Expert: J.M.J. West - 11/7/2008

Question
when you think of indians and medicine men you kinda wonder "from a Christian point of veiw" how are they able to heal people when the God of the bible is unknown to them? where does their source of power come from?

Answer
There are a variety of answers which could be given, and they won't all fit each case.  Possible answers may include:

1) They don't heal, but only put up a facade of healing people (eg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxMGxz6-oTs)
2) They heal using natural means
3) They heal using super-natural means

If 3, then it could be"

a) Some form of demon either permits the healing or - more likely - ceases causing the malady.  This could have the effect of seeming to confirm the authority of one who otherwise does not have authority (and consequently raising a very similar objection vis-a-vis the question you posed: "but Shaman Joe did X, Y, and Z, therefore Christianity must not be true," which of course is a non-sequitor, but people don't often catch those.)

or

b) The Grace of God is not necessarily limited to those who follow most directly the path his Son provided, and as such he could provide a form of cure for them - especially based upon the faith that they might have even in the face of their ignorance.

It'd take a case by case basis to even attempt to answer further, and even then I don't know that I'd be qualified to give such answers.

Does that help?

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West