Please consider joining me in signing an official e-petition ‘I believe that God can heal’, which reads as follows:

Whether or not we believe that God can heal, we call on the Government to ensure that publishing statements of faith is not banned. This petition is put forward following cases where the Advertising Standards Agency has banned Christian groups from publishing material with the words ‘God can heal’, for example in Bath.

Just a reminder: the issue is not over HOTS compliance with 8 requirements of an advertising code but is about the ASA’s refusal to allow statements of faith. Furthermore, as previously mentioned and now confirmed at point 3 below, this could be construed as the ‘militant secularism’ which the Conservative party’s chairwoman Baroness Warsi referred to in her recent speech.

Thank you Peter for this tip, and pointing out overseas residents may sign too. Thank you also to Martin for drawing attention to a report on The New Street Preachers from Reachout Trust (connected to RevelationTV) and which includes a scriptural assessment of HOTS activity.

Secondly, whilst taking a friend to the airport last night I mentioned this matter to him. As he directs an Anglican healing ministry you may like to know the drift of his remarks, which were as follows:

1.  Regarding ASA’s contention that HOTS offers ‘false hope of healing’, the same can be said of the NHS because professional medics’ claims to make someone better do not always materialise.

I’d add that doctors do not personally heal someone, their recommended treatments may or may not prove effective. Those familiar with the power of words know medical pronouncements could regrettably act like a curse. For example, last week our friend S flew to Australia for a long holiday – but according to doctors she should be dead!  When she came back into Nina’s life three years ago the doctors had given her three months to live. Therefore, she was preparing to move into a hospice!

After receiving prayer ministry she was blessed by the tumour’s disappearance. She needed, however, a lot of teaching because her medical background, acting in conjunc-tion with spoken statements, had set up expectations that possibly brought about a relapse. But that was surgically tackled because her surgeon decided not to give up on her this time!!  What another wonderful witness it’s been to friends – thank you Lord.

2.  There’s an inconsistency in the ASA’s stance because the NHS counte-nances faith healers from the National Federation of Spiritual Healers  (connected to the spiritualist church) under the guise of complementary medicine! I think he’s of the opinion such practitioners may even be employed by the NHS.

3.  My friend confirmed my understanding that, after many discussions, the Evangelical Alliance refused further contact over this with the ASA because of insistence upon silencing claims about Christian healing. He got quite annoyed because, “This breaches our human rights”.

Something has to be done and a stand taken against thought control. Wouldn’t you agree??