ALWAYS APPROPRIATE

THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE

JAMES 5:13-18 (NIV)

In the United States, most people tend to stay away from church services when they are sick. In Africa and other parts of the Third World, church is the first place Christians want to be when they are sick. Western Christians think of containing a disease; most other Christians think of healing a disease, largely because of this passage from the book of James, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up" (5:14-15).


There is also a hint here of the relationship between prayer and medical care. The oil of anointing was probably more than a symbolic gesture pointing to the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was ancient practice to use oil medicinally. The picture here appears to be one of prayer and medicine, not prayer or medicine. Both, under God, are legitimate collaborators in working his mercy in the world.

There are other wonderful things this passage touches on about prayer. It is always appropriate to pray. Are you in trouble? Pray. Are you happy? Pray. Are you sick? Pray. It is never rude or inappropriate or uncouth to pray. God is the God of all situations and seasons - "For from him and through him and to him are all things" (Romans 11:36).  Since God is the God of all seasons, prayer is the act for all seasons. Because all of life, is lived under God, all of life is enriched and transformed by prayer. Prayer affects everything. It enhances joy, lightens trouble, heals sickness and aids reconciliation and forgiveness.

The book of James begins with the assertion that hardship is a big part of the Christian pilgrimage ad immediately calls the church to pray for the special wisdom God gives in hardship. The book ends the same way. There will be suffering; we must be patient (see 5:7-12); and we must pray, pray, pray.

In Christ,
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.org
info@biblestoriestheatre.org