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."
Most Helpful Opinions
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)
The same reason science doesn't.
Humans are not being chased by fucking predators on a daily basis.
Hence, even with limbs missing, there isn't much of a loss to the overall capability of a person or what they can contribute to the group.
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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.This sounds more like a personal soreness wanting to vent out on believers of faith.
Wrong enemy maybe?
If god exists or not. Powerful and ability to right all wrongs, or not. We will never know.We are all here though. Seems better to find ways to get along with fellow man rather then poke them only for hoping life could be easier.
One way helps children like this, the other doesn’t.
Because people don't understand that this life is only the beginning of the journey of the human soul.
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.
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.
- u
maybe god just does not consider them ill or diseased...
different challenges for different people... you don't tell athletes at the Paralympics that they should not try nor compete "because you're sick" lol 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.
Didn't you know that?
- s
That's something that nobody knows why, even those who claim that they do.
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.
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.god does nothing. of course the correct appologetic rhetoric would be "because god has their plan for these people. you don't understand. nobody does.
For the same reason Santa doesn't.
Non existence.
Amputees are lucky. If they still had their limbs they would have died from gangrene.
we are not worthy for miracles
God is not a wizard with a magic wand.
Because they are not starfish.
Same reason leprechauns don’t grant wishes
No clue.
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