Why anoint the sick with oil

Gaebelein Ed. There are not many references to this practice in the New Testament. Again, the point is clear that the medical practice of anointing the weak with oil is performed but done only in the name—or authority—of the Lord. James mentions a similar concern with travel plans. This is an interesting structure since it connects to verses 19 and 20 where the sinner is turned from the error of his ways and saved from death and verse 12 where a person falls under judgment by falsely swearing and verse 16 where the church is told to confess their sins to one another AND to pray so that they may be healed.

This could imply that the physical illness has a moral dimension by which the physical illness entered in. Note, that this is not unheard of in scripture. In 1 Cor. As above, it seems that there is a moral component involved in this passage though it might not be the case in all matters of sickness.

The passage does indeed tie the fact that there should be a process of ongoing confession of sins to one another 16 in conjunction with praying for one another so that there is healing. James chooses Elijah, a man who had serious issues with depression and fear, and the activity of the recorded story 1 King ; where there was no explicit mention of prayer, and to reflect on what a righteous man looks like.

The best part is that he says Elijah was just like us. I find that comforting. He was a guy who had issues but was where the Lord wanted him. Well I think that based on the context what is key is that believers are to pray for one another. The Elders, who are the spiritually mature in the assembly, have a ministry of praying for the weak within the assembly—especially those who call for them. In most cases this would be when the person is physically sick and likely bedridden and it is never in opposition to modern medical practices.

The Elders are to pray and help in the administration of the medicine if they can. What we see is a cultural activity saying hello with a kiss or rubbing oil on the sick being used to highlight an activity that Christians should be participating in: adhering to the medical practices of the day while depending on the Lord to act. Lastly the passage is highlighting the fact that the assembly is a true community.

Too often, Christians today compartmentalize their lives by publicly adhering to Christian norms while privately applauding sinful behavior as a personal right.

I understand that many parts of the Church do it, and I know that simply reading the words would imply that we should be doing it, but no—I do not think Christians should be doing this. In some situations, it might be okay but in others, I think it imports a cultural practice the might unnecessarily communicate the wrong thing. For example, greeting one another with a kiss might be okay in some cultural settings but in others it might seem to be a sexual advance when a hand shake would have been completely fine in addressing the point of the passage: to greet one another.

The fact is that the practice of bathing in oil for medicinal purposes is completely disconnected from modern medical practices and has all the markings of magic when performed in a setting when a person is sick and bedridden. The elders offer no explanation that the oil has no healing properties, and indeed there is usually some sort of mysticism attached to the practice to make it seem that the combination of prayer with oil is what is effective—surely not the intent of the passage at all.

So no, I do not think that Christians in the modern cultural setting, should be anointing the sick with oil. Instead they should be praying and helping them take their medication. Visitations, except for James 5 cases, might be a great area where deacons and their wives could be actively ministering to the assembly […].

Fragrant ointments were also used in religious rituals to anoint the dead to prepare them for burial Mark ; John In a similar way, objects were also consecrated with oil to be set apart for religious use. Scripture tells us that objects anointed with oil included: the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle, altars, lampstands, and pillars Exodus ; Genesis Religious anointings with the Holy Spirit: Scripture also declares that people can be anointed with the Holy Ghost.

The most prominent example of this is, of course, Jesus, who was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power John ; Acts The practice of the Anointing of the Sick is based primarily on James , which states:.

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. 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. Today, Catholics request the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to ask God for a similar healing.

The Anointing of the Sick can be celebrated in the family home with relatives present, in a hospital with relatives or hospital staff present, or in a church, whether only the ill person is in attendance or a group of ill people and their families. During the anointing, the priest says the following prayer:. Through this holy anointing may the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. We are a kingdom of priests.

Only God can forgive sins. The Catholics have put the Pope on a pedestal that no man should be on. He is only a mere man, and hopefully, he has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. I cannot judge his heart or his Christianity, but I can judge his actions and his words. Thus far, he gets a negative score on both. I know some Catholics are saved sad to say most are not.

If I were Catholic an got saved I would come out of that religion. I am not being mean just from the heart. Every time someone says this they say we are judging , no some things just need to be said heaven an hell are to serious. GOD bless. Jeremy — very interesting. Good stuff. Thanks for the explanation.

All of this makes a lot of sense, but one question, you say that it would have been olive oil. How do we know that is was olive oil and not another oil? The bible mentions numerous oils.

This document lists 14 specific oils that are mentioned in the bible: myrrh, frank incense, calamus, cedar wood, cinnamon, cassia, galbanum, onycha, spikenard, hyssop, sandalwood, myrtle, cypress, and rose of sharon. Thank you for this article. Prayer and medicine. A good example of holistic health and healing and wellness. It has made good sense to me. Very interesting, Jeremy. Your article opens up a new perspective.

What do you think about Revelation ? Do you think the leaves mentioned there go hand in hand with the oil the elders used?

Bro I just want to shared with my little testimony with you. I was alcoholic for eleven years. I was diagnosed with liver almost damaged and kidney. I could not moved or even able to drink a water I was dying because we could not able to afford medical helps my mom was crying and praying at last I knew I was departing from earth I asked my mom to forgive me but she said she has already forgiven me she told me to ask God to forgive me I tried my best to rolled down from my bed and kneel down to prayed for forgiveness instantly I saw vision I saw my own heart it brusted out like dirty water and many many animals and things came out from my heart.

I was healed by Jesus. Thank you. And of course, prayer is always a part of healing. But many Christians are suffering because of the false teaching that it is a sign of great faith to only use oil and prayer for healing. This is a dangerous teaching. I was in a church that taught your faith should make you well if you were anointed. I am making ready to start my radiation treatment for Cancer.

I decided to anoint myself with oil. I needed to refresh myself on the knowledge of. This article did way beyond I expected. In light of the so many unbiblical and charismatic jumbo jumbo, this teaching is one of the rarest and most cogent, practical and scriptural exposition on using oil for healing.

I agree. In I was diagnosed with a rare and incurable eye disease. I immediately sought out my eye doctor, who in turn sent me to a specialist who in turn sent me to John Hopkins ER. I could not drive there so I was dropped off and left there for like almost 48 hrs. As I began to feel sorry for myself I head the Holy Spirit tell me to quietly pray over each person who would come through the ER. So I did. Hours went by and finally I was seen. Lots of tests were done and within 24 hours they were able to eliminate 7 other possible diseases and diagnosis me.

They only have a few options of treatments but no cures. They told me had I waited 2 more days I could have lost my site in both eyes permanently. I received 2 different injections in each eye and had to return in 3 weeks to receive yet another round as well as high doses of steroids. I went to church and they began to pray over me. I eventually felt led to move back to my hometown just in case things took a turn for the worse.

I began going to Cleveland clinic. The Lord opened the door yet again by referring me a specialist who trained the specialist I just had in MD. It was at that moment I knew God was telling g me He was going to heal me, that faith and science were going to merge.

That my doctor was going to see literally a miracle through me. In , the disease became very active and I went legally blind in my left eye. After getting over the initial shock of hearing him say there is no treatment for blindness I heard it again, God was going to heal me. Through all my visits I began telling my doctor that I will get my site back, God said he was going to heal me and I was trusting Him. A new church I had began going to anointed me and began praying for me as well as others.

I began crying and the his asst.