I had one misguided charismatic tell my wife her faith or rather lack thereof keeps her in a wheelchair. It took me several years to undo the damage. They mean well but ignore the fact that through our adversities GOD's Grace & power is shown the strongest. He forgot Paul asked three times for a healing {what type not specified} and GOD's answer was no. As well we have too look at ones who faced serious adversity and the fruits their faith produced not by being healed but by accepting it for what it is. GOD has His reasons.
GOD allowed for example Joni Tada to become paralyzed from about C-C-3 or C-4 down at age 16 from a diving accident. Faith? She's very full of faith. But her adversity started her on a ministry that reaches millions of disabled around the world. She's been in the wheelchair about 45 years.
Yes I do believe through prayer many are healed and GOD has His own reasons for those who aren't and it has nothing to do about lack of faith or punishment. The reasons we may not fully understand in this world. BTW the man who told my wife that? About a year later I caught him cheating on his wife.
The preacher he learned it from? Became involved in severe mis-use of church funds as in hundreds of thousands for his own use.
I'm not Pentecostal or Charismatic but I do believe strongly that The Holy Spirit dwells within us and is our guide and teaches us truth as GOD gives to us as we need it. I've seen people speak in tongues although they did not realize it was happening. At was at the alter of a Missionary Baptist church. The congregation was up at the altar praying {smaller rural church}.
I could tell you stuff you wouldn't believe about my asking to be prayed for in a charismatic church.
I agree completely. It's all my fault that I haven't been healed, it's not enough faith, generational curses, sin in my life, yada, yada, yada....
Everyone has an answer and a formula. If I'd just do this, that, or the other thing, viola, I'd *get the healing*.
It does do a great deal of spiritual damage.
They mean well.....
I keep telling myself that.
But heaven help the next person who starts in on me with that kind of thinking.
I've had it up to *here* (way above my head) and am not interested in hearing it any more.
I've noticed that those with the most to say about how God should be working in my life if I'd let Him also tend to be the ones who are the healthiest and are not dealing with their own unresolved, major health crises. It's easy to be the judge and jury when you haven't been there.
/rant