Miracle Healing in Christianity

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Miracle Healing in Christianity

Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with over 2.38 billion followers worldwide. It is a monotheistic Abrahamic faith that is based on the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

The Bible tells us that Christ has given believers spiritual authority over demons. They are called “priests,” and they can heal the sick and cast out demons. Those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit are sanctified and have the infilling of the Holy Spirit, which brings freedom from the power of sin.

In the Middle Ages, Christians expected healing to be rare. Some believed that sickness was demonic, and that people who prayed for healing were using chicanery. Church leaders believed that those who were claiming the gift of healing needed to know who they were talking to.

Eventually, the use of anointing of the sick and exorcism was restricted. People were only anointed when they were near death. This practice was renamed extreme unction in the twelfth century.

After Constantine converted to Christianity, healings drifted to the margins. Church leaders were more interested in protecting their flocks than in seeking healing. Instead of sending people to heal themselves, they sent them to shrines of martyrs.

After Constantine’s conversion, the church grew rapidly. Every generation, about half a million new converts joined. Most of them were nominal Christians, attracted by the gifts and higher status jobs.

In the late 1800s, the Evangelist William Booth warned against “apostasy” or Christianity without the Holy Spirit. He said that without regeneration, the devil could kill and steal.