Healing and Wholeness: (18th November 2007)
[Background reading: Psalm 139:1-18&23-24, Mark 6:6-13]
A few years ago I knew a lady Minister in the Congregational Church who had an unfortunate accident. She trapped her left thumb in a slamming car door. She did some serious damage: To her left thumb not the car door. Indeed, she did so much damage that she was rushed into hospital by ambulance and found herself, a few hours later, under a general anaesthetic having major surgery on the said thumb.
The following morning she awoke, rather delirious with painkillers, to what can only be described as a ‘Walt Disney Thumb’: A thumb with about half a mile of bandage around it.
Now, the interesting part of my tale begins the following morning when she receives a visit from what can best be described as a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’-the Physiotherapist: A pretty young lady, with a list of simple but agonising exercises to do, three times a day from now onwards, for at least six months, and the chilling warning “If you don’t do these exercises your thumb and the use of your left hand will never be the same again!” And yes, you’ve guessed it my Congregational Minister friend was indeed left handed.
Today my friend’s thumb is as good as new. There are 2 morals to this tale: 1. Always trust physiotherapists (I have to say that because my sister-in-law is one) 2. Sometimes successful healing involves a bit of “tough love”.
Often, the teaching of Jesus, recorded in the Gospels, also involves ‘tough love’: Tough love which God gives for our healing and wholeness.
For example, in Church a few weeks ago we looked at Jesus’ hard teaching on forgiveness. “Forgive one another as I have forgiven you.”: A forgiveness born out of painful sacrifice but also a forgiveness which actually heals broken relationships.
Now as we consider today’s reading from Mark’s Gospel, we also find some Tough Love: What did Jesus’ disciples do when they were sent out on Mission? We read, “They went out and preached that people should turn away from their sins. They drove out many demons, and anointed many sick people with olive oil and healed them.”
Repentance, deliverance and healing: Central to the ministry of the first disciples just as it was central to Jesus’ own ministry. Aren’t we are little uncomfortable with such things today? They don’t sound very politically correct. Surely we would be more popular if we only talked about acceptance, tolerance and sympathy?
Now don’t get me wrong-in the right context acceptance, tolerance and sympathy are great virtues. But if we truly want to be ‘whole’ as human beings we need repentance, deliverance and healing. For we “have all fallen short of the glory of God” (as the Apostle Paul put it in Romans), and not one of us is completely whole. And what’s more, deep down, we all know it!
Now don’t think about anyone else at this point. Just think about yourself. If there is anyone who can tell me that they have never fallen short of God’s Glory, and that they are completely whole, then I will happily give up Christian Ministry here and now.
If there isn’t anyone who can claim this then I need to tell you that by God’s Grace, through faith in Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit-there is Repentance, Deliverance and Healing. But what do these things really mean?
REPENTANCE: Public transport has a tendency to repent. If you catch a bus, a train, or taxi from A to B more often than not you will eventually turn around and make the return trip home.
In the Gospel context ‘repentance’ is simply a return to a relationship. It’s an opportunity for anyone who wants it-to turn away from their failed sinful past and to turn back to the God who knows everything about them yet still loves them unconditionally and eternally. It’s the prodigal child returning back to the waiting and truly overindulgent loving Father. Yes, probably with an, “I’m truly sorry”, speech prepared but in the knowledge that the Father is loving, gracious and merciful.
DELIVERANCE: Now get all those Omen Films, Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV and Stephen King Novels out of your mind. Deliverance is simply to be set free from the ever present, subtle, yet insidious, consequences and influence of human sin in your life. It’s simply a free and fresh start in life.
Virtually everyone who met Jesus in the Gospels was delivered from evil in one way or another. It meant different things to different people. Sometimes it did mean a powerful spiritual liberation. Sometimes it meant something very practical. Let me give you just one example. Zacchaeus (that corrupt Roman Tax Collector) was delivered from evil when he gave half his possessions to the poor and returned what he had stolen from people, with fourfold interest. The Rich Young Ruler (that upright pious Jew) remained bound by evil when he refused to do something similar.
HEALING: In the Gospel context this is not the same thing as a physical cure but it may include a physical cure (even an apparently miraculous one!) Healing, as demonstrated by Jesus, is best summed up in these very familiar and simple words from the 23rd Psalm. “He restores my soul!”
The restoration of our souls is the beginning and the eternal end of God’s ministry of healing and wholeness in our lives. Its effect may spill over into our bodies, our minds, our spirits and our relationships; it even affects our interaction with our environment. But primarily it’s a soul work and a soul cure.
So let me pose three questions: Do you want to return to God? Do you want to be set free? Do you want your soul to be restored?
How and where can this come about? Well, here and now: Through faith expressed in a song or hymn, through a simple prayer spoken in the silence, through hands held out to receive bread and wine at Holy Communion, or through asking a Christian friend or an ‘elder’ of the Church to lay their hands gently upon you in Jesus’ Name and to anoint you with olive oil.
In addition, the Psalmist reminds us that it can also come about anytime and anywhere: For the Psalmist poses the question:
“Where could I go to escape from you?
Where could I get away from your presence?
If I went up to heaven, you would be there;
If I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there.
If I flew away beyond the east
Or lived in the farthest place in the west,
You would be there to lead me,
You would be there to help me.” (Psalm 139:7-10)
God bless you all, and may we all find healing, wholeness and peace as we learn to walk in the everlasting way!
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