James 5:13-18

 “Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises. Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up – and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months! Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land sprouted with a harvest.”

— ‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭18‬‬

Maybe one of the most difficult passages in James. 

Prayer is a common theme in James (sometime find a list of passages and what he has to say). The believer is always reminded to have an attitude of faith. God’s response is always described as one of mercy/generosity.

The point of the passage is v. 16. Prayer “accomplishes” much, but I am always weary of how we phrase these things today because we emphasize what we say or how often we say it or even that we say it, and not the God behind the response. God is the generous/merciful/healing one (and yes, I know what James said).

Anointing with oil: I’ve heard it as referring to regular medicine, since doctors used oil in 1st cent. It could also be a simple ritual before the church to connect a prayer to God’s power (somehow). Oil is a symbol often of God’s presence and activity. So perhaps not medicinal, sacramental, or psychological.  (Cf. Mark 6:13)

Some denominations are terrified of this passage (i.e. praying for healing). Some churches and groups of churches can rely too heavily on it and even abuse people’s psyche. This cannot be reduced to a guarantee of healing (not to mention seeing the book of James as wisdom literature.) 

If someone is not healed, that cannot mean the person does not have faith. If someone is healed, that doesn’t necessarily mean the person should right a book on how to have faith. The point is that the church should pray and (shock) be accountable to one another. Grow in community. Prayer leaves a situation in God’s hands (4:3), and He can do incredible things.

Is this a more moderate view than what James seems to say? Perhaps. But it is wisdom literature. Do miracles exist? Absolutely. Experience has to inform our understanding of what he intended for this church. Imagine a church where praying together and being accountable was the norm.