THE LORD WILL RAISE HIM UP. AND IF HE HAS COMMITTED SINS, HE WILL BE FORGIVEN.
