Supposedly God performs all sorts of miracles including healing of the sick and dying. But I've never heard anyone claim that he healed an amputee. Why is that?
Some use this question in an attempt to "disprove" the existence of God. In fact, there is a popular anti-Christian website dedicated to the “Why won’t God heal amputees?” argument: If God is all-powerful and if Jesus promised to do anything we ask (or so the reasoning goes), then why won’t God ever heal amputees when we pray for them? Why does God heal victims of cancer and diabetes, for example, yet He never causes an amputated limb to be regenerated? The fact that an amputee stays an amputee is "proof" to some that God does not exist, that prayer is useless, that so-called healings are coincidence, and that religion is a myth.
The argument is presented in a thoughtful, well-reasoned way, however, it is an argument based on a wrong view of God and a misrepresentation of Scripture. Here are some false assumptions it makes:
Assumption 1. God has never healed an amputee. ---Who is to say that in the history of the world, God has never caused a limb to regenerate? But the Bible does have record of Jesus healing lepers, some of whom we may assume had lost digits or facial features. In each case, the lepers were restored whole (Mark 1:40-42; Luke 17:12-14). Also, there is the case of the man with the shriveled hand (Matthew 12:9-13), and the restoration of Malchus’s severed ear (Luke 22:50-51), not to mention the fact that Jesus raised the dead (Matthew 11:5; John 11), which would undeniably be even more difficult than healing an amputee.
Assumption 2. God’s goodness and love require Him to heal everyone. ---Illness, suffering, and pain are the result of our living in a cursed world—cursed because of our sin (Genesis 3:16-19; Romans 8:20-22). God’s goodness and love moved Him to provide a Savior to redeem us from the curse (1 John 4:9-10), but our ultimate redemption will not be realized until God has made a final end of sin in the world. Until that time, we are still subject to physical death.
If God’s love required Him to heal every disease and infirmity, then no one would ever die—because "love" would maintain everyone in perfect health. The biblical definition of love is "a sacrificial seeking of what is best for the loved one." What is best for us is not always physical wholeness.
Assumption 3. God is bound to say "yes" to any prayer offered in faith. ---Jesus said, "I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:12-14). Some have tried to interpret this passage as Jesus agreeing to whatever we ask. But this is misreading Jesus’ intent. Notice, first, that Jesus is speaking to His apostles, and the promise is for them. After Jesus’ ascension, the apostles were given power to perform miracles as they spread the gospel (Acts 5:12). Second, Jesus twice uses the phrase "in My name." This indicates the basis for the apostles’ prayers, but it also implies that whatever they prayed for should be consonant with Jesus’ will. A selfish prayer, for example, or one motivated by greed, cannot be said to be prayed in Jesus’ name.
Assumption 4. God’s plan is subject to man’s approval. ---One of the contentions of the "why won’t God heal amputees" argument is that God just isn’t "fair" to amputees. Yet, Scripture is clear that God is perfectly just (Psalm 11:7; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-6) and in His sovereignty answers to no one (Romans 9:20-21). A believer has faith in God’s goodness, even when circumstances make it difficult and reason seems to falter.
Assumption 7: God does not exist. ---This is the underlying assumption on which the whole "why won’t God heal amputees" argument is based. Those who champion the "why won’t God heal amputees" argument start with the assumption that God does not exist and then proceed to buttress their idea as best they can. For them, "religion is a myth" is a foregone conclusion, presented as a logical deduction but which is, in reality, foundational to the argument.
In one sense, the question of why God doesn’t heal amputees is a trick question, and is designed not to seek for truth but to discredit faith. In another sense, it can be a valid question with a biblical answer. That answer, in short, would be something like this: "God can heal amputees and will heal every one of them who trusts Christ as Savior. The healing will come, not as the result of our demanding it now, but in God’s own time, possibly in this life, but definitely in heaven. Until that time, we walk by faith, trusting the God who redeems us in Christ and promises the resurrection of the body."
My question has nothing to do with faith. I'm asking you why a loving parent who wouldn't heal their child. Or better yet, stop that child from becoming horribly maimed in the first place.
Why shouldn't I cite holy text when answering a theological question?
Nick Vujicic, Bethany Hamilton, and Joni Eareckson Tada are people who were either born without or lost the use of limbs and were never healed. Yet they have found joy in the midst of their suffering. Should amputees be miserable? Does God saying "No" automatically make him bad? Do your parents saying "No" automatically make them bad?
Yes, if God is all powerful, He could restore lost body parts. Yes, since God is sovereign, He could prevent such things from happening. But God does not see things the same way we see them. We see the tragedy, but maybe there is something good that will come out of the tragedy that we don't see yet.
Just because you can name three people that are "happy" in living without a limb doesn't mean everyone is, and doesn't mean that they wouldn't be happier if they had the limb back.
And here it is, the standard fallback for every time this question gets asked: "God works in mysterious ways."
"Religious people will forgive god for fucking anything. When he does bad things like hurricanes, aids, cancer, child molestation, then we just go, 'Ah well... god works in mysterious ways.' What type of an excuse is that? What is mysterious about acting like a fucking arsehole?"
@XHopelessRomanticX - AndresC64 is a troll. Even when you give him great explanations to his questions, like you did - which was excellent by the way, he comes back with "Stop citing your holy text as evidence for the actions of your invisible friend". He isn't here for truth. He has to be really bored or really childishly game playing. You know what the Bible says, "Don't cast your pearls before the swine." Just ignore him or block him. You can't argue with those who are perishing. *shakes head and rolls eyes*
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I believe God does heal amputees. I've heard stories from strangers online, could not verify since I was not there but I trust the average person to be honest. I have also witnessed healing in my family and inner circle, and involving incurable things like diabetes or diseases.
Cuz ya know, gord tests everyone on earth, but some peoples tests are being born into a rich loving family and other people get to start without eyes or feet🤷♂️ Gord works in mysterious ways. Gord just likes testing people in total different ways that seem abhorrent and cruel, but um… that’s your Interpretation! (This is satire)
I don’t believe that god/God heals. If there is a higher power, he/she/that either sits back and watches or plays favorites. People either heal or they don’t. I’m uncertain on the idea of “miracles” because that implies that that higher being plays favorites. Why would some get healed while others do not? People, both good and bad, suffer. And we have moments of happiness. Life isn’t fair. I just do the best I can and don’t hope for miracles. Miracles show up for some but I think it’s just random chance.
It's a question trying to get at the reason why people believe these things. Trying to get people to abandon their superstitions is a good way to help everyone.
If you expect God to fix everything, heal everyone, and stop all evil on Earth, then you all may as well be robots where everyone is programmed to do only good and where you would be no different than the angels. So he gave everyone free will and the Tree of Life so that we could all eat of it'd fruit and live forever. You would think that Adam and Eve would not want to mess that deal up. But they did so end story. Now we are in a world of sin, with evil men killing with impunity. We make Sodom and Gomorrah look like a Girl Scout/Boy Scout camp. We blew it, not God. He gave us the world, and we trashed it like a bunch of ungrateful squatters.
I'm glad you agree that things are fucked up and let God doesn't fix them. The question is why? Are we robots in heaven? No? Then it is possible to have free will without evil. Try again?
And as far as the trees go, to begin with what kind of a moron puts a tree like that in the middle of the garden? That would be like you leaving rat poison in the middle of the playground and then being mad at the children when they ate it. Furthermore, Adam and Eve couldn't have sinned because they didn't know good from evil until they had already eaten from the Tree of knowledge of good and evil. It would be impossible for them to send without having eaten from the tree.
And finally, we didn't blow it, God did, and that's the way he wanted it. He created EVERYTHING EXACTLY as he wanted and EVERYTHING HAPPENED and is happening and will happen EXACTLY as he WANTED. Remember the big plan he had. Doesn't seem to be working out so well, does it?
What I have noticed that whatever a person says to explain something you just keep right at it. You are not here to ask questions for knowledge, you are just here to troll and spread your non-believer rhetoric. Maybe you need to go to a satanist church whose beliefs are more in line with yours. So stop with your click-bait questions and get a life and a job.
What do you mean? If they are amputee then He already sent someone into their life to remove the effected limb. God can heal and sends people to help the sick aka nurses, doctors, etc. Also do you really expect God to move without faith? People these days want to treat God like a genie that will grant their wishes at any time then toss Him aside when they no longer need Him or even want to acknowledge Him. Its this yeah "I don't believe in you at all but if you are real do this for me" ... do you not hear how that sounds? That's called being used and if human being don't like being used, what makes you think God like being used? Anyway, works can not be done without faith.
Jesus said if you have faith of mustard seed you can move mountains. This something a lot humans and humanity lacks today, they don't have faith or they do but keep denying God's existence. It just doesn't work that way. You either have faith or you don't.
I see. I should have known. You're one of those "God can do no wrong people." An amputee gets saved by human doctors, "Yay God!" An amputee dies, "God works in mysterious ways." He want to have your cake and eat it too.
Why has God never ever restored an amputated limb? Regardless of the doctors that helped save the person's life. Why doesn't he restore the limb?
And I'm not asking him to restore my limb. I'm asking why he doesn't restore the limbs of all the children that have had them blown off. Are you going to answer that one?
Um no, if someone dies then that's part if life. Everyone dies and death is inevitable. Everyone at some point will face death at some point so no u don't get mad when someone dies. My father passed and I'm not angry at God about, it was time for my father to home so God called him home. Also you release God created doctors and nurses just like He created you? Anyway, He has, Jesus restored the cut off ear of soldier and if the leg, arm or whatever is badly damaged is better to remove than save it. Things happen in life, God never said life will always be butterflies and rainbows. But if you really want to answer, try asking/speaking with Him on it.
Give me one example of an amputee having the limb restored. I will wait, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Because it has never happened and you know it and I know it and everyone reading this knows it.
Type in youttube man's arm or leg saved? There's multiple stories of people having life and limb saving procedures. Always it seems like you have unresolved issues and are. angry with God about it. That tells me you have some lingering faith inside you. I don't know what you been through, but again God cares and if you speak to Him about it He will listen. A lot of people who feel angry with God is cause rhey feel like they been abandoned by Him but the truth is God is always with you and waiting for when your ready to go to Him.
Yes, humans have performed life and limb saving procedures. No God needed. And here you go with the typical "You don't believe in God because you're mad." No. I don't believe in your invisible friend because there's absolutely no evidence to support its existence. Unless perhaps you have someone that the entire world is unaware of. Do you? So God is with the child who got his leg blown off? God is with the child who got blown up and died? God is with the child who is being raped as we speak? God is with the little boy who watches his his drunk father beat his mother? God is with the mother who watches her child die a horrible painful death? God is with the child who is dying a horrible painful death? God is with the person being tortured? God is with the torturer? You really haven't thought this through, have you?
Listen I don't know why you're trying to start argument here. I can't help you believe nor can I force you too. Like I said, you have to take this up with God yourself.
Yes the Lord is with everyone and sees all the awful and hurt in the world that humans cause and inflict on others. God already told us how to live and how To love, He said to love one another, help those in need, don't live a hateful or greedy life. All of this in the Bible, if people choose not to obey and do evil instead then that's on them, you can not blame God for people using their free will to do evil. People know right from wrong, good from evil. It's up to us how we live our life and the things we do in this world. When the time comes, either on judgement day or day that person dies, they will have to stand before God and give account to what they did and said here on earth. God will judge justly and fairly.
So God stands by and watches as people rape other people, torture other people, murder other people. He just stands by and watches it. And that's the kind of God you worship? Really? That's an evil god. Are you sure it isn't Satan that you worship?
So I can't blame God for how other people use their free will? Really? Didn't God know what they were going to do with that free will before he even created them exactly as he wanted to? Yes, he did know what they were going to do. And he chose to let them do it. That makes him evil. Just like it would make you evil if you stood by and watched your children get raped. Are you going to stand by and say "Well, I told them not to go over there, but they were using their free will, so, I guess they get raped."
And you think letting your child get raped and then punishing the rapist is a good way to handle things? Really? How about stopping the rape in the first place? Don't you think that might be a good idea? God I hope you never have kids.
@BlueScorpio - These threads are just click bait so someone can tromp on Christians. He just hates God for some reason. Maybe he was given a small dick or something. Who knows? I don't see any reason to reply to this person again. Do you?
Nobody said anything about not competing. It's about protecting and restoring children who had a horrible accident and their leg blown off. You don't think that a kid with his leg blown off would like it back?
well, I can't speak for all kinds... I could only assume
and the kid in the picture you posted seems to have a very genuine content smile, makes me think he does not sees himself limited, just different than many other
maybe he's a little wise boy who also appreciates perspective "at least I didn't die like many other, so I can still live and be happy with my family and friends"
Yeah, I'm sure that that poverty stricken kid in the middle of nowhere with his legs blown off would much prefer to be that way than have his legs. I'm sure that's it.
me too... because sometimes, for some people, you just do not have options and choices to get better or different
which is exactly why you then appreciate and value the little you still have, and that's how you're raised, that's how you grow up... and that's how you learn to appreciate and to be thankful to at least have a chance to live, for some, that's still of value
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Because god is putting them through a trial of faith in order to test their resolve so they can earn their stripes to get into heaven.
So god isn't making them suffer, he's actually giving them an opportunity which they should be ever grateful to god for and bow down to his power and be overwhelmed by a feeling of love for him.
For me it’s the wrong question. The right question is why - century after century - do people so-easily tolerate methods of conflict resolution that result in severely mutilated bodies.
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Jesus crise as a baby heal the cut off hands of a lady as a baby. So God does heal. God have his own plan and divine reson to do or not to do some actions.
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