Comments, Criticism, Discussion, for book: Blue, Ken. _Authority to Heal_. InterVarsity Press, 1987.

I thought it might be good to discuss Ken Blue's book Authority to Heal with others, like an open-ended book club, or to provide discussion to add to the human compendium of knowledge that is the Internet ... Thinking to post here periodically as I read through this book.

To start off with:

1. In the beginning he gives a dubious argument oversimplifying history and neglecting the writings of the Church Fathers which refute his argument (e.g. St. John Chrysostom's homilies "On the Statues" available at newadvent.org > Fathers tab, top right corner) to conclude that 'sanctification through suffering' is a theological error that crept in once social persecution ceased.
2. He continues 'throwing the baby out with the bath water' as of page 62 (concluding Part I) arguing 'sanctification through sickness' is never God's will.

Having read through Part I, these two problems are the only topics where I see he is incorrect. I cannot speak to miracles happening in other countries as he claims -- hopefully he is correct -- but in fact God does discipline us through suffering, giving us the opportunity to grow in sanctity. The truth I think is "in the middle": We are to pray for and believe in healing in agreement with the fundamental premise of this book, but we are also to accept our suffering patiently until the time God has decided is right for our healing (cf. Jesus' healing the man born blind, who had to wait until the Disciples saw him, and St. John Paul II's "Salvifici Doloris" teaching that Colossians 1:24 applies to all of us participating in Jesus' Passion). As St. John Chrysostom argues in "On the Statues", we are to thank God for our sufferings also, because they make us better and because God is increasing our heavenly reward as He did with Job: Our suffering patiently until our healing and our healing are both from God, not only the healing.

Have I communicated this idea clearly? We are to be sanctified through our suffering - and, apparently, offer our suffering in union with Jesus' Passion to help save souls as Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima seem to teach - until we are healed, but in Part I Blue does not notice this, instead erroneously arguing there is no sanctifying purpose to suffering.

Page 70

He argues "for all eternity [God's] happiness shall be conditional upon ours".

Thomas Weinandy, OFM, wrote a book Does God Suffer? The answer is no. God can never be less than perfectly happy because He is perfect, and this is good for us, because it guarantees, when we participate in God's divine nature, we too will be happy, and that this happiness is secure forever. Jesus assumed a human nature and only suffers in His human nature -- according to Weinandy.