HEALING
FETISH

Topics: Cross; Disease; Healing; Sickness; Suffering

References: 2 Kings 5:1–14; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24

In the lower Congo region of Africa, tribal artisans often craft nkisi nkongi, or “power objects.” These wooden fetishes, usually in the shape of a human being, are thought to possess supernatural healing powers. When there is any kind of sickness in the village—physical, emotional, or spiritual—a priest will take something associated with the suffering person, such as a lock of hair or a piece of cloth, and nail it to the fetish. This tells the spirit what is wrong and calls on its power to heal the problem.

Christians don’t need fetishes. When flesh just like ours was nailed to the cross, God healed us of our greatest problems: sin and death. By his wounds, we are healed.

—Elesha Coffman, Durham, North Carolina