Why Doesn't God Heal Amputees?

Tough Questions for Christians #15—Amputees

Tough Question #15

AZ’s question here is pretty simple. Christians claim to do a lot of miracles, but not re-attaching limbs. Or having them grow back. Why not? Jesus reattached an ear, shouldn’t Christians be healing severed legs or whatever?

Well, yes, actually they should. It isn’t “simple faith” as AZ says, but strong faith that’s required, but why not? We should be praying for radical healings including the reattachment of limbs. The only thing that stops us is our faith. Or lack of it.

Also, there are claimed healings of amputees. There are some who deny they really happened, that’s fine, but don’t say that Christians claim they can’t or don’t happen. Instead of just saying certain miracles don’t happen, check them out.

However, I think it would be fair to say that God heals only a few amputees. Only a few people born blind or deaf. Why is this? Because in Jesus’ day, healing had to do with forgiveness. The crippled and blind had no place in the temple, and thus, no place before God. Jesus healed to give the message that God is forgiving and granting an opportunity for all to come to Him without hindrance. Thanks to Jesus and His disciples, the message has gone around the world that God’s doors are open to all, if we would but submit to Him. That was a new message in Jesus’ day, but not so much now.

Now the real question that many ask is: Does God really care about us? Does God really exist? And if God does exist, does He have the power to really change our lives? The answer to these questions could be answered to some people’s satisfaction by the healing of an amputee. But not most people. God is speaking to people individually about this, not in some mass media event. Mass media doesn’t save people. God’s Spirit speaking to each one’s heart—that is what brings people to trust and faith.