God has the authority to heal. But what does that mean in terms of HIV treatment? How does one reconcile the ideas of supernatural healing and modern medicine?
Juha Virtanen reflects on these questions and his experience in Pentecostal churches in East Africa. Read more below!
“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.†Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I’m willing,†he said. “Be clean!†And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.†(Luke 5:12-14)
Common Ecumenical Understanding on Healing:
A HIV Competent Church believes in healing. Healing is understood holistically. Healing is tied to the will of God. When a person is sick, it is not because of a lack of faith. Medicine and doctors are part of healing.
– CUAHA perspective
At the beginning of 2000, I worked for five years in East Africa with Pentecostal churches. There is a great emphasis on healing. There is an exceptional overemphasis on divine healing. There is a notable variety within the church to the relation to supernatural healing. In the activities of churches or persons we can see issues that point towards low or high competence in this area.
Source of healing
A HIV competent church believes in a God who has the authority to heal. Healing is dependent on the will of God (“I am willing†Lk 5.13). When there is too much emphasis put on healing, it results in stress for those who are ill. An HIV competent church understands healing holistically. Healing includes inner wholeness, psycho-social healing, managing one’s life and a restoration of relationships. A person is made up of many components and many different things affect their well-being. The activity of the church creates the possibility of holistic healing. It can take place through a peer-group or through professional guidance. A person should experience acceptance as they are. Acceptance is not dependant on the person’s level of faith or their state of health. A HIV positive person can experience loneliness and can be enslaved by their thoughts. The church is empathetic and endeavors to assist people living with HIV to experience holistic healing.
If healing is understood in a limited way, it points to low competence. If the only understanding of healing is miraculous, this points to low competence. Healing may be tied to faith or the lack of it. In crusades the will of God is advertised before hand: “Come today and accept your miraculous healing. Today God will heal from AIDS.†Healing is the work of God and is subject to his will. A church of high competence will not promise on behalf of God healing. Healing in a church of high competence will stand up to medical scrutiny (“as a testimony to themâ€).
Relation to the use of medication
In Africa, the beginning of the second millennium there was a campaign and struggle secure medical treatment for those living with HIV. Various organizations were active and raised awareness. Advertisements through the media raised awareness and raised the demand to make medicines affordable and to make them available to people. It seemed that the subject did not touch the church. What does the church have to do with medicines? Isn’t this something for the health care?
Medicines and health care are part of healing. A church of high competence understands the development of medicines as something that God has allowed and thus is useful. A church leader does not have to be a medical doctor but should be able to advise and guide a person living with HIV where to find correct medical treatment. Part of holistic healing is having a better physical condition through medicines. The church could have some basic knowledge of the medicines, how to avail them, and if there is a need and capacity, to distribute them. If it is possible, the church may assist in distributing medicines in their area. The staff of the church is not interested in how a person became infected with HIV but are they receiving the needed care.
If the church views the use of medicines as a sign of disbelief, this would reflect low competency. For some divine healing and healing through medicines are seen as opposites. In the worst case, people who are using ARVs are seen as those whom God cannot meet due to their unbelief. The staff of the church does not know the available medicines and where they are available.
Juha Virtanen
World Vision Finland