Miracles for Sale: The Business of Healing

It is a mockery to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to say that one must pay in order to receive a healing.

This post is not an attack on anyone’s faith. It is in no way a commentary on a particular church or individual ministers. It is merely my own beliefs about the manipulations I’ve witnessed in the prosperity gospel movement and among certain faith healers. Their manipulation of the sick and venerable amounts to nothing less than exploitation. How long will we as the united body of Christ remain silent as the greed of these individuals ruin lives?

Let the Word of God judge us all, for by our fruits are we known. But, this I know: I do not see the power of God in ministries that collect buckets of money as a prerequisite for healing. God has given me common sense, and I use it. Why aren't these pastors, evangelists, and self-proclaimed miracle workers speaking about faith and the love of God more than they are asking for one's money?

After hearing that one of these demigods would soon bring his 'miracle' crusade to a city near my home, I was sickened, for I knew Christians would flock to see this demigod as if he were Christ himself. Like mindless zombies they run to him, handing over there hard-earned cash and their most precious commodity. Their trust. And so, I write this post somewhat angry but mostly frustrated at the lack of common sense I’ve witnessed among the Christian community. Why I ask do they chase after these miracle-welding charlatans, givng them tax-free cash so that they can live in million dollar mansions, ride in the finest cars, own private jets, carry on love affairs, divorce their mates, and hob-nob with royalty? Why, indeed? Deception.Pure evil deception. These charlatans prey on sick and desparate people, those who hope against hope for a miracle, decieving them out of millions of dollars yearly. Matthew 24:11 tells us this will happen. “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”

The video I've included at the bottom of this post sheds a shocking light on some of the ways these deified mortals use hypnosis and trickery to lead people into deception. Do not take me wrong, I know that the gifts of healing is one of the spiritual gifts God grants certain of his people. I know one pastor who truly has this gift. He does not peddle God's gift. It is never right to make a career out of the gifts of God, or to fake  them in order to earn riches.

How God must grieve whenever these Gospel-peddlers deceive his people. The Gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be bought, nor can you purchase a healing. The power of God will not miraculously ‘fall’ upon you simply because you traveled to this city or that town in pursuit of a man’s self-proclaimed Holy Spirit ministry. If ya didn’t get it at home, what leads you to believe you’ll receive it if someone blows it on you in a far off place? What are you chasing after? A man. A piece of said man's worldly glory? Stay home, fall on your knees in prayer and get to know your God.

I know that miracles happen. True miracles occur in hospitals, in homes, in local churches, in the backwoods, anywhere that people call upon the Lord in faith. But God does not expect payment for said miracles. My own daughter was healed of a paralyzed arm. I never chased after a miracle-slinging man and helped fill his buckets of money to gain that healing. Nor did God require me to pay anyone 10% of my income so that he might pour down his ‘blessings’ upon my family. He granted my daughter a healthy arm because he loves her, because he wanted her to testify to his healing power, freely given. Through prayer, perseverance, and believing in God, my daughter was healed.

Please do not let my passion regarding this issue offend you? I'm so concerned for the hearts and souls of people. I cannot stand silent and watch the deceiving spirits of A-list church stars run amuck. I must cry out if only to say it for myself. Do not allow the glory that surrounds these church stars to lead you into deception. Use wisdom. It isn’t wrong to question the motives of faith healers who ask for your money?

Follow God, not men.

Bible Text:

²² And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.²³ And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.²⁴ For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. (Luke 17:22-24, KJV)

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (II Corinthians 10: 4-5, KJV)

¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:13-23, KJV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
²⁴ And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
²⁶ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22-26, KJV)

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

² Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
³ Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (I Corinthians 12:1-11, KJV) Actually knowing the entire chapter is good.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1, KJV)

²⁰ Despise not prophesyings. ²¹ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. ²² Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:20-22, KJV)

If you receive a healing continue to follow all of your doctor’s orders. Do not stop taking your medication! Go immediately to your doctor and have the healing confirmed. Why? Because some miracles only occur in the mind. The power of suggestion is a strong. Adrenalin and euphoria act on the body like powerful but temporary pain killers. God has no argument with his people using the medical community as a means to confirm their healings. After all, God wants his people to be wise and to testify of his healing power!

As you read this post and if you choose to watch the video, please pray for God to reveal himself to you, that he may remove any deceiving spirits from your life. And pray for those who perform the deceit. For Galatians 6:1 expresses that if someone is overtaken in a fault and they repent, we should restore them in meekness. I have serious doubts that charlatans are in the habit of admitting their faults, but one can always hope.

May God grant each one of us humility and wisdom through his word.

Helpful Links:

The Trinity Foundation (Monitoring and Investigating ReligiousFraud)

Description
With the cameras in hot pursuit, Derren faces his toughest project yet, going in search of an unsuspecting member of the British public prepared to adopt the guise of a pastor and miracle worker.

His chosen one then has six months to learn the trade and flourish across the pond as a convincing pastor.

The final phase of the volunteer's extraordinary challenge sees them attempt to perform faith healing miracles live in Texas, but will Derren's new recruit be accepted as a faith healer or cast away as fake healer? (from http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/04/derren-brown-miracles-sale-tonight-9pm/)