The Church of England's Approach to Wholeness and Healing - Essay Example

The Church of Englands approach to wholeness and healing Introduction According to the Church of England, it is clear in scriptures that emotional, social, spiritual and physical well being of people have a close interconnection. The work of the Christ of reconciliation extended to beyond pure relational and personal up to the whole creation’s social order. The term healing as per the gospel refers to both physical healing as well as the broader salvation that Jesus brought. In the New Testament, the term sickness simply means weakness. This carries a broad association of vulnerability and powerlessness. Human vulnerability to death and sin dominion is also an aspect brought about by the sickness aspect. According to Church of England, however, God’s grace can be received which acts as a solution to Christian’s weakness. The grace can be received in healing form and at times as strength that bears weakness (Church of England 2000a, p.27) Discussion The Church of England’s approach towards healing and wholeness has revealed in mark 2:1-12 has brought about various aspects. This story refers to Jesus’ healing works to the paralytic man. It starts with Jesus visitation to Capernaum and after staying for several days people heard that Jesus was in the house. This led to a great multitude gathering there in a large number such that no extra room for holding more people was available. It came to pass that a paralytic man had been brought carried by four men after Jesus had finished preaching. When the men understood that they had no room to draw closer to Jesus because of the large crowd of people, the uncovered the roof and dropped down the paralytic man on his bed to the room that Jesus was (Church of England (2000b, p.98). This act touched Jesus who said “son, your sins are forgiven” on seeing the faith that these men had. However, complaints arose from the teachers of law claiming that only God who has the power to forgive sins. After detecting the questions in their hearts, Jesus challenged them claiming that it was easier to inform him that his sins were forgiven rather than telling him to rise and go. However, in mark 2:11, Jesus commanded the paralytic man to rise and walk, and the man did exactly that leaving the crowd amazed, and they praised God (Church of England (2000a, p.28). The Church of England first describes the aspect of forgiveness of sins as one form of healing. Following the events progress, Jesus’ opening words to the paralytic man seemed like Jesus was slightly out of place. This is because it seemed as if Jesus lacked understanding on why the man had been brought to Him. The Church of England explains that Jesus always get heart on helping us. The church continues to explain that Jesus does not only concentrate with their outward need, but he also deals with our inward necessities. The church explains that in case somebody’s body is ill; he or she remains as unwell and unholy before the God’s throne. This can be described by the fact that he was aware of condition that had fallen before God. Due to this fact, Jesus put more emphasis on the paralytic man’s greatest necessity of forgiveness of sins (Church of England, 2000b). The church continues to explain that Jesus does not just put a band-aid on the situations of people, but he addresses the core need of people. In the situation of the paralytic man, his core need was the forgiveness of sins more than he needed healing. According to the most recently Church of England’s publish, they gave an overview of the healing ministry in reference to the scriptures in mark 2:1-12. This copy had been set in a report referred to as a time to heal. This report makes a brief description on the Church of England’s healing of Christian’s ministry. The Church of England offered a vision that beckons the Christians towards the future and also a kingdom’s glimpse as well as the creation hope renewed in wholeness and perfect heath. The church also developed and offered a prophetic note to Christians. It creates a calling for Christians reconsidering their relationships with their God. This can only be achieved through seeking forgiveness as well as Christians obtaining a new start in their lives. The church continued to teach that due to the fact that Jesus Christ is with Christians to the end time, when the Christians request for help, Jesus will forever be there to comfort, strengthen, help and as well heal the Christians. This is in response to the Christian’s deepest needs (Wilkinson, 1998). The gospel reveals Jesus in all kinds of situations by using the title. The son of man was revealed as a true human. The Jesus revelation as the son of man is the same as him being revealed as the heavenly son of man. This is different in the gospel of the mark, in the gospel marks selects words that Jesus said that shows that Jesus claimed to be the son of this aligns itself with the aim of presenting himself as the son of God. The Church of England offered training on wholeness and healing. The church claimed that there is a need to put more emphasis on Christians’ relationships with the spirit of God. This is the condition if the healing process was to be effective upon him or her. They continued to explain that the wholeness and healing process are something that can be switched on and off at a button’s touch. However, this process entails someone’s process of thinking about life. The church approaches this process as a process in which if seriously embarked on tends to take over someone’s life (Wilkinson, 1998). The Church of England’s main approach towards the wholeness and healing process was the permanent awareness of God’s presence. This was revealed in the book of mark2:2 when the men brought the paralytic man. They had an understanding that God’s presence was present there and hence the paralytic man was liable towards receiving his healing. This can be confirmed in verses 5 and 11 of mark chapter when the man received both spiritual and physical healing. The spiritual wholeness and healing was the first to be achieved which resulted from the forgiveness of sins while he further healed physically and managed to rise on his feet and walk (Maddocks 1995, p.18). The starting of the healing process by the higher source is another Church of England’s form of approach towards receiving wholeness that the church used. It creates an urge to note that the healing process has to be initiated first by the high source which is the God’s source. However, for it to be achieved by the recipient according to the Church of England, its awareness as well as its acceptance has to be put in place. It was also necessary to understand that when the recipient can be made whole and healed, he or she becomes responsible in conducting his or her life in a manner that he or she can be used as a medium in which healing energies can pass through (Baxter, 2007). The church also explained to Christians that once he or she becomes transformed as a healer by virtue of the fact healing energies can pass through them they had to understand that it is not him or her who has been healed. It, therefore, calls for no room of self glorifying oneself after the engagement in such sort of work. The church in its approach emphasized on the fact that there pleasure when someone manages to alleviate pain and at times achieve total relief from a situation. However, that person can be required to gain an understanding that the healing process is through the healer but not the healer. In mark 2:12 people praised God but not Jesus despite the fact that the paralytic man received his wholeness and healing through Jesus (Maddocks 1995, p.20). Use of faith is another aspect that the Church of England used towards the process of wholeness and healing approach. It is faith that was with the men who brought the paralytic man which brought about the healing of the man. In mark 2:5, the bible records that when Jesus saw the faith that those men had, he told the paralytic man that his sins were forgiven. This means that the man received his spiritual wholeness and healing instantly due to the intensity of faith they displayed. On top of that, the man gained his physical healing by receiving his healing from paralyzing. The church explained that the amount of healing one may require depends upon the faith of that person. It is the faith that brought healing to the man (Baxter 2007, p.4). Conclusion This approach that the Church of England puts emphasis turns to be very practical in the life of each Christian. This is due to the fact that the bible acts as the Christian’s guide and hence the teachings in it are their guidelines. It is, therefore, evident that each Christian at one point in time requires healing both physical and spiritual. This forms the basis of necessity of putting into practice this healing approach. This will enable the Christian’s life to remain both physically and spiritually healthy just like the paralytic man after receiving his healing. References List Baxter, J. (2007). Wounds that Heal: Theology, Imagination and Health. Ashford, SPCK Church of England (2000). A Time to Heal: a contribution towards the ministry of healing. London, Church House Publishing. Church of England (2000). A Time to Heal: The development of good practice in the healing ministry. London, church House Publishing. Maddocks, M. (1995). The Christian Healing Ministry: New Edition. Trowbridge, SPCK Wilkinson J. (1998). The Bible and Healing: A Medical and Theological Commentary. London, Routledge. Read More