Miracle Healing and Deliverance in the Global South

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Miracle Healing and Deliverance in the Global South

The church is a global movement. Over half a billion people belong to Christian communities, and many convert to Christianity through healing and deliverance. Western missionaries were generally cessationists, questioning the existence of spirits and the afterlife. But Christians in the Global South embraced Christianity because it provides assurance of a life after death and meets their practical needs.

According to Christian doctrine, the human being is made up of a soul and body. Christ came to save both. His mission was to save human beings and raise them together. The Bible reports that Jesus performed miracles and raised the dead. His compassion touched his followers and healed people in circumstances that would normally fuel their enemies’ anger.

Healing was a regular part of Jesus’ ministry, and the Jewish Scriptures mention many instances where the Lord healed sick people. Even a leper who had become blind was restored to health by Jesus. In 1 Kings 17:17-24, a child who had died was raised from the dead. These healings were recorded in the Gospels as well.

The Charismatic renewal brought healing into mainstream churches. Charismatic renewal leaders shifted the focus from the faith of individuals to the love of God. They also shifted the focus from human failings to the cosmic battle between God and Satan. Similarly, the Word of Faith movement continued nineteenth-century views, while the Third Wavers took a more flexible approach to faith, trusting God to heal with prayer and medicine.