Theological Reflections

Volume 3, Issue 1 – May 2025

Healing through Prayer, Not Power: A Theological Reflection on James 5 and the Means of Divine Healing Today

Date: 11 May 2025

Author: Dr. Chansamone Saiyasak (Professor of Religious Studies and Missology), Theological Commissions of Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand & Asia Evangelical Alliance (a WEA-Regional Alliance) | Author’s Profile

In a time when spiritual hunger meets with sensational claims, the question of divine healing continues to stir hope, confusion, and controversy in the church. While many associate healing with spectacular displays or individuals endowed with supernatural gifts, the apostle James offers a strikingly quiet, pastoral, and theologically rich alternative. In James 5:14–16, we find no mention of miraculous power being wielded by individuals, no expectation of public spectacle, and no suggestion of a continuing spiritual office of healing. Instead, we are invited into a space of prayer, humility, pastoral care, confession, and the sovereign working of God. This passage deserves careful theological reflection because it reveals a biblically grounded pattern for healing in the life of the church—one that emphasizes God’s providence, not human giftedness.

The Text and Its Plain Meaning

James writes, “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. 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” (James 5:14–15, ESV). At first glance, this is a straightforward pastoral instruction. Yet upon closer examination, its theological implications are profound.

The initiative rests not on a spiritual healer or miracle worker, but on the sick person seeking the ministry of church elders. These elders are not described as possessing a “gift of healing,” nor are they commanded to work signs and wonders. Rather, they are to pray. The phrase “the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick” emphasizes that the healing power rests not in a gift, but in faith-filled dependence on God. Moreover, James adds that “the Lord will raise him up”—a clear indication that God is the active agent, not the elders themselves. The role of the elders is mediatory through prayer; the result belongs to God.

Healing as an Expression of God’s Sovereign Grace

The theological framework of James 5 affirms that healing, if it happens, is an act of God’s mercy and sovereignty, not the result of a resident spiritual gift exercised at will. Unlike in a certain stream of Christian theology—where healing is often tied to particular individuals who are believed to be gifted—James presents a model rooted in ordinary church life, under the guidance of pastoral leadership, and conducted in the quiet setting of prayer and confession. This not only preserves the centrality of God’s action, but also protects the church from spiritual elitism and potential abuse.

Furthermore, the link between healing and the forgiveness of sins (v.15b) reminds us that sickness, though not always directly caused by sin, exists in a fallen world where body and soul are interconnected. James's theology avoids dualism—it recognizes that human beings are holistic. The community's role in praying, confessing, and forgiving becomes part of the healing process. Thus, healing is not merely a physical transaction but part of the sanctifying, restoring work of God in the life of the believer.

Oil and the Symbolism of Consecrated Intercession

James also mentions “anointing with oil in the name of the Lord.” While some interpret this medicinally, others see it as symbolic—representing the presence and consecrating power of the Holy Spirit. The key, however, is not the oil, but the phrase “in the name of the Lord.” It is God’s name and presence that sanctifies the act. The focus is again on God, not technique. Unlike magical or formulaic healing rituals, this practice is sacramental in tone but not sacramental in effect—it points to the Lord who heals, rather than serving as a means to manipulate divine power.

Implications for the Church Today

In an age where believers are often drawn to spiritual celebrities, healing revivals, and power ministries, James 5 offers a counter-cultural vision: a church where healing flows through pastoral presence, humble prayer, and patient trust. The passage teaches that we do not need modern apostles or Christian healers to encounter divine healing. We need a praying church, faithful elders, and a community of confession and forgiveness.

This reflection also corrects a common error: the assumption that healing today must mirror the apostolic signs of Acts. The gift of healing in the New Testament was significantly tied to apostolic authority and redemptive revelation (2 Cor 12:12; Heb 2:3–4). But James, writing later and addressing the life of the local church, sets forth a normative model for how healing continues—not through gifts of healing bestowed upon individuals, but through corporate intercession under God’s sovereign care.

Theological Balance: A Word on Faith and Disappointment

James 5 promises that “the prayer of faith will save the sick,” yet not all who are prayed for are healed. This paradox does not nullify the promise, but requires theological depth. Faith is not a guarantee of outcome, but a yielding to God’s will. Jesus Himself prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). So too, our prayers must be offered in confidence in God's power, yet submitted to His purpose. God heals when He wills, how He wills, and for His glory. This keeps us from triumphalism while affirming God’s compassion.

Conclusion

James 5 teaches us that the Christian practice of healing is not about the elevation of gifted individuals or miraculous spectacle, but about a God-centered, prayer-dependent, and community-anchored faith. Healing today remains possible—not through spiritual power bestowed on particular men or women, but through the faithful ministry of the church under the hand of the living God. In a theological age that often confuses power with presence, James reminds us that healing is not about possessing the Spirit’s gifts, but trusting the Spirit’s presence. It is not about performing miracles, but depending on the miracle-working God.

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