Divine healing has always been a controversial topic. Even when Jesus was ministering to sick people and they were being healed instantly there were accusations that the power he used had an evil source. Healing continues to raise controversy today. As Svein Pedersen reminded us recently, many Protestant theologians argued that miracles, such as healing, ceased after the apostles. The New Testament witnessed to Jesus and we did not need miraculous signs any more, was the kernel of their argument. Throughout the church’s history, however, there have been persistent reports of what appear to be healings which can only be described as ‘miraculous’.

Even amongst those who accept that God still heals today there has been disagreement. Some want to redefine what healing means and talk about ‘inner healing’, meaning some kind of spiritual, emotional or psychological transformation, not unlike the change which a therapist may wish to see in a patient. They may also talk about God somehow working through medicine and surgery to bring about healing. What they shy away from is the possibility that God may actually bring physical healing to someone, without any medical intervention – or at least bring about a healing which is far beyond what medical intervention could be expected to produce.

Those who believe God can and does heal in a direct physical way today tend to fall in to one of two broad camps. The first believe God’s will is to heal everyone, today in this age. Disease and illness were dealt with fully on the cross of Jesus. They may be described as belonging to the ‘already’ camp. At their most extreme they believe that if we do not receive such healing then it must be because of a lack of faith on our part. God in Jesus has done the work of healing and it is there for anyone and everyone to receive by faith.

Others who believe God heals physically today might be described as belonging to the ‘already and not yet’ camp. They believe that the healings Jesus performed when he walked this earth were signs that the Kingdom of God had come. The Kingdom of God was breaking in to the present age and bringing transformation and life. The Kingdom of God, in which there is no more crying or pain or death, has come – but it is not yet fully established. In the meantime it overlaps with our present age in which death and disease still hold sway. As the church carries on the work of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit we should still expect to see signs of the Kingdom breaking in, and those signs may and do include miraculous healings.

What both camps have to allow for and explain is the harsh reality that not every sick person who is prayed for receives healing. The more extreme in the first camp put it down to lack of faith. Those in the second camp put the question within a bigger theological framework. It comes down to how we understand the Kingdom of God has come, is coming and is yet to come. The remarkable thing is, there are some in both of those camps who clearly have the gift of healing. When they pray healing is more likely to happen than when other Christians without that specific gift pray.

At this point I have to own to belonging to the second camp. I believe God does heal today, and sometimes in ways which can only be described as miraculous. I do not, however, believe that when it does not happen it must necessarily be put down to a lack of faith. We probably all know of those who have been prayed for with great faith, and who yet have remained unhealed. I also know of some who have been to meetings where there has been prayer for healing but who have not themselves asked for prayer, and yet have found later that they have been healed of some affliction.

We have to ask what faith means when it comes to healing. If someone simply came to Jesus and requested healing, either for themselves or for someone else, he regarded that in itself as faith – sufficient faith for him to respond with healing. He did not ask them to screw up more faith within themselves, nor did he threaten that their healing would disappear if they somehow allowed their faith to fade. He simply healed when they believed enough to approach him and ask for healing. Although we must believe in the first place in order to ask, what matters is not so much the quality of our faith, (however that might be measured), as the God in whom we have faith.

We also have to ask what healing means. A friend of mine asked for prayer to heal his short sightedness. After he was prayed for he was told he must claim his healing in faith and not wear his glasses any more. He stumbled around for two months before acknowledging the truth that he had not been healed and putting his glasses back on. True healing will be medically verifiable. Anyone who believes they have been healed should seek confirmation from their doctor before stopping any medication or treatment.

When God heals it is truly awesome and humbling. It is occasion for thanksgiving and rejoicing. (As indeed are medical cures and any advances in medicine.) It is also a sign of the coming Kingdom in which death and disease will be no more. But divine healing is never predictable. There is no telling who might be healed in this way. Despite our best efforts to explain healing, a great deal of mystery remains. We do well to acknowledge that and not try to find explanation for everything. And we go on praying for healing, knowing that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is gracious, loving and powerful.

Yours in Christ

Erik

Diary

Sunday 2nd December Advent Sunday

Monday 3rd December PCC meets, 7.15 p.m. in the Reid Room

Sunday 9th December Family Parade Service

Wednesday 12th December J John Carol Service, 7.30 p.m. at Middlesbrough Town Hall

Monday 17th December Teesside Hospice Care Foundation Carol Service, 7.30 p.m. in church

Friday 21st December Lydia Group meets, 2 p.m. in the Supper Room

Sunday 23rd December 10.15 a.m. Family Carol Service 6.30 p.m. Service of lessons and carols

Monday 24th December 2—4 p.m. Christmas crafts and activities 4 p.m. Carols round the Crib 11.15 p.m. Holy Communion

Christmas Day 9 a.m. Holy Communion 10.30 a.m. Family Service

Sunday 30th December 10.15 a.m. Family Communion

18th November Phoebe Leigh Robson

Rio Luca Matthews

10th November Wasiu Jimoh and Christine Lavin

8th November Peter Michael Millward aged 50

Offerings

Offerings in September £8,636

Restricted (for specific purposes) £358

Offerings in October £15,554

Restricted (for specific purposes) £86

Many of you will have heard the announcement Erik gave recently regarding my upcoming move. As a curate, you know from the start that you only have 3 or 4 years before you have to move on.

After 3½ very happy years at St. Barnabas that time has now come for Carole, Nathan, Joel and me. In early January we will be moving to Morley; an old market town on the edge of Leeds (some consider it part of Leeds, others maintain its independence). I will be part of the Morley team ministry and will be vicar of St. Peter’s and its daughter church, All Saints. The parish is within the evangelical tradition and has a highly committed core of people; young and old who are determined to see the church grow and impact the local community. I went through quite an involved selection process and the people in Morley, the Bishop of Wakefield and both Carole and I feel it is the right move to make for all involved. Right now I feel a great deal of excitement but at the same time much sadness to have to leave St. Barnabas.

I can honestly say that the last 3½ years have been both thoroughly enjoyable and immensely rewarding. As a family we have been made to feel very welcome and I personally have learned a great deal, not only from Erik and the whole staff team but from the whole of the congregation. I have been given freedom and opportunities that few curates enjoy and I have seen God do great things.

St. Barnabas is a very special place with a real heart for Jesus and to make him known. Unlike other PCCs I’ve been involved with, people have never needed persuading to reach out in mission, they’ve only asked; ‘How can we do it better?’

I leave with many fond memories and with many experiences and relationships which will stand me in good stead for the future. I know God has big plans for the church and that you all want to be a part of what He is going to do. My prayer will continue to be for St. Barnabas that it will continue to be a place of love and nurture and that it will be a place where even more people come to know the immeasurable love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

Yours with love in Him

Nick

Hello Everyone,

My name is Marie Edwards and as many of you are no doubt aware I am training for Ordination and I am just beginning my second year (of a three year course) as a NEOC student. I am here at St. Barnabas on placement and I will be with you until Christmas of next year. The placement is purely observational up until this coming Christmas, after which I will be able to become more involved in the various activities that are undertaken here at St. Barnabas. I come to you from St. Cuthbert’s Church at Marton where my husband, Paul, continues to attend with our three children, Laura (7), Christopher (5) and Alan (3). Paul will occasionally bring the children to St. Barnabas in order to say hello over the next year.

I have past connections with St. Barnabas and so I already know many of you well. I hope over the next year and a bit to build on those relationships I already have here as well as create some new ones. I have received a warm and friendly welcome from many of you already and know that as my involvement at St. Barnabas increases that I will meet others along the way. May I ask you for prayer support not only for myself as I learn along side Erik and the other members of the St. Barnabas team but for my family too as they worship at St. Cuthbert's each week.

Thank you once again for such an open and friendly welcome.

Love and prayers,

Marie Edwards

During December, Carol Services with J John will take place, which require a room to be set aside for people to pray before and during the service.  These services will be tremendous occasions for God to work in our region but this requires a commitment to pray.  If you could come along for half an hour or for the evening to pray please fill in the options on the form on the website your availability and send this information back to the NE1 team. They will contact you in due course with the arrangements for the evenings. If you don’t have access to the website and are interested, contact Barbara Edwards at the church office.

Tickets for the Carol Services are now available at a cost of £3 each. The order form is on the website along with further details or telephone 0191 374 4774.

Richard Day is now dealing with aluminium foil and cans collection. You can make his job easier by separating the foil from the cans and by making sure that the cans are aluminium (magnets will only cling to steel cans). The collection point will remain as before (i.e. under the mission table).