Pentecostalism

===Divine healing===
{{Further|Divine healing}}

Pentecostalism is a [[holistic]] faith, and the belief that Jesus is Healer is one quarter of the full gospel. Pentecostals cite four major reasons for believing in divine healing: 1) it is reported in the Bible, 2) Jesus' healing ministry is included in his [[Atonement in Christianity|atonement]] (thus divine healing is part of salvation), 3) "the whole gospel is for the whole person"—spirit, [[soul]], and [[Human body|body]], 4) sickness is a consequence of the [[Fall of Man]] and salvation is ultimately the restoration of the fallen world.{{Sfn | Purdy | 1994 | pp = 489–490}} In the words of Pentecostal scholar Vernon L. Purdy, "Because sin leads to human suffering, it was only natural for the Early Church to understand the ministry of Christ as the alleviation of human suffering, since he was God's answer to sin ... The restoration of fellowship with God is the most important thing, but this restoration not only results in spiritual healing but many times in physical healing as well."{{Sfn | Purdy | 1994 | pp = 494}} In the book ''In Pursuit of Wholeness: Experiencing God's Salvation for the Total Person'', Pentecostal writer and Church historian Wilfred Graves Jr. describes the healing of the body as a physical expression of [[salvation]].{{Sfn | Graves | 2011 | p = 52}}

For Pentecostals, spiritual and physical healing serves as a reminder and testimony to Christ's future return when his people will be completely delivered from all the consequences of the fall.{{Sfn | Purdy | 1994 | pp = 508–509}} However, not everyone receives healing when they pray. It is God in his sovereign wisdom who either grants or withholds healing. Common reasons that are given in answer to the question as to why all are not healed include: God teaches through suffering, healing is not always immediate, lack of faith on the part of the person needing healing, and personal sin in one's life (however, this does not mean that all illness is caused by personal sin).{{Sfn | Purdy | 1994 | pp = 517–518}} Regarding healing and prayer Purdy states:

{{blockquote|On the other hand, it appears from Scripture that when we are sick we should be prayed for, and as we shall see later in this chapter, it appears that God's normal will is to heal. Instead of expecting that it is not God's will to heal us, we should pray with faith, trusting that God cares for us and that the provision He has made in Christ for our healing is sufficient. If He does not heal us, we will continue to trust Him. The victory many times will be procured in faith (see Heb. 10:35–36; 1 John 5:4–5).{{Sfn | Purdy | 1994 | p = 519}} }}

Pentecostals believe that prayer and faith are central in receiving healing. Pentecostals look to scriptures such as James 5:13–16 for direction regarding healing prayer.{{Sfn | Purdy | 1994 | pp = 520–521}} One can pray for one's own healing (verse 13) and for the healing of others (verse 16); no special gift or clerical status is necessary. Verses 14–16 supply the framework for congregational healing prayer. The sick person expresses their faith by calling for the [[Elder (Christianity)|elders]] of the church who pray over and [[Anointing of the Sick|anoint the sick]] with olive oil. The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.{{Sfn | Duffield |Van Cleave| 1983 | p = 401}}

Besides prayer, there are other ways in which Pentecostals believe healing can be received. One way is based on Mark 16:17–18 and involves believers [[laying on of hands|laying hands on the sick]]. This is done in imitation of Jesus who often healed in this manner.{{Sfn | Duffield |Van Cleave| 1983 | p = 402}} Another method that is found in some Pentecostal churches is based on the account in Acts 19:11–12 where people were healed when given handkerchiefs or aprons worn by the [[Apostle Paul]]. This practice is described by Duffield and Van Cleave in ''Foundations of Pentecostal Theology'':

{{blockquote|Many Churches have followed a similar pattern and have given out small pieces of cloth over which prayer has been made, and sometimes they have been anointed with oil. Some most remarkable miracles have been reported from the use of this method. It is understood that the prayer cloth has no virtue in itself, but provides an act of faith by which one's attention is directed to the Lord, who is the Great Physician.{{Sfn | Duffield |Van Cleave| 1983 | p = 402}} }}

During the initial decades of the movement, Pentecostals thought it was sinful to take medicine or receive care from doctors.{{Sfn | Synan | 1997 | p = 192}} Over time, Pentecostals moderated their views concerning medicine and doctor visits; however, a minority of Pentecostal churches continues to rely exclusively on prayer and divine healing. For example, doctors in the United Kingdom reported that a minority of Pentecostal [[HIV]] patients were encouraged to stop taking their medicines and parents were told to stop giving medicine to their children, trends that placed lives at risk.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23729684|title=HIV patients 'told to rely on God'|first=Alex|last=Strangwayes-Booth|date=16 August 2013|access-date=22 October 2017|work=BBC News|archive-date=20 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820032829/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23729684|url-status=live}}</ref>