Anointing an unbeliever for healing?

[Dave Darling]

Hi everyone, a question- is it scriptural to anoint an unbeliever for healing with anointing oil? I was thinking, if it is scriptural and the person agreed to receive it they might get healed and then come to Christ! I have some anointing oil myself and I have anointed myself with it and I felt something supernatural, I got a burning sensation. If an unbeliever felt that it might be enough for them to believe!

 

[Jesse Dornfeld]

Hmm.

I am not familiar with the general and regular use of anointing [the head] with oil. I know this was done in the OT (and the women anointed Jesus' head with perfume) but as far as a regular practice, I do not know that is merited in the Bible.

However, I have prayed for healing for people in Jesus' name and they were healed and I am unsure if they were a Christian at that time or are today.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Hi everyone, a question- is it scriptural to anoint an unbeliever for healing with anointing oil? I was thinking, if it is scriptural and the person agreed to receive it they might get healed and then come to Christ! I have some anointing oil myself and I have anointed myself with it and I felt something supernatural, I got a burning sensation. If an unbeliever felt that it might be enough for them to believe!

James 5:14-15 is the only reference I can see in the New Testament concerning anointing with oil in connection with prayer for a sick person. James is writing to Christian believers; this is seen in the phrase, "If any among you..." He obviously doesn't include outsiders of the church, therefore there is no facility for unbelievers.

"Burning" sensations and such like seem like New Age stuff to me. If God heals someone through the anointing of oil, the person is healed instantly, and that is the evidence. It is interesting that LDS people sense the presence of God and the "truth" of the Book of Mormon by a burning sensation in their hearts as a confirmation. And yet we know that is not the Holy Spirit at all. Therefore, if, as an elder, I lay hands on someone crippled and in serious pain with arthritis, and anoint him with oil, and immediately the pain disappears, the joints return to normal shape and he regains full mobility, then I can assume that he has been healed by the power of God. I can then expect that a followup Xray will confirm the healing. But if the guy gets some kind a burning sensation, and the arthritis is still crippling him and giving him serious pain, then I would not give any credence that the sensation has anything to do with the Holy Spirit at all.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I am not going to limit the power and mercy of God. I am going to pray and believe for anyone who asks. I will do it in the name of Jesus and there will be no mistake about what I am doing.

 

[sunlover1]

I am not going to limit the power and mercy of God. I am going to pray and believe for anyone who asks. I will do it in the name of Jesus and there will be no mistake about what I am doing.