Is
extreme unction for a departing
believer or for healing the sick?
The last
rites
The Roman Catholic sacrament of anointing of the sick or extreme unction is performed on a seriously ill person for spiritual and physical strength, or when a person is close to death as preparation for heaven.
The Roman Catholic sacrament of anointing of the sick or extreme unction is performed on a seriously ill person for spiritual and physical strength, or when a person is close to death as preparation for heaven.
The priest anoints the sick person
with oil and prays over him. When combined with confession and the Eucharist,
it is called “Last Rites.”
At one time it was reserved for
those extremely ill and thought close to death. The Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church states
that this sacrament can be repeatedly used during the long course of an ongoing
illness and that it should be used before serious surgery when a dangerous
illness is the reason for the surgery.
It can also be requested for those
who are unconscious or who have lost the use of reason if they would have asked
for it were they in control of their faculties.
The Roman Catholic Church states that the biblical basis for the sacrament is James 5:13-16:
The Roman Catholic Church states that the biblical basis for the sacrament is James 5:13-16:
"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is
anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 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. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and
the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be
healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
The Roman Catholic Church also
cites Mark 6:13 ("And they cast out many demons, and
anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them") as the first
allusion to the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.
And while the Roman Catholic
Church sees it as the responsibility of every Christian to care for the sick,
it states that Christ charged “His
priests to anoint the sick while praying over them in a sacramental gesture
that would be more properly a deed of His own personal care” (cf. James 5:14).
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that “sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification” (taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia).
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that “sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification” (taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia).
The Roman Catholic Church teaches
that, while God gives grace to man without outward symbols (sacraments), He has
also chosen to give grace to man through visible symbols and that, because He
has, man is foolish to not make use of this God-provided means of gaining
sanctification.
In order to qualify as a
sacrament, the Roman Catholic Church states that an action must meet the
following three criteria:
a) the external, that is a
sensibly perceptible sign of sanctifying grace;
b) the conferring of sanctifying
grace;
c) the institution by God or, more
accurately, by the God-Man Jesus Christ."
Thus, sacraments are not merely a
symbol but are believed to actually confer sanctifying grace upon the
recipient.
But when one examines the biblical passages that the Roman Catholic Church uses to validate their sacraments, one finds that the belief that they convey "sanctifying grace" is not in keeping with the context of the rest of the Bible.
But when one examines the biblical passages that the Roman Catholic Church uses to validate their sacraments, one finds that the belief that they convey "sanctifying grace" is not in keeping with the context of the rest of the Bible.
The Roman Catholic Church’s
foundation for its belief in sacraments is its teaching that its priesthood is
capable of exercising the sacraments in order to dispense the sanctifying
grace, yet the only priesthood mentioned for New Testament times is the
priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9).
So, even this core doctrine (of
the Roman Catholic Church priesthood), necessary for their sacramental system,
is unfounded in Scripture.
Most evangelical churches would see the “anointing with oil” as the “rubbing in” or application of olive oil, used in ancient times as a healing salve.
Most evangelical churches would see the “anointing with oil” as the “rubbing in” or application of olive oil, used in ancient times as a healing salve.
Thus, this passage would encourage
the combining of prayer with the current medical treatment appropriate to the
illness.
Typically, evangelical churches
will have their elders (who represent the congregation) come and pray with the
ill person while that ill person also seeks the use of modern medicine.
And, at times, in answer to
prayer, God is gracious and grants a healing.
Also, James 5:16
would
seem to imply that the illness may sometimes be the result of a chastening sent
by God because of sin. As that sin is confessed and forsaken, the need for His
chastening is removed and healing is granted.
First Corinthians 11:30 is often cited as an example of
illness being used as a chastening of God for sin in the life of a Christian.
Salvation is not determined by confessing all sins the moment before death. Salvation is not determined by “extreme unction,” being anointed and prayed over by a priest.
Salvation is not determined by confessing all sins the moment before death. Salvation is not determined by “extreme unction,” being anointed and prayed over by a priest.
Salvation is determined by
personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Thankfully, God allows for the
decision of faith to be made up to the point of death.
However, this must be a personal
and genuine receiving of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone
(Ephesians 2:8-9).
Observance of a ritual before
death is meaningless in determining salvation and eternal destiny.
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