ANOINTING THE SICK

This policy is to explain how Disciples Church Springfield defines what is known as “anointing the sick” and to outline the general procedure for conducting an anointing of a sick person. The policy is made, not to be legalistic, but so that God might be honoured by our doing all things well and in order, according to His Holy Word.

In the epistle of James it says the following:

¹³ Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. ¹⁴ Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
James 5: 13 - 15

There are no other explicit commands in the epistles with regards to anointing people. In Mark’s Gospel there is an account of the disciples anointing the sick:

¹² So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. ¹³ And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
Mark 6: 12 - 13

Several of the Gospels record that Jesus was anointed by Mary (sister of Martha) with expensive perfume before his crucifixion.

In the Old Testament, oil was used medicinally (Isaiah 1: 6, Jeremiah 8: 22, Jeremiah 51: 8) and also to anoint kings and high priests (Exodus 28: 41, Leviticus 10: 7, 1 Samuel 16: 13). It could also be used to refresh oneself (Ecclesiastes 9: 8).

Jesus never used oil as far as we know, and mentioned it only in respect to His own anointing by the Spirit (Luke 4: 18 - from Isaiah 61: 1), and in the parable of the Good Samaritan where oil and wine were put on the wounds of the hurt man (Luke 10: 34).

Most commentators today see the anointing in James 5 as symbolic, where the sick person is consecrated and set apart to God. In this way, the anointing and prayer for God’s presence are mediated or channelled to the ill person’s life in a deeper way, and the compassionate, healing Father in all His loving-kindness and faithfulness is seen at work at a deeper level.

The fact that Jesus’ disciples (Mark 6) as well as the church elders (James 5) did practice anointing of the sick on occasion means that it is a good thing to do. In terms of the details in James 5, there is no indication it should be done in any and every situation of illness, such as the common cold or flu. But on serious occasions where the person is quite ill, it would be highly recommended.

Any person who is seriously sick or injured, particularly someone who is a member of the church.

Any Elder may call the other Elders together to anoint a sick person.

It would seem best to act swiftly and for the Elders to visit the sick person at the earliest opportunity.

If there is any guidance from James 5: 14 it would be that the prayer for the sick person and the anointing are done simultaneously. The reference to praying “over” the sick person probably indicates the Elders gathering around the sick person who may be lying in a bed or sitting in a chair.

The oil used should be olive oil, and may be scented.

As the act of the anointing is symbolic rather than efficacious one of the Elders should rub some of the oil onto an appropriate part of the sick person’s body while the Elders are praying for the person’s healing.

Do things happen that would not if God’s people were not at prayer? Yes they do, but God is still sovereign and can say no if He so wills. That is where the mystery lies. Romans 8: 26 admits, “We don’t know what God wants us to pray for” - that is, what God’s will is in a specific instance. But the Holy Spirit knows and intercedes for us with “groanings” deeper than ours. The Spirit’s intercession guarantees that “everything” will “work together for the good” (Romans 8: 28), but in each instance the best for us may lead God to say “wait” or even to say “no” to our request. Yet that “no” is a healing response on God’s part, and we need the faith to accept that. God is responding and does bring His healing presence to bear on us as a result of the prayers of the faithful, and the result is always what is the very best for us.