Volume 1, Issue 1 – March 2025
Guidance for Church Leaders: Evaluating Claims of Supernatural Healing
Date: 7 April 2025
Author: Dr. Chansamone Saiyasak (Professor of Religious Studies and Missology), Theological Commissions & Religious Liberty Commissions of Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand & Asia Evangelical Alliance (a WEA-Regional Alliance) | Author’s Profile
In the present time, churches in Thailand are increasingly confronted with widespread claims of “supernatural healing,” particularly through social media, mass gatherings, and personal evangelism—both within and outside the oversight of local churches. While the hope for physical healing is understandable, and Scripture affirms that God has the power to heal, the uncritical acceptance or promotion of such claims without biblical testing opens the door to deception, spiritual exploitation, and even the undermining of the church’s credibility and the gospel itself.
For this reason, this guidance has been prepared as a tool and guidelines for church leaders in Thailand—especially pastors, elders, and spiritual leadership teams—to use as a principled framework when confronted with claims of supernatural healing. The intent of these guidelines is not to diminish faith in God's supernatural healing power, but to help church leaders fulfill their biblical duty to “shepherd the flock” (Acts 20:28–30) with responsibility, faithfulness to the Word, and protection of God's people from distorted or false testimonies and ministries.
These guidelines are based on Protestant and Evangelical doctrine, affirming the sufficiency of Scripture, the importance of the local church, and the spiritual responsibility of leaders to test and address claims that may impact the faith of church members at every level.
Five Biblical Criteria for Evaluating Supernatural Healing Claims: 1. Scripture Commands Testing (1 John 4:1) • We are commanded to “test the spirits.” Do not affirm any testimony or healing claim without biblical discernment. 2. True Healing Must Be Verifiable (Acts 3:6–9) • In the New Testament, healing was immediate, complete, public, and undeniable. • The burden of proof lies with the one making the supernatural healing claim. • Is there medical verification, or is it merely anecdotal without evidence? 3. True Healing Ministry Must Glorify Christ and Point People to Him, Not the Individual (John 16:14) • Is Christ the center and focus of the act of healing? Or is the ministry building personal fame and gain? • Beware of ministries that elevate the individual above the gospel. 4. Healing Ministries Should Be Under Church or Church Body Oversight (James 5:14) • Is the individual claiming healing power under the oversight of local church or denominational body elders' ? • Independent ministries may lack biblical accountability and ecclesial calling. 5. False Prophets Are Exposed by False Words (Deuteronomy 18:22)5. • Even one false prophecy or declaration that fails is a mark of a false prophet or evangelist.
Conclusion: If a healing claim lacks verification, is not accountable to church or church body oversight, and centers on self-promotion, the church should reject the person or ministry. Leaders are responsible for protecting the flock (Acts 20:28–30).
Remarks: These criteria are rooted in historic Protestant and Evangelical theology, which emphasizes the sufficiency and completeness of Scripture, the authority of the local church or church body, and the belief that God can heal and work miracles according to His will, within the bounds of biblical truth and biblical accountability.
- Dr. Chansamone Saiyasak (Professor of Religious Studies and Missiology) is a theologian and missiologist based in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. He serves on the Theological Commission and Religious Liberty Commission of the Asia Evangelical Alliance and the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand, contributing to theological development and religious freedom initiatives in Southeast Asia. He also serves as an Asian theologian for the World Evangelical Alliance. With over 30 years of ministry and leadership experience, Dr. Saiyasak has led Christian educational and theological institutions, community development projects, and church planting movements across Thailand and Laos. He holds a Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies from Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (Belgium) and Doctor of Ministry from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (USA), and has completed advanced leadership programs at Harvard University, Yale School of Management, and Oxford University. Through his work with organizations such as the SEANET Missiological Forum and the Lausanne Movement, Dr. Saiyasak is committed to advancing Gospel-centered leadership, contextual theology, and mission engagement in Buddhist-majority societies.
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