Has Covid-19 changed/refined anyone's beliefs about how God heals today?

Guojing · Mar 30, 2020

With Covid-19, we have seen how many churches, even megachurches who strongly believe that the signs and wonders of Jesus in the 4 Gospels are still present for us today, having to switch to online service broadcasts, and stopping their healing groups from going around praying for healing.

What happen to these churches who often teach us the following:

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18

We read about how churches, who still insist on gathering today and going against social distancing, some of them ended up being new clusters of covid-19, and even today, I read about Rodney Howard Browne being arrested by the police. Florida police arrest pastor Rodney Howard-Browne - CNN

Anyone has their views about how God heals today being modified by this real life incident?

For me, my view has been refined to this, covid-19 has shown that the era of healing as "signs and wonders" is truly over. If Jesus were to come to earth now, as he did during the 4 Gospels, he would have healed people with covid-19 who are brought to him, to show us a sign that he is God among us.

But now, in the present evil age , as Paul would say in Galatians 1:4, there are no more signs and wonders to expect, the body of Christ is groaning in our earthly bodies, waiting eagerly for the rapture and our bodies to be transformed into one just like Christ had when he resurrected.

Until that comes to past, healing is not guaranteed to anyone. Just as Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:20 that "Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.", and advise his "son" Timothy to drink a little wine instead of the dirty water because of his illness in 1 Timothy 5:23, likewise, the church is to exercise common sense, wash their hands, and practice social distancing.

Any views from interested Christians?

Sabertooth · Mar 30, 2020

Guojing said:
Any views from interested Christians?

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
and said to Him,
“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and,
‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Matthew 4:5-7 NKJV

Aussie Pete · Mar 30, 2020

Guojing said:
With Covid-19, we have seen how many churches, even megachurches who strongly believe that the signs and wonders of Jesus in the 4 Gospels are still present for us today, having to switch to online service broadcasts, and stopping their healing groups from going around praying for healing.

What happen to these churches who often teach us the following:

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18

We read about how churches, who still insist on gathering today and going against social distancing, some of them ended up being new clusters of covid-19, and even today, I read about Rodney Howard Browne being arrested by the police. Florida police arrest pastor Rodney Howard-Browne - CNN

Anyone has their views about how God heals today being modified by this real life incident?

For me, my view has been refined to this, covid-19 has shown that the era of healing as "signs and wonders" is truly over. If Jesus were to come to earth now, as he did during the 4 Gospels, he would have healed people with covid-19 who are brought to him, to show us a sign that he is God among us.

But now, in the present evil age , as Paul would say in Galatians 1:4, there are no more signs and wonders to expect, the body of Christ is groaning in our earthly bodies, waiting eagerly for the rapture and our bodies to be transformed into one just like Christ had when he resurrected.

Until that comes to past, healing is not guaranteed to anyone. Just as Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:20 that "Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.", and advise his "son" Timothy to drink a little wine instead of the dirty water because of his illness in 1 Timothy 5:23, likewise, the church is to exercise common sense, wash their hands, and practice social distancing.

Any views from interested Christians?

How do you know that no one has been healed from the virus? The reason why there are so few signs and wonders now is the same reason that Lord Jesus did few miracles at Nazareth - doubt and unbelief. I'm not saying that Christians are immune to sickness. Neither should we be careless with hygiene. However, miraculous healing is available today. I know that by experience, most recently last November.

Maria Billingsley · Mar 30, 2020

Guojing said:
With Covid-19, we have seen how many churches, even megachurches who strongly believe that the signs and wonders of Jesus in the 4 Gospels are still present for us today, having to switch to online service broadcasts, and stopping their healing groups from going around praying for healing.

What happen to these churches who often teach us the following:

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18

We read about how churches, who still insist on gathering today and going against social distancing, some of them ended up being new clusters of covid-19, and even today, I read about Rodney Howard Browne being arrested by the police. Florida police arrest pastor Rodney Howard-Browne - CNN

Anyone has their views about how God heals today being modified by this real life incident?

For me, my view has been refined to this, covid-19 has shown that the era of healing as "signs and wonders" is truly over. If Jesus were to come to earth now, as he did during the 4 Gospels, he would have healed people with covid-19 who are brought to him, to show us a sign that he is God among us.

But now, in the present evil age , as Paul would say in Galatians 1:4, there are no more signs and wonders to expect, the body of Christ is groaning in our earthly bodies, waiting eagerly for the rapture and our bodies to be transformed into one just like Christ had when he resurrected.

Until that comes to past, healing is not guaranteed to anyone. Just as Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:20 that "Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.", and advise his "son" Timothy to drink a little wine instead of the dirty water because of his illness in 1 Timothy 5:23, likewise, the church is to exercise common sense, wash their hands, and practice social distancing.

Any views from interested Christians?

Healings are the "will of the Father", always has been this way. The Word of Faith movement created a "deliverable God" and this is unholy.

God will clean His house in His own way and time.

Be blessed.

Guojing · Mar 30, 2020

Aussie Pete said:
How do you know that no one has been healed from the virus? The reason why there are so few signs and wonders now is the same reason that Lord Jesus did few miracles at Nazareth - doubt and unbelief. I'm not saying that Christians are immune to sickness. Neither should we be careless with hygiene. However, miraculous healing is available today. I know that by experience, most recently last November.

So far, those with covid-19 are all healed thru "natural means", staying in hospitals, going into ICU etc etc. Any news report you have heard from your country of people who got covid-19 and was immediately healed by the power of God?

Some praise God at the end when they are healed, but objectively speaking, there is no difference between their healing and those who are not Christians or those who do not believe in signs and wonders of healing.

Guojing · Mar 30, 2020

Maria Billingsley said:
Healings are the "will of the Father", always has been this way. The Word of Faith movement created a "deliverable God" and this is unholy.

God will clean His house in His own way and time.

Be blessed.

But in the 4 Gospels, Jesus was seen doing healings such as restoring the blind their sight, raising people from the dead, and they happen instantaneously.

That is what I meant by healing as signs and wonders

Sabertooth · Mar 30, 2020

Guojing said:
Any news report you have heard from your country of people who got covid-19 and was immediately healed by the power of God?

Official reports of miraculous healings are obscured by HIPAA (in the USA). Consequently, miracle testimonies become anecdotal.

JackRT · Mar 30, 2020

Healing refers to a spiritual or mental/emotional recovery. Curing is quite a different thing.

BobRyan · Mar 30, 2020

Guojing said:
With Covid-19, we have seen how many churches, even megachurches who strongly believe that the signs and wonders of Jesus in the 4 Gospels are still present for us today, having to switch to online service broadcasts, and stopping their healing groups from going around praying for healing.

What happen to these churches who often teach us the following:

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18

Is it "just now" that people wake up to the fact that Christians cover their mouth when they sneeze and that Christian surgeons still "scrub in" before surgery and wear surgical gowns to prevent infection?

Is it "just now" that people wake up to the fact that Christian healthcare workers who work with infectious diseases and who are around patients with communicable diseases - take precautions as they always have?

the same Christians that have always said that Hebrews 13 is true and John 14 is true and Mark 16 is true -- for all the centuries before today?

Maria Billingsley · Mar 30, 2020

Guojing said:
But in the 4 Gospels, Jesus was seen doing healings such as restoring the blind their sight, raising people from the dead, and they happen instantaneously.

That is what I meant by healing as signs and wonders

Key name "Jesus" not just anyone. He is God.
Blessings

Sabertooth · Mar 30, 2020

JackRT said:
Curing is quite a different thing.

Don't read Luke 22:49-51, then.

Aussie Pete · Mar 30, 2020

Guojing said:
So far, those with covid-19 are all healed thru "natural means", staying in hospitals, going into ICU etc etc. Any news report you have heard from your country of people who got covid-19 and was immediately healed by the power of God?

Some praise God at the end when they are healed, but objectively speaking, there is no difference between their healing and those who are not Christians or those who do not believe in signs and wonders of healing.

Sure. Most healing is natural because very few people believe God these days. I also am happy to go to the doctor if I think it necessary. It's not a matter of either/or. I've had instant, miraculous healing and help from the medical profession. But to state that miracles do not happen any more is simply not true.

Guojing · Mar 31, 2020

Aussie Pete said:
Sure. Most healing is natural because very few people believe God these days. I also am happy to go to the doctor if I think it necessary. It's not a matter of either/or. I've had instant, miraculous healing and help from the medical profession. But to state that miracles do not happen any more is simply not true.

Miracles of healing do happen, but as I have stated, they are not guaranteed to happen.

That is the distinguishing factor that separates signs and wonders from the miracles we see today.

To give you a scriptural example, when John the Baptist disciples approach Jesus to clarify whether he was indeed the Messiah in Luke 7, how did Jesus respond to that request?

Did he:

Ask them to believe he is the Messiah by faith OR,
Made the blind see, raise the dead, made the lame walk almost immediately?

In contrast, when we share the good news of the gospel of grace, that Christ died for our sins and rose again on the 3rd day for our justification, based on 1 Cor 15:1-4, do people ask us to "show us a sign that I should believe you"?

Guojing · Mar 31, 2020

Maria Billingsley said:
Key name "Jesus" not just anyone. He is God.
Blessings

So you do make a distinction between signs and wonders, and the miracles we see today?

Guojing · Mar 31, 2020

Sabertooth said:
Official reports of miraculous healings are obscured by HIPAA (in the USA). Consequently, miracle testimonies become anecdotal.

If there was indeed a miraculous instantenous healing of someone of covid-19, even if the mainstream press choose to hide it, do you really think people will not be sharing it on their social media accounts?

Take for example the recent episode in Bethel church, where a young girl died and the whole church was believing that she would be resurrected from the dead. If she did resurrect, don't you think Bethel will make sure people know about that, regardless of how the mainstream media may try to cover it up?

Sabertooth · Mar 31, 2020

Guojing said:
If there was indeed a miraculous instantenous healing of someone of covid-19, even if the mainstream press choose to hide it, do you really think people will not be sharing it on their social media accounts?

If the healing took place early on the onset, it would be treated by most skeptics as a mild case.

Similarly, if it took place on the brink of death, skeptics would say that many have recovered on the brink of death.

Miraculous healings only really impact those that are close to the case.

Jonathan Walkerin · Mar 31, 2020

Sabertooth said:
If the healing took place early on the onset, it would be treated by most skeptics as a mild case.

Similarly, if it took place on the brink of death, skeptics would say that many have recovered on the brink of death.

Miraculous healings only really impact those that are close to the case.

Going by that route not getting sick in the first place could be argued to be God’s miracle.

Guojing · Mar 31, 2020

Sabertooth said:
If the healing took place early on the onset, it would be treated by most skeptics as a mild case.

Similarly, if it took place on the brink of death, skeptics would say that many have recovered on the brink of death.

Miraculous healings only really impact those that are close to the case.

In a way, you have also explained the difference between signs and wonders "healings" during the 4 gospels vs the miraculous healings we see nowadays.

Those signs and wonders Jesus did left people in no doubt that something really special has happened.

The healings we see now, in the church that I am attending in Singapore, are mostly the senior pastor calling out people with body aches, arm pains, etc etc, that really, even when the person in the congregation stands up and testify publicly, any objective person can tell these healings are a far cry from the signs and wonders performed by Jesus in the 4 Gospels.

The best example was the final sign recorded in John, the resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus deliberately waited until Laz was dead for 4 days. In the Jewish custom, someone who is dead for 3 days or less, the Jews believe that the spirit still linger near the body, so if it were to come back to life, people can easily deemed that as, you said, "mild cases".

So when Jesus approached Laz in the burial at day 4, every Jew who is there, including Mary and Martha, have zero doubt that Laz is dead.

So when Jesus cause Laz to ressurrect, it was such a powerful sign that even the Priests and others were aware that, if they don't do anything, all the Jews would really acknowledged Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah.

John 11:47-48
47 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many [l]signs. 48 If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Richard T · Mar 31, 2020

I am glad personal experience, doubts or opinions of others do not change the word of God. If you notice in Psalm 91 there are thousands falling at the right or left. Here is on commentary on this verse. Psalm 91:7 (KJV)
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. "The meaning is, "Though a thousand, or even ten thousand, should fall beside thee, in battle, or through pestilence, or sunstroke," yet - It shall not come nigh thee - the danger, whatever it be, shall not touch thy person; thou shalt be protected from it."

Nancy Hale · Mar 31, 2020

Guojing said:
But in the 4 Gospels, Jesus was seen doing healings such as restoring the blind their sight, raising people from the dead, and they happen instantaneously.

That is what I meant by healing as signs and wonders

You seem to have a very narrow view of signs and wonders. Besides, if you've been infected with Covid19 and God instantly healed you, how would you even know? Doesn't He say that the best way to give us in secret? Wouldn't God do things the best way?
The best way while Jesus was on earth was exactly how they happen. Does that mean it's the best way now? In every instance?
When the plague came while David was king, prayers and sacrifice stopped it.
But, for your original question: no. This hasn't changed anything. Why would it? I haven't thought much on if I will get it or not. I haven't stocked up. I've been think more about how I can help others.
I'm older, I have every risk factor for making it more serious, but nothing can touch me unless God lets it. Live or die, I trust Him.

Has Covid-19 changed/refined anyone's beliefs about how God heals today?

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