A couple of weeks ago, T.B Joshua's church in London was under investigation because a couple of people stopped taking their medication after a 'faith healing' ceremony.  Many called that the church be closed and Pastor T. B be be brought before a court.

  Being a Christ follower and being a little bit confused about what's going on - I thought it best that we bring in some of the leading voices on Christianity from Nigeria in Nigeria to get what they had to say about this and most importantly - faith healing. On 10/22/11,  two leading voices from CAN were invited on the show Soul Talk -   Lady Mma who is a musician, clinical psychologist,lady in the Catholic church,  TV and radio broadcaster and also a Journalist in the South East region of Nigeria and of course, Dr. Chukwuneke is no stranger to this site (please do a search to find out more about her).   They both work with CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) - Introduction.

Pamela -  For those that have been following the news particularly church news, T.D Joshua’s church has been under heavy criticism.  Three people went for some faith healing , they thought they were healed, stopped taking their medication and then they passed away.  Should the church be held more responsible?  As we know that T.D Joshua is Nigerian and thought it best that I bring some of the leading voices in Nigeria within the Christian Association of Nigeria - Dr. Chukwuneke and Lady Mma.

What is your definition of faith healing?

Lady mma - it is a process of using spiritual methods by praying, using mantra, using focusing to treat and to give treatment to the sick and needy.  It is holistic healing without medication.  It has to do with faith - believing that you can derive healing by prayer.

Dr. F. Chukwuneke:  As a Christian, I believe in faith healing and from what we saw Christ do in the bible -faith healing is actually getting the person who requires the healing to believe in the power that is above himself and above whoever that’s trying to heal him.  It also involves believing such a power is able to transform him and take away that sickness from him automatically.    

You know that in many churches they are advertising faith healing in a bid to increase the numbers of their congregation.  What are your thoughts on that?

Dr.F Chukwuneke: Christ told us that one of the distinguishing factors with which people will know us and identify us is by the miracle that follow us who believe in him.  Therefore, when people have sicknesses and diseases and there is someone who preaches Christ - the natural tendency is for people to be drawn to that person. So people will be trooping in.  So whether it is called advertisement or not...they are going to a place where they believe that they are going to get healed and I don’t see anything wrong with that.   It is another way of inviting people to Christ.

Lady mma - our Christ did not advertise but this time around, people love such things.  These   days people attract such people to their church through advertisement, revivals etc.  They sit in an open place, put up microphone talking about God and from what they are preaching, it attracts a lot of people.  Many people are seeking instant miracle, healing, prosperity and power in order to excel in life. But there is a place in our scripture that say that not all that call God will sit in the kingdom of God.  


Is there anyway that we can know the right church to go to?
Lady Mma:  It depends on the person’s needs.  This time around, we are free in Nigeria to be part of any religion and if we like the doctrine of each, one might like to move from the former one to the new one so that they can get what he/she wants immediately.   

I cannot say that all the churches are bad, but I will say that my own is the best.  It is the just like the definition of a pen, each according to each school of thought and what the person needs - like T.B Joshua,  you mentioned, people troop in there because of what they are seeing over the years, miracles, gestures, the quickness, they don’t want to waste time - they prefer to move really quickly to get what they want but actually, our God is a universal God if you put in patience you will get what you want but many don’t.

Should churches have a disclaimer on their faith healing?

Dr.F Chukwuneke: The bible says that, " you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" and Jesus Christ says "I am the way, the truth and the light and whoever believes in him won’t die but have ever lasting life".  The bible says that you should not fear him that destroys the body but destroys the body and the soul.  You have to remember that Christ was a healer, and Christ did not heal with anything more than the word of God and we saw many instances were Christ put sand, spat on it  and healed.  Christ used so many ways to heal - making a mixture, healing sin, and asking them to believe,,most of the churches portray that Christ can heal if you believe so it is a private decision if you believe that Christ can do it well and if you have other ways to support your faith.  

Should the church/TB Joshua be held responsible for this faith healing?
Dr. F Chukwuneke: Why should the church be held responsible?  There is no way that they can measure the amount of faith a person has.  The bible says 'be it unto you according to your faith'.  If the person does not have enough faith to take him through the faith healing and if the person confesses to you that they have that faith, you can’t really measure the amount of faith they have.

First and foremost, the person who is sick believes in the church and the healer.  They are the one that stayed there and is the person who believes that they have to go through the total process of healing, by not taking any drugs, by taking only blessed water.  It is the decision of that person, so long as the person is a mature person and an adult, I don’t think the person should be put through that type of embarrassment.


You see we feel that there should take some form of responsibility particualarly when you compare medical practice and religion.  Here in the diaspora, when someone looses their life as a result of malpractice, doctors get sued - then why is it that faith healers  can get away?

Dr.F Chukwuneke: A lot of things that happen between the sick person and the pastor is all dependent on faith.  Did you watch the movie - leap of faith, that arose as a result of what came out of the mouth of a fake pastor and he got his healing.  What we cannot really blame Joshua or his church because unlike medical practice, it is purely scientific.  There is a specific process that can be followed to get an expected result. In faith healing,  there are decisions and conditions that have to be met a) do you believe in Jesus Christ b) do you believe that Christ can heal you.  Even if the person says yes, you do not’ know the extent of that person faiths.  There are certain issues that are n’t open to analysis and so many data that cannot be quanitifed.  

There is a way of accessing the quality of a church. One is ensuring that there is a Christian body that controls the practices of Christian in that place.  So access that church, does the church preach the risen Christ.  The Christian authority just needs to check if his teaching is consistent with the Christian authority.  It is God’s decision that he died at that point.   I personally don’t believe that Joshua or his church should suffer for this.  He is just a worker of Christ.  The revelation tells us what should happen to any false prophet.

Any last words?

Dr.F ChukwunekeWhat I want to tell the people listening is this,  “come on to me those who are heavy laden and I will give you rest and that Christ that was here yesterday will be with you forever.  The measure of your faith is what will take you through.  It’s your faith that will take you through.  Maybe a time will come when these people come to churches for faith healing and made to sign some paper.  But for me, I trust in Jesus Christ and Christ never fails.  I believe that anyone dies in the process will go to heaven and whatever happens in that is secondary.