Recently I came across an old copy of Adventist World magazine and it says their aim is to “extend the healing ministry of Jesus through being practical in giving out love, assistance, medical care and advice on living healthy lifestyles”.
FROM THE PEWS BY CONELIA MABASA
It struck me as practicable and realistic. And indeed the Adventists have donated medicines, drilled boreholes, undertaken free eye surgery and offered free medical advice in our communities.
Instead of Christians, non-believers or believers of other religions living carelessly and then hungering for miracles, Adventists are saying scrutinise what you eat, take charge of your lifestyle, look at your indulgences and watch your weight. That would minimise chances of falling sick and a healthy body has enough energy to worship and share the word.
Once the chances of falling ill have been minimised, we also reduce the levels of desperation that we see today as people stampede for healing in “new-age” ministries which are mostly founded on miracle performing. And since the draw card is healing, people are not being born again, the knowledge of Christ and having a relationship with him is not being cultivated. People are also self-centred instead of being Christ-centred. People are not giving out love, but hunger for material gains and earthily comforts.
Christian belief tenets are so distorted that in one local ministry, the crucifixion symbol of Christ no longer has Jesus, but just the cross. The “prophet” claims the Christ was taken down, buried and he resurrected. In Christian faith, I believe that symbol must always be complete, with a body nailed to the cross to denote the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
Acts 3 v 1-10 captures the story of a man whose life was reduced to begging because of disability. The scripture says: One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer — at three in the afternoon.
Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
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Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognised him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
He was born lame. The apostles told him they did not have any money to give him; instead they made him well and he got into the temple together with them. This was a miracle to capacitate a man born infirm. After his healing, nothing was going to stand between him and working for his needs. He did not get into the temple to continue begging or to be further “blessed” through miracle money, but just to worship and praise the Lord.
We need to do a reality check on our faith; to know why we go to church. Let us go back to worshipping and praising the Lord. Not every ailment or problem requires a miracle, fake or genuine.
If we live healthy lives and are willing to work, make time to study the word for our salvation we would be making strides towards growing our faith. Let us not tire in seeking the truth about the word of God.
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