(OPINION) Lifestyle Christianity leader Todd White and his “healing miracles” were the subject of debate between leading biblical scholars as part of a larger conversation about the complexity of navigating faith and skepticism in the realm of supernatural phenomena.
White was the topic of conversion during the conclusion of a four-hour roundtable discussion between Justin Peters of Justin Peters Ministries and Jim Osman, author and pastor of Kootenai Community Church, and Michael Brown, host of “The Line of Fire” podcast, and Sam Storms, pastor emeritus of Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City.
Peters and Osman believe in the cessation of certain miraculous gifts, like prophecy and healing, while Brown and Storms believe in the continuation of those gifts.
“I would see no difference in the number of people wearing eyeglasses and the number of people on crutches in the charismatic churches than I would in the cessationist church,” Peters began, questioning the authenticity of supernatural healings.
Peters then directed the conversation toward White’s methods, particularly his famed “leg-lengthening” miracle, which has been debunked as a staged act.
White has also been criticized for promoting the prosperity gospel, which teaches in part that believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth. “It’s intentional deception,” Peters said, adding that White “never talks about sin … never talks about God’s wrath.”
Storms countered by stressing that while he doesn’t know White personally, he knows from “credible witnesses that he has led hundreds of people [to] saving faith in Christ.”
Brown, who has had White as a guest on his “Line of Fire” podcast in the past, agreed that he’s heard the evangelist clearly “call out sin” in his live messages and believes he has a genuine passion for healing sick individuals.
“Behind the scenes, whenever we talk it was always about Jesus, about loving God, about the Word of God … he had tremendous excitement about praying for the sick. …
My knowledge of Todd is, behind the scenes, him being as raw and open, everything he’s done is sincere. … If he willingly has deceived all these people, then how is it that so many have attested, lasting healing afterwards?”
Storms suggested that instead of using incidents like White’s actions as fodder for mockery or skepticism, people should focus on following biblical commands, such as praying for the sick. He criticized the tendency to parade such instances to create cynicism rather than addressing “charlatans” directly with evidence.
“It feels like this is being paraded to mock and to create a cynical, skeptical mindset in people rather than saying, ‘You know, there are charlatans out there, too bad.
Let’s expose them when we have evidence to that effect. But in the meantime, let’s obey God’s Word, let’s earnestly desire spiritual gifts … because if you’re not, you’re sinning.”
In response, Osman said that White’s tactics make a “mockery of the true gift of healing and the truth of God to heal.” “I think these guys are the ones making a mockery of it,” he said. “These are men that are mocking what you guys believe.” (READ MORE)
