What About Anointing Oil?

Why did Saint James, the practical theologian and half-brother of Jesus tell us to anoint the sick when we pray for them to be healed? James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 

First, may I ask, how many of you Elders carry oil so you can be ready to pray for the sick? 

Second, how many of your church congregations have oil available for Elders to us when they pray for the sick? 

Third, how many Elders are trained with the practical skills and theology of healing? 

I think St. James taught these things because his personality was very practical. Martin Luther is supposed to have said he despised the Book of James because it focused so much on Practical Theology and was sloppy about Systematic Theology. 

James was fathered by and reared by a carpenter. Joseph had to be a very practical man to design and make a chair, a stool, a cabinet or a house. Theory without application was useless. So, James has some of the elements of a Training Manual for Mature Christians or Elders. 

The entirety of Chapter 5 is a Training Manual. Look it up.

The Good Samaritan story was a Parable with many meanings but James is focused on applying that story in the church. 

Our book on Breaking Free includes teaching on these issues.