| Bigotry over Celibacy, Wealth & Healing |
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Bigotry over Celibacy and Wealth8:14 And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever; 8:15 he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and served him.
Peter had left his fishing nets to follow Jesus, but Matthew 8 shows that he had not been required to give everything up to follow Jesus. He owned his own house, and had a family, including a wife. Celibacy is an honorable choice, but it is not something Jesus demanded of the original apostles. Voluntary poverty is also an honorable choice, but is not something that Jesus demanded of everyone he met. As we see from Matthew 8, Peter had a mother-in-law. He was married and he had a house. Paul even spoke of Peter taking his wife along with him (1 Corinthians 9:5). Is necessary to give up all earthly things for the kingdom of heaven? No, but Paul encouraged celibacy under certain circumstances, especially times of great persecution. Choosing a celibate life is an honorable alternative. Some Christians have given up not only material things for the kingdom of heaven, but their very lives. However, an attitude of unconcern about material things is what's really important, placing them low on our list of priorities. Living an ascetic or celibate life was never a biblical requirement, not even for an apostle. Universal Healing8:16 That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. 8:17 This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases."
Jesus is often referred to as healing all who came to him. He did not discriminate by healing only some. In Matthew 8 this is described as fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 53 that he would heal our sicknesses. There is no disease that Jesus cannot heal. The grace of the kingdom of heaven is universal. So, why are not all Christians being healed today? We need to understand what this passage does NOT say. It does not say that there would be no further healings necessary because this fulfills Isaiah's prophecy once and for all time. It does not say that all future believers would always be healed. It does not say that some are not healed today because they do not have enough faith. Healing is one effect of the atoning death of Jesus1. However, nothing in the entire New Testament guarantees healing in this life for everyone at all times. In fact we read of some outstanding Christians who were not healed. Nor is there any indication that those who have prayed for healing and are not healed in this life are any worse Christians than others. Few of us today live in perfect health and it is only in eternity with God that all our diseases will finally be healed. 1Douglas Moo, "Divine Healing in the Health and Wealth Gospel," Trinity Journal, Vol. 9 (1988) 204. |
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