“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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.” (James 5:13–14, ESV)
When you go to a medical doctor with an issue, they will diagnose the problem and prescribe a remedy. Normally it is some sort of drug that is to take care of the issue, such as an antibiotic. Yet while we are speaking about total wellness and the Great Physician, our Lord who heals, is there not a proper prescription also?
As I have looked through the New Testament, I have discovered one prescription that is overlooked by many. Seldom does any pastor or teacher speak on this passage. It is found in the book of James. Here it is.
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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.”
As we look to this biblical prescription, we see some significant steps. It begins with some diagnostic questions. The first is this, “Is anyone among you suffering?” Suffering, kakopatheo, means to suffer, to be afflicted in any way, either through evil, hardships, troubles, etcetera. This suffering may be physical, but it will also include the mental/emotional and spiritual problems one may have. In these cases, the person afflicted is to first pray.
Second, then the afflicted person is asked the next question, “Is anyone among you sick?” In this case the prescription is to “call for the elders of the church.” In this response we see a vital instruction. The afflicted person is told to call for the elders of the church. This is an act of faith that will be prompted by the indwelling Holy Spirit. This verse does not say that it is the elder’s responsibility to call those with an ailment and force them to be anointed. What the elders should do is educate the parishioner and let the afflicted one make the call.
After calling for the elders, the prescription goes on to instruct the elders to anoint with olive oil and pray for the afflicted person. They must pray by faith, realizing that the Lord Jesus is the healer.
The Scripture states the following in this regard.
“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 5:15, ESV)
There has been some debate as to whether “save the one who is sick” refers to just spiritual healing or all aspects of one’s ailments, which would include the mental/emotional and physical. Well, the word “save,” sozo, means to save, to rescue from danger or destruction. The word “sick,” kamno, means to grow weary, to be sick.
Perhaps the issue is the connection of all aspects of total wellness, which includes spirit, soul, and body.
However, there is another key part of this prescription. It is seen in this verse.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV)
It is the confession of sin in its connection with effective prayer. Some would think that this confession is of the person afflicted. Yet here it states that confession is to be made to one-another, which in my view includes all involved, the elders and the one afflicted. The reason is that confession is linked to effective prayer since confession of sin cleanses one from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), and it the “prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
So, what do you do if your church does not have elders? Well, every church should have at least one. It is the pastor. To follow this prescription, we should contact the pastor of the church.
Renewing the Heart 