"Sovereignty has become this thing where we can just sweep everything under the rug that we don't understand and blame it all on God. As if God's putting sickness on people to teach them a lesson. Somehow we point our finger at God and say, God this is Your doing. That's disgusting, it is not the God of the Bible." - Jim Baker
While it is true that some "blame" God for anything and everything, this is a strawman argument. No one with discernment is making that argument when it comes to the sovereignty of God. Sickness came into this world through the fall of man. What we are saying is that while God may choose to heal many people, it obviously is not everyone. Some people are called home. Others die to face judgment. That is the God of the bible. Perhaps Baker should spend more time reading it instead of trying to leverage it. Here is today's deep theology. It is the height or human arrogance to think we have figured out everything about an infinite God, who created the entire universe by merely speaking it. What does Baker do with the scripture that says how much higher the ways of God are? So yes, we do not understand quite a great deal about God and to decide His will so globally like Baker does is inherently foolish and dangerous. When I say God is sovereign, it is not in an attempt to sweep anything under the rug. It merely is acknowledging that He is God and I am but a creation of His. We all would be wise to do this as well.
"Religion makes people stupid. Who is in control of healing, you or God? Don't answer, you are going to get it wrong. You are in control of healing. Who was in control when the blind people were healed? They were because they came to Jesus." - Jim Baker
It is fitting that we would end this review with such a blasphemous statement. God is not in charge of healing? Then why pray at all? Why seek the elders? Why do what the bible clearly instructs us to do? This is just another example of the sin of Lucifer, trying to be God. Beloved, the bible is not confusing regarding healing. It is a gift listed that the Holy Spirit MAY choose to give. Why do we need the gift of healing if everyone automatically gets it? Why did God bother to instruct us to seek the elders of the church? Why did Jesus bother with the saliva and mud on the blind man's eyes? One day, Jim Baker will get sick. He cannot avoid it as this is the state of our earthly bodies from birth. Eventually one day it may be too much, and he will stand before Christ and answer for all the faith he shipwrecked by telling people he knows better than what the bible actually instructs.
Beloved, I wish we were in charge of our healing. If we were, no one would die. This is again a matter of loving this life and not considering the eternal gift of salvation. I understand because all we know is this life and eternity seems far away and is through faith. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord and Jim Baker obviously has very little. The hubris it takes to say things like if you take my teaching to heart you will never get sick or that God is not in charge of any healing we might receive staggers the mind and spirit. Baker seems to be a very likable fellow. He also seems to genuinely believe this. It is not a matter of intent. As my former pastor was fond of saying, we can be sincere and sincerely wrong. Jim Baker is sincerely wrong here. This is what happens when you allow Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, and Kenneth Hagin to form your theology. We serve a great God. We serve a merciful God. We serve a loving God. We serve a wrathful God. Can He heal? Of course, He is God. Do not catch yourself in the position of telling God what He must and must not do. Do not say in your heart "I will ascend to heaven." Do not believe the promises of you being like God. If you are sick pray because He is full of love and mercy. Do not be petulant and presumptuous. As for the new Jim Baker, mark and avoid him like the original.
Reverend Anthony Wade - June 30, 2023
