–– Paul Schlehlein
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Should Churches Use Anointing Oil?
Selling sacred oils has become big business in Africa. Not uncommon are stories of pastors who bring children back from the dead by anointing the deceased with oil.
Pentecostal churches from around the continent have flooded the market with their holy anointing oils, promising fortune and healing to those who buy their products. Not surprisingly, churches that promote sacred oil are often entangled in a host of other sins.
In the world of Prosperity Churches, nothing is free. There is always a price to pay. For example, Mathius Bhebhe, a so-called prophet at Waters of Revelation Ministries in Zimbabwe, said:
“We sell anointing Holy oil to all people, who would be in need of chasing away bad luck and evil spirits, at affordable prices so that everyone can get the holy bottles. We are getting the oils from Israel where Jesus walked and anointed millions of followers.”
But not everyone in Africa is buying into the anointing oil charade. Joel Biwul, a theological professor in Nigeria, calls modern-day anointing oil a damaging practice to true Christianity. According to Biwul: “‘Anointing oil’ by the African Church is a mere display of fetish ancestral religion that expresses its unique African traditional religious root rather than a true expression of Christian spirituality.”
In Scripture, oil was valuable, often being used for cooking (Ex. 29:2), lighting houses (Mt. 25:3-4), calibrating weapons (2Sm. 1:21), and treating the skin (Es. 2:12). Oil also had medicinal value (Ps. 109:18) and was used symbolically by the disciples during their healing ministry (Mk. 6:13).
However, no Old Testament prophet, nor Jesus nor the Apostle Paul spoke of anointing oil, let alone commanding Christians to use it.
But what about verses like James 5:14? Does this verse encourage the use of anointing oil for healing? The verse says: “Is anyone among you sick? 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.”
Some people believe the oil in this verse is medicinal, just as the Good Samaritan used oil when he helped the man who had been beaten (Lk. 10:34). But why would elders need to be present if the oil was medicinal?
The Roman Catholics use this verse to validate the sacrament of extreme unction, the practice whereby the priest anoints those facing death in order to remove all remnants of sin. But we know from Scripture that sin can only be removed by the merits of Christ. Ironically, the Roman Catholic Church, which abuses the meaning of this passage, has warned its priests not to misuse holy oils as is often done in traditional African religions and revivalist churches.
Instead, the purpose of this anointing oil was most likely meant to symbolise the consecration of the sick person for a special cause of prayer. In the Old Testament, priests were set apart by the use of oil (Ex. 28:41), as was David when anointed king. On rare occasions, if a pastor wants to express visibly his intent to pray for healing he may choose to anoint the sick person with oil.
This doesn’t mean the oil has any healing power, nor does it mean the pastor will ask for money or imply that God will always heal. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul prayed three times for healing and the Lord did not comply, stating instead that his grace would be sufficient during the trial.
Rather, this verse teaches that elders should gather by the bedside of the sick, inquire if there are any sins that may be contributing to his illness, and then call on the name of Jesus through prayer—and sometimes with anointing oil—trusting that God will carry out His holy will.