This week the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary include James 5:13-18. So far this week I’ve been struggling with the question of how to understand the inferred connection James makes between sin and sickness:

The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. — James 5:15-16a (NRSV)

I’ve long sided with other parts of the Bible (including the book of Job, some Psalms, and John 9:2-3) and rejected a simple cause and effect approach between sin and sickness, but I don’t feel that I can just brush this passage from James aside, so the struggle continues. Feel free to share your thoughts and your examples on the connection (or lack thereof) between sin and sickness with me via email, text, or conversation.