Healing Line

Healing Line

He's Really Got the Whole World in His Hands

by Francis MacNutt
Summer 1999

When most of you began praying for healing (and I hope you do pray for healing), it was probably for one person — someone very dear to you. It may have been for healing of a serious or life–threatening illness, like cancer. Or perhaps it was less serious, like an ankle sprain. Hopefully, that friend or relative got better — or was totally cured. Jesus encouraged you, and you kept going.

That vision, where most of us began, was limited. What we are discovering is an incredible vision of healing, stretching far beyond the horizon of what we first knew! We are not just talking about the healing of our individual bones, but about the healing of the whole world. Our relationships, our societies, our nations all need healing. As human beings, we realize our whole society needs to be healed; it doesn't take a genius to see this. As Christians, we realize that the Christ–like response is to pray for resurrection in the midst of darkness.

I encourage you to read the first chapter of Colossians and the eighth chapter of Romans, where Paul says astounding things like:

  "For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in (Jesus}, and through (Jesus) to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1: 19–20, NIV).  

All around us we see an exciting new dimension of healing opening up — larger than we have ever seen before. Though the forces of evil are evident, the power of the Spirit is strong. The reconciliation Paul talked about in Colossians is being revealed in our world everyday.

For example: although it took 2,000 years, slavery as an acceptable ideal was abolished in the modern era. Although ethnic and religious wars and persecutions continue in Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Israel, India and other places, Christians throughout the world are praying and working toward reconciliation and the healing of ancient wounds. In South Africa, much bloodshed was averted and reconciliation is being realized through Christians like Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The April 5 issue of Time magazine contains an article about current research on the relationship between forgiveness and health. Medical researchers are breaking down the 400–year–old hostility between science and spirituality.

The Pope and other religious leaders are beginning to recognize a profound Christian dimension to our stewardship of the earth and all its resources. And perhaps most importantly, age–old barriers between Christians are beginning to break down, as God is calling us to reconciliation and one body, despite denominational differences.

These healings, breaking down ancient walls between people, are the result of God's pouring out a vision of His love upon us. Even while we see mass murder and genocide on our TV news screens every night, God's love is being poured out in even greater measure.

Let us, as Christ's children and army, take our commission seriously and continue to pray for the healing of our world.

We need to see with new eyes.

We need to love with new hearts.

And our whole world needs our prayers.


Francis MacNutt Francis MacNutt is a Founding Director and Executive Committee member of CHM. Summer 1999 Issue