Faith Heaing?

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Faith Heaing?

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This thread is a spin-off for the already created topic "Prayer"....

The Bible instructs that God grants prayer requests - i.e. (Matthew 7:7), (Matthew 21:22), (Mark 11:24), (John 14:13-14), and (John 16:23); to name a few....

Let's assume the provided faith healer is genuine, and is a true believer. Many faith healers travel from place to place, and apparently offer cures for many, or at least claim to...

Why won't the faith healers ever seem to bother trying to pray for the regrowth of an amputated limb, or pray for the removal of someone's cerebral palsy, or pray for someone's child to no longer have downs syndrome? Or do they? And when they do, do they already know God will not answer the call, as instructed in the Bible?

Or is it because:

A. The faith healer knows God does not cure these particular conditions, and hence, the faith healer does not bother praying for the removal of them? Which begs the follow up question; why does the faith healer know this?
B. The faith healer does pray for the reversal of these conditions, and when these conditions always perpetually continue, the faith healer states "God has not answered (yet)"; even though the unfortunate recipients of these conditions will die with these conditions?
C. Faith healers know, deep down, they are a fraud, and are doing this for other reasons?
D. Other?

In line with Scripture, it seems to me quite odd that God is claimed to answer prayer, time and time again, but always skips over amputees, cerebral palsy, and downs syndrome.?.?.?.?
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Re: Faith Heaing?

Post #51

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1213 wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:30 pm
brunumb wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:19 pm ...Do you honestly believe that had such cures ever actually occurred the events would not have been publicised? Firstly, such cures would be so extraordinary that it would be impossible for people not to talk about it and spread the word....
I think that is the reason why we have the Bible:

the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Matt. 11:5

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." (then he said to the paralytic), "Get up, and take up your mat, and go up to your house."
Matt. 9:6
But now, that we have a means to more accurately assess/confirm such claims, He now stops?
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Re: Faith Heaing?

Post #52

Post by brunumb »

1213 wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:30 pm
brunumb wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:19 pm ...Do you honestly believe that had such cures ever actually occurred the events would not have been publicised? Firstly, such cures would be so extraordinary that it would be impossible for people not to talk about it and spread the word....
I think that is the reason why we have the Bible:

the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Matt. 11:5

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." (then he said to the paralytic), "Get up, and take up your mat, and go up to your house."
Matt. 9:6
That is nothing more than a diversion from the issue of there being no evidence of the miraculous cures involving regrown limbs etc. as specifically mentioned earlier.
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Re: Faith Heaing?

Post #53

Post by 1213 »

brunumb wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 12:15 am
1213 wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 5:30 pm
brunumb wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 9:19 pm ...Do you honestly believe that had such cures ever actually occurred the events would not have been publicised? Firstly, such cures would be so extraordinary that it would be impossible for people not to talk about it and spread the word....
I think that is the reason why we have the Bible:

the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Matt. 11:5

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." (then he said to the paralytic), "Get up, and take up your mat, and go up to your house."
Matt. 9:6
That is nothing more than a diversion from the issue of there being no evidence of the miraculous cures involving regrown limbs etc. as specifically mentioned earlier.
I think those stories are evidence. But, I didnt expect you to believe them. But I think the same problem would be with any evidence I could give.
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Re: Faith Heaing?

Post #54

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POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pm Okay, then let's back up a bit... Does God ever answer the call to intercessory and/or petitionary prayer requests for healing/restoration/reversal?
I believe so.
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pm. You can convert me today to Christianity.
Really, what do you think it even means?
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pmI would assume you have prayed for others before? Assuming this answer is yes, please pray for my uncle to no longer have CP, so He can enjoy the activities he desperately wants to continue.
I can pray for God to forgive sins of you uncle and that God leads him to righteousness and that the finds Gods kingdom. Reason why so is this:

He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.
Luke 12:22-31
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pmIs your prayer request not working because:
.
3. Other?
If I pray God, I pray that His will happens rather than my, if they are in conflict. It may be that there is some good reason to not do always as I hope. Also, I dont think it is reasonable in all cases to assume God does whatever people ask, for example because it is said:

You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask. You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.
James 4:2-3
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pmWell, you have google, right? You also have immediate global access to all kinds of claims, right? Don't you find it odd that not one seemingly legitimate proof has been provided for the reversal of CP, downs, or amputees? All the while, we have countless 'cures' for other conditions?
Interesting, so you think there is legitimate proof for some other cases? I think, even if God would heal miraculously, atheists would not accept anything as legitimate proof for it.
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pm... Seems as though, in one of your prior responses, that you alluded to God not granting requests for CP, downs, and amputees, because He wants them to remain that way. Is this not what you meant? If not, please clarify?
Sorry, I dont know what is the exact reason, if God doesnt heal someone.
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Re: Faith Heaing?

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1213 wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 5:26 pm
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pm Okay, then let's back up a bit... Does God ever answer the call to intercessory and/or petitionary prayer requests for healing/restoration/reversal?
I believe so.
Great. So why is He skipping people with CP, downs, and amputees?
1213 wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 5:26 pm
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pmI would assume you have prayed for others before? Assuming this answer is yes, please pray for my uncle to no longer have CP, so He can enjoy the activities he desperately wants to continue.
I can pray for God to forgive sins of you uncle and that God leads him to righteousness and that the finds Gods kingdom. Reason why so is this:

He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.
Luke 12:22-31
Not to be confused with Matthew 7:7, Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24, John 14:13-14, and John 16:23. You can pray for God to heal people. Why will you not pray for God to heal my uncle? Many Verses say you can.
1213 wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 5:26 pm
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pmIs your prayer request not working because:
.
3. Other?
If I pray God, I pray that His will happens rather than my, if they are in conflict. It may be that there is some good reason to not do always as I hope. Also, I dont think it is reasonable in all cases to assume God does whatever people ask, for example because it is said:
Sounds like you are merely poisoning the well here? How do you know what will happen, unless you pray for my uncle? You do not know what God thinks. Try Him. If His answer is 'no', can you please at least ask Him why His answer is no? And while you are at it, please ask Him why His answer is always 'no', when it comes to all current CP, downs, and amputees?

Furthermore, if God only answers, according to His will, then prayer is worthless. And yes, I'm not asking you to pray for someone to die ;) I'm asking you to ask God to heal someone of their unfortunate infliction. If God cares about the well-being of His creation, I doubt this is out scope? Is it? You seem quite concerned, verses just praying for me??? Why is that exactly?


1213 wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 5:26 pm
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pmWell, you have google, right? You also have immediate global access to all kinds of claims, right? Don't you find it odd that not one seemingly legitimate proof has been provided for the reversal of CP, downs, or amputees? All the while, we have countless 'cures' for other conditions?
Interesting, so you think there is legitimate proof for some other cases? I think, even if God would heal miraculously, atheists would not accept anything as legitimate proof for it.
I think you are missing my point. The reason I use CP, downs, and amputees, is that science has NO cure for these conditions. Even the largest of doubters would have to raise much pause, if someone prayed for one of these inflictions; which was later reversed in prayer ;)

1213 wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 5:26 pm
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pm... Seems as though, in one of your prior responses, that you alluded to God not granting requests for CP, downs, and amputees, because He wants them to remain that way. Is this not what you meant? If not, please clarify?
Sorry, I dont know what is the exact reason, if God doesnt heal someone.
But you state God does heal sometimes... If this is the case, seems as though the healing would sometimes ALSO include these (3) conditions? If these (3) conditions are always excluded, and the conditions, for which people claim God heals, also have ALTERNATIVE plausible explanations, this does not raise major pause for you?.?.?.?.?.?.?
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"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness."

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Re: Faith Heaing?

Post #56

Post by brunumb »

1213 wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 5:26 pm
POI wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:13 pm... Seems as though, in one of your prior responses, that you alluded to God not granting requests for CP, downs, and amputees, because He wants them to remain that way. Is this not what you meant? If not, please clarify?
Sorry, I dont know what is the exact reason, if God doesnt heal someone.
The most obvious one that clearly has explanatory power is that there is no God.
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Re: Faith Heaing?

Post #57

Post by 1213 »

POI wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 6:52 pm ...please at least ask Him why His answer is no? ...
Bible tells reasons why the answer can be no.

...But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.
Luke 12:22-31[/quote]

But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
James 1:6-7

You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask. You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.
James 4:2-3
POI wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 6:52 pm...The reason I use CP, downs, and amputees, is that science has NO cure for these conditions. Even the largest of doubters would have to raise much pause, if someone prayed for one of these inflictions; which was later reversed in prayer ;)
If it would happen, atheist would probably say, the person was not really CP
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Re: Faith Heaing?

Post #58

Post by Tcg »

1213 wrote: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:34 pm
POI wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 6:52 pm...The reason I use CP, downs, and amputees, is that science has NO cure for these conditions. Even the largest of doubters would have to raise much pause, if someone prayed for one of these inflictions; which was later reversed in prayer ;)
If it would happen, atheist would probably say, the person was not really CP
How is this unsupportable conjecture about a possible future event relevant to the discussion at hand?

Additionally, as has been shown in many other cases, it is improper to frame this as an atheist only issue. A number of theists, including some Christians, doubt that miracles such as these occur in our day and age.


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Re: Faith Healing?

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1213 wrote: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:34 pm
POI wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 6:52 pm ...please at least ask Him why His answer is no? ...
Bible tells reasons why the answer can be no.
Does this mean that sometimes the answer is 'yes'? If so, please provide one example of CP reversal, downs reversal, or one amputee? If you, or anyone else cannot, then the answer is either more likely:

A: Always no, being that 100% of these folks die with these conditions today.
B: He stopped answering prayer a long time ago
C: No such God exists..

Remember what we were taught in school. If you don't know the answer, and you have to make a guess, choose answer C ;) Again, if God was answering such prayer, we would have examples. Christians would use this as an iron clad proof about answered prayer; that God resolves issues that science can't.
1213 wrote: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:34 pm
POI wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 6:52 pm...The reason I use CP, downs, and amputees, is that science has NO cure for these conditions. Even the largest of doubters would have to raise much pause, if someone prayed for one of these inflictions; which was later reversed in prayer ;)
If it would happen, atheist would probably say, the person was not really CP
Not me. So again, please pray for my uncle. Doctors cannot cure him, but God can, right?
In case anyone is wondering... The avatar quote states the following:

"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness."

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Re: Faith Healing?

Post #60

Post by 1213 »

POI wrote: Sun Sep 05, 2021 6:41 pm ...
C: No such God exists..
Remember what we were taught in school. If you don't know the answer, and you have to make a guess, choose answer C ...
Why would it be reasonable to choose that, if there is nothing solid to support it? Why not just leave it unsolved?
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