Miracle Healing in the Global South

Among the Christian faith’s 2.38 billion followers worldwide, a significant portion of the believers are in the Global South. The majority of these followers have come to faith through the miracle of healing.

Historically, the healing power of sacraments is a hallmark of the Christian faith. The Eucharist and anointing of the sick are two forms of sacrament that are particularly effective. The New Testament emphasizes that baptism is a key step in becoming a Christian. During the apostolic era, Jesus performed many powerful deeds and performed healings. He also continued to perform healings in sacraments.

The sacrament of the anointing of the sick was established as a means of spiritual preparation for heaven. In the Middle Ages, many Christians believed that healing was rare. They were influenced by Neoplatonic ideas that the body was a prison for the soul. These beliefs led to the development of a number of practices that have been incorporated into Christian thought.

The practice of anointing the sick was largely limited to those in grave danger of death. After Constantine converted to Christianity in 312, healing began to drift to the margins of the church.

The anointing of the sick was later renamed extreme unction. Originally, the anointing was administered with oil. Its primary purpose was to show holiness of those who prayed for the sick.

The twelfth century saw the renaming of the anointing of the sick as a sacrament. However, the sacrament became a source of contention among Christians. The Roman Catholic authorities challenged Protestants to prove their doctrines with miraculous healings. Some Protestants argued that such gifts were signs of holiness, while others questioned whether such experiences could be verified.