DIVINE HEALING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21328, 1 November 1932, Page 13

DIVINE HEALING

Sir, —Apparently it is the method of divine healing employed by Mr. Dallimore that is now coming under the fire of criticism from certain quarters. It has been classed as "strange," and even '"pagan." Strange as it may seem, there are just as strange, and even stranger, methods of divine healing recorded in tho Bible, such as in 2 Kings v., 10; Numbers xxi., 7-10; 1 Kings xvii., 17, 21-23; St, John, i.\., 1, 6-7. Surely no person wiil put the stamp of paganism on these strange methods of divine healing. This evangelist lias publicly stated that ho has no power of himself whatsoever, he simply believes what Cod said to be literally true, implicity believes the promise and power of Jesus, tho same yesterday, to-day and forever (Hebrews xiii., 8), to heal, and prays the prayer of faith in accordance with James v., 13-16, and in accordance with Mark xvi., 17, 13, Matthew viii., 16, 17 and ix., 35, Luke iv., 40 and vi., 9, the sick are healed, lie further claims that it is tho power of the Spirit of Cod which falls on the sufferers, and that they are lying prostrate under the hand of Cod, and not under Ins hand or nfiy power that he is supposed to possess. This claim is certainly completely established by the fact, that the same power is falling at healing services being held by men and women \vi,u have started branches of Revival Fire Mission all over the North Island. But is there any Biblical authority for such a claim? Yes, a wealth of it; at the dedication of Solomon's temple tho glory of the Lord tilled the house, and tho power of Cod was so great that the priests could not stand to minister. Now let us take one lefeience from the New testament to .satisfy those who declare that the sufferers are lying hi a trance, coma or other similar mental condition. We read (The Acts, xxii., 17) that when St. Paul was in Jerusalem praying in the temple ho was in a trance (a word used more than once iu the New Testament). Any Bible student will admit that St. Paul was not in any ordinary trance in the general sense of the word, and it is perfectly reason; ible, and certainly quite fair, to Mibn.il that St. Paul was lying under tho hand of Cod, and that the power of the Spirit of Cod had fallen on him as it fell on men so many times oil the occasions recorded in both Testaments. In absolute fairness to this evangelist it must be stated that this particular method of divine healing has been employed and is si ill being employed bv thousands of evangelists throughout the world (New Zealand included), and that the same power is falling at their services. It, is absolutely ludicious that people should bo quite prepared to pay for tho privilege of lying under the. power and hand of man on a platform in an operating hall, but when it comes to lying under the power and hand of Cod on a platform in a church hall (lor which privilege there is nothing to pay), where, by Cod's own statement, they have a better chance of being healed by llim (Psalm cxviii., 8 and Psalm ciii., 2, 3), there should bo any who kick and raise tho dust of mockery, ridicule and scorn. 11l the name of common decency and Christian love and charity for Cod's sake cut out this ungodly and uncalled for persecution, and givo the man credit for tho good that he is doing. Let us have a little compassion for the feelings and tho sufferings of others, and lei us respect i:lis particular method of divine healing as used by Mr. Dallimorc, as any successful method of healing or tho alleviation of suffering, whether divine or of man should be respected, because it, must not bo forgotten that in tho report of the Dr. Price Investigation Committee, published in (ho Herald by "Scrutator," even that committee admitted thai by whatever method healing is achieved, Cod is the Source and Giver of all healing, and that all healing comes from God. He and He alono is tho" Judge of this work, not man. L. C. C-HUICgSEtANK.