2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
16 All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:
“Today’s
teaching of the anointing oil as the power of God is a perversion of the gospel
of Christ, because it leaves people in the bondage to another god.”
That was the
introduction of an article inserted by “Gracious Anointing Ministries” in one
of the Zimbabwean local tabloid.
Though neither an ardent scholar nor theologian, I felt like
to add and respond, and try to add balance to the article.
Just from that introduction one is made to believe that the
anointing of oil is now null and void.
Though it sounds very true, there is an element of compromise
in that assertion, for it undermines the authority and inspiration by which
that teaching, as contained in James is written.
I will agree with the writer in the sense that we ought not
to rest our faith on the bottle of oil, water or piece of cloth.
Our faith must be in God, taking what His word says and applying
it in our everyday life.
By giving us their point of information that James was the
first epistle to be written, the writer want us to buy in his own theological
interpretation of a very contentious issue which even theologians of today
still grapple to come to conclusion.
Thus by merely dismissing James as a shallow Jewish centric
epistle-my interpretation of the writers statement, “…the first letter to be
written and was directed to the Jews who knew about oil and also James spoke
about law not grace. So he was still progressing revelation.”
The writer undermines the power of the Holy Ghost that
inspired the writer of the epistle of James as one who had not fully understood
Christianity, and as one who having received the Holy Ghost had no full revelation
of it.
We can drag on and on about the theoretical part of it.
But I would like to believe that it still very true and in
accordance in scripture to anoint a sick person with oil when you pray for
them. Why? Because scripture says so.
Such a linear approach I am assuming in this matter is to
guard of such people who by theological understanding and cuningness want to
take away from the Bible what is supposed to remain therein.
As the writer rightfully picked the example of the brazen
serpent used by Moses, the problem was no longer the serpent itself, but the
people who couldn’t set aside their eyes off the brazen serpent.
But remember that same brazen serpent can represent Christ,
in symbolism, how He was raised on the cross and all that sets their eyes on
Him can be saved.
The problem is not anointing with oil or water when you pray for
the sick. No! The problem is the commercialization and bulk manufacturing of
that oil in the aim of profiteering Religious empires that are sprouting today.
The problem is not the practice, if done in accordance and solemnest
of the scripture, nothing wrong would have been done. Just as the writer
accepts that Saul-Paul was anointed by the laying of hands without oil, why doesn’t
the writer accept that it is right to anoint with oil and pray for the sick?
As I said above, all I
want is to bring balance to the issue.
By proclaiming that it is wrong and not the gospel of Christ
to anoint sick people with oil when you pray for them, I am made to believe
that the writer is saying James was totally wrong in all his doctrine. Why? How
can a teaching of someone still progressing in revelation be partially true and
partially false or rather out dated?
Remember, as the scripture says, it is not the oil that
heals, but it is the prayer of faith that will heal the sick.
I am, taught that I you believe all things are possible.
Regardless of the channel one uses. Such is the simplicity of God’s Word. That
is why someone who “believes” in n’angas and traditional healers can be healed.
What heals them is not the n’anga but the faith that they have in that n’anga
or in the methods that the n’anga uses.
I will echo the writer’s sentiments “Do not move around with
the oil, the oil is a symbol. Be filled with the Holy Ghost”
True and factual, the devil has put in our way in these end
times little gods, creeds and dogmas that people are holding tight to, whilst
removing our eyes from Christ.
Allow me to say as human beings we believe much a material
things that we want to hold on as a sign of assurance that all is gong to be
well. That human nature is what we often fail prey to, because that’s not the
way God really wants to use to communicate with us.
We forget of Abraham, whom we confess to be our father of faith,
that he believed God even though the womb of Sarah was dead that he was gong to
receive a son of promise. He didn’t have anything to hold on to, but just the
Word (of mouth) of God. Yet today we have the Word in print (Bible) and we have
great testimonies.
Thus I say to the writer, true, people are losing focus on
the right way, which is believing in Christ and are now focusing on the tangible
things which ought to help them look to Christ.
But yet we stay have to accommodate those of little faith,
that want to be anointed of the oil whilst being prayed for.
The duty is now on preachers, to rightfully divide the word
of God, neither by theology nor to serve the itching eyes of people today but
to stand upright and balance the scripture.
Its high time preachers leave the obsession of preaching
using large words and explaining Greek or Roman words in trying to confuse or
enlighten people. Be like Christ, the common people understood him, yet it
confounded the learned and heady high-minded of that day.
The danger of today is that it’s the heady and high-minded
that are occupying the pulpit and throwing people into delusion, having a form
of godliness but denying the power thereof.
We are now worried of people who are depending on their
education to explain scriptures rather than on the Holy Spirit.
With all due respect to this GREAT NATION AND THE WORLD let me say.
If thou understandeth not the Word of God, its better to
repeat what it sayeth of itself rather than fall into the trap of removing what
it says because thou feeleth it does not fit thee. (If you don’t understand the
Word of God, it is better just to repeat what it says than fall into the trap
of removing or adding on what it says because you feel it does not fit your
doctrine.)
There is danger in adding and removing from the scripture.
Revelation 22:19 (KJV)
19 And if any man shall take
away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part
out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which
are written in this book.
2nd Peter 1 (KJV)
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto
ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
scripture is of any private interpretation.21 For
the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
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