Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

James’ Instruction to the Sick

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 offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him (James 5213-15).

CALL FOR THE ELDERS

James’ letter begins and ends with prayer (James 125-7; 5213-18). He insists that believing prayer is one of the primary solutions to life’s trials and adversities. James declares that “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much,” or as one commentator translates, “the prayer of a righteous man is very powerful in its oper ation” (James 5216b).2 So for all of life’s afflictions and joys, James prescribes prayer and praise: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him.” It is this third category, the sick, on which James elaborates in verses 14b-l6. Sickness is a specific kind of suffering that often requires the help and prayers of others. In this passage, James envisions a bedridden Christian whose weakened condition requires special prayer and atten tion. Hence he urges the sick person to call for the elders of the church. The Puritan preacher Thomas Manton (1620-1677) reminds us that “Christ’s worshippers are not exempted from sickness, no more than any other affliction...Those that are dear to God have their share of miseries.”3 When a child of God is faced with debilitating sickness, James instructs him or her to take the initiative and call for the church elders. The verb “call” is an aorist imperative that implies urgent action. Some Christians do not call for the elders because they doubt God’s power to heal sickness. Still others may be harboring sin and are in rebellion against God. For example, King Asa was very angry with God and wouldn’t seek God’s forgiveness or healing when he became sick. Rather, he consulted with doctors only: “And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the phy sicians.” (2 Chron. 16212). The predominant reason people don’t

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